NEWSLETTERCOVER STORY

Vol. 1 | September 2018

SURVIVING THE STREETS IN INDIA : PROVIDING A LEGAL IDENTITY | PAGE NO. 1

SURVIVING THE STREETS IN INDIA : PROVIDING A LEGAL IDENTITY

Making

Visible#TheInvisibles

INTRODUCTION

Save the Children is committed to reaching out to all children in need of care and protection with emphasised focus on the most vulnerable and marginalised. Acknowledging the importance of an identify document for children in street situations, Save the Children has launched a project, namely, ‘Surviving the Streets in India: Providing a legal identity’ (#The Invisibles), which provides children in street situations with a legal identity document. The intervention aims to provide a legal identity, school enrolment, access to healthcare services, skill development, employment opportunities and financial services to 2,00,000 children across (Delhi, Kolkata, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur, Mughalsarai, Lucknow, Pune, Mumbai and Nasik) in the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal over a period of two years till March 31,2020.

Visit us at:www.savethechildren.in

CONTENTS

COVER STORYDia Mirza bolsters the voice of #Thelnvisibles NEWS UPDATESSurviving the Streets: #Thelnvisibles project launched across four states

International Day for Street Children celebrated across project states

MINUTIAE CORNER

PHOTO FEATUREJourney towards identity- A Story in Pictures

IN MY OPINION

#Thelnvisibles IN THE NEWS

COVER STORY

Dia: You had dropped out of school when in Standard VI. How did you return to studying again?

Manisha: I had dropped out mainly due to financial constraints. My father is not employed and my mother did not know how to fund my studies, even though she wished to. I was in touch with people from Hamara Foundation, which is a partner of Save the Children, who convinced my mother and helped me go back to school.

Dia: All of us have dreams. What is your favourite dream?

Manisha: I will be in college soon and want people to know me by my work. But my dream is that there are many more Manishas who should not go through the hardships that I have experienced. All of them should get their rights and an opportunity to realise their dreams.

Sharing her experience of associating for the cause of #Thelnvisibles, Dia said, “I cannot begin to express how beautiful, meaningful and enriched my life has become after meeting these children who smile through the lack of basic securities and rights in life. Their fortitude, their resilience and determination is very inspiring. These children lack a fixed roof over their head, they do not have access to healthcare, education, they are even denied the right to play. When they are given basic opportunities, life skills and the chance to form communities, the kind of difference they can make is what makes Champions like Manisha.”

Dia Mirza bolsters the voice of #ThelnvisiblesOur artist ambassador Dia Mirza joined Deputy Collector of Mumbai City, Dr. Padamshri Bainade and Save the Children, CEO, Bidisha Pillai for the launch of the project in Maharashtra on July 4, 2018. As an integrated effort to garner public interest and elevate the cause, Dia attended an Identity Drive where she met and felicitated Child Champions. In a unique collaboration,Twitter India hosted Dia and our child champion Manisha from Mumbai in a Blue Room Chat. The 21-min live chat highlighted the challenges faced by children living on the streets and celebrated their undeterred aspirations that thrive regardless of the odds.

Excerpts from the chatDia: When someone asks you for your address, what do you typically reply? Are you ever hesitant to tell people where you stay?

Manisha: I tell them there is a flyover in Elphinstone Road and I live under it. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable sharing this, but I do not have a choice.

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NEWS UPDATES

Training workshop on mapping techniques organisedDelhi On August 29, TRIOS and Save the Children jointly organised a one-day participatory training of trainers - to orient Field Coordinators and Supervisors on technical aspects of mapping pockets with Children in Street Situations. As a part of the implementation plan of the project, identifying and taking a stock of pockets with street children in each target area is one of the first steps towards reaching the objectives. Through the study, children in street situations will be covered through a census study in the 10 project locations and a sample study carried out to find their socio-economic status.

The experts and resource persons of TRIOS and Save the Children collectively conducted sessions on tools and methodologies for carrying out the survey effectively. The TRIOS team conducted the session by adopting participatory elocution method where all the participants read out section-wise questions and discussed specific queries. This approach resulted in active participation and interaction among the trainees. The participants were familiarised with the questionnaire, interview techniques and recording requirements. The data through the study would be collected on tablets.

#Thelnvisibles launched across four statesUttar Pradesh On June 5, a State Level Steering Committee meeting was organised with representatives from Mahila Kalyan (Department of Women and Child Development), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), District Administration (District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Welfare Committee, Child Care Institutions, Special Juvenile Police Unit) of Agra, Kanpur, Allahabad, Mughal Sarai and Lucknow. During the launch, key officials of the state assured their support and coordination for making concerted efforts towards the children in street situations.

