Rural Institute for Development Education

The Rural Institute for Development Education (RIDE) is a secular, non-governmental organization dedicated to empower poor and disadvantaged residents in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, RIDE fights to eradicate child labour, promotes economic and social justice for women, provides essential medial and educational services and cultivates economic opportunities throughout the region.

RIDE's Successes

In 1997, RIDE’s research indicated that the number of child labourers in the silk-weaving industry in the district of Kanchipuram exceeded 40,000. This included children who were bonded labourers to loom owners. RIDE undertook many activities to improve the situation of child labourers. Examples include: conducting surveys, providing information, organizing demonstrations, seminars and workshops, the support of financial alternatives and the establishment of RIDE’s Bridge School Center’s and evening schools. Working collaboratively, RIDE brought down the number of child labourers to less than 4,000 by 2007.