Sun Feb 16 17:16:40 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Activist’s Decades-Long Fight Against Child Labor Yields Fruitful Results
**CHENNAI, February 17, 2025** – Virgil D. Sami, a Chennai-based child rights activist, has dedicated over four decades to eradicating child labor, achieving significant success with her organization, Arunodaya Centre. Sami, who was inspired by witnessing children working in hazardous conditions, founded the center after years of grassroots work.
Initially focusing on children working in Korukkupet’s metal factories, where a 1979 survey revealed that 53% of positions were filled by children, Arunodaya Centre established evening schools and bridge schools. Within a year of its launch, hundreds of children were successfully removed from exploitative labor and enrolled in formal education.
Despite challenges such as teacher resistance and societal stigma, the center, with support from the Tamil Nadu government’s Education Department, has integrated children into mainstream schools. Arunodaya Centre’s work now extends beyond directly addressing child labor, encompassing community empowerment initiatives and addressing issues such as drug abuse and changing parental attitudes. The organization has also implemented Children Nagar Sabhais, platforms where children can discuss and find solutions to problems affecting them.
Sami emphasizes the importance of listening to and involving children in finding solutions, highlighting the positive changes observed in their attitudes as a result of these efforts. Her decades-long commitment showcases the impact of sustained activism in tackling complex social issues.
First Piper 