Resource person from TRIOS conducting a session during the workshop in Delhi

Ms.Ananya Chakroborty, Chairperson, WBCPCR addressing the meeting in Kolkata

West Bengal On June 20, a State Level Steering Committee meeting was held in Kolkata. It saw participation from West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR), key Government departments, Municipal Commission, UIDAI, Police, State Legal Services Authority, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders. During, her address Ms. Ananya Chakroborty, Chairperson, WBCPCR stressed on the need to work on engagement of different stakeholders including Panchayat for prevention of the migration and identification of children.

Maharashtra The project was launched with the Deputy Collector of Mumbai and Artist Ambassador, Dia Mirza on July 4,2018. Dia also met Child Champions and felicitated them accompanied by Save the Children’s CEO, Bidisha Pillai. Appreciating the effort, Dr. Padamshri Bainade, the Deputy Collector of Mumbai City, said,“Each child has the right to identity. lt is a joint effort of giving identity to street children, so that they can also access their basic rights.”

NEWS UPDATES

Delhi On August 13, Save the Children in collaboration with Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) launched of the project in Delhi. The event witnessed over 100 participants from various government departments, representatives from CSOs and partner NGOs. Speaking on the occasion, Ramesh Negi, IAS, Chairperson, DCPCR, stressed upon the fact that urban planners and planning play a very important role in making services accessible to the children on the streets.

Partnership with Decathlon to raise awareness for #ThelnvisiblesDelhi On September 14, Save the Children collaborated with Decathlon as their ‘Philanthropy Partner’ to raise awareness for #Thelnvisibles during the launch of their new store in Delhi.There was a joint Press Conference held on September 6 announcing Save the Children as the official Philanthropy Partner.

During the 2-day sports festival organised to celebrate the store launch, we inspired action for #Thelnvisibles to put spotlight on children living and working on the streets. For the first day, 500 enthusiastic participants cycled through Dwarka for the #Thelnvisibles and for an identity for children living on the streets. The second day was marked by a remarkable play called “Main Bhi to ek Baccha hun” (I am a child too) narrated by Salmaan, the story of a young boy who becomes a victim of exploitation. Salmaan, our child champion from Delhi is a strong advocate for the Right to Identity for street children as he has survived the streets of Delhi.

Romesh Negi, Chairperson, DCPCR, addressing the launch in Delhi Child Champions meeting the Mayor in Mumbai to mark April 12

International Day for Street Children celebrated across project statesApril 12 is celebrated globally as the International Day for Street Children. To mark the occasion, a 15- day radio campaign called #Thelnvisibles in collaboration with Radio City was launched nationally. Between April 12 to April 30, 2018 the campaign reached out to the masses urging for support to children in street situations along with RJ mentions of the project. The initiative reached out to 82-92 lakh listeners. The day was also marked across the project states through various public engagement activities.

Uttar Pradesh launched the Aadhar Meri Pechchaan Project in the presence of 100 children, community leaders, government functionaries and local Corporators who committed to providing identity for street children. They also ran a day long campaign ‘Aadhaar Meri Pehchaan’ with RED FM announcing the Aadhaar Camp in Borigawa Basti. Child Champion, Saleha along with a delegation of 14 children met the Mayor of Mumbai, in Maharashtra to put forth the agenda for children in street situations. West Bengal organised an interface with government functionaries and had child champions speak on All India Radio about their concerns, hoping for a better tomorrow. Delhi marked the day by launching the digital tutorial on the SOP in the presence of key stakeholders, Girl Rising, One Billion Rising, Global Citizen, Youth Ki Awaaz and child champions Nisha and Salmaan.

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MINUTIAE CORNER PHOTO FEATURE

Journey towards Identity A Story in PicturesMeet eight-year-old Gauri Kumari. She and her little brother left their home in Katiyar District of Bihar as the parents migrated to Delhi in search of work Things changed for Gauri after she moved to the city. Back in her village, Gauri attended school with enthusiasm. The family of four resides in a makeshift hut in the park next to Lai Quila. Life in Delhi for Gauri involves helping her mother with household chores. She occasionally plays with children in the park. However, now Gauri, has been registered for an Adhaar Card and cannot wait to go back to school. This is what she has to tell.

#Thelnvisibles sign has been taken from the universal sign language. The forefinger represents every last child on the street and the palm represents that we are making them invisible, or ‘overlooking’ them. In line with the #Thelnvisibles campaign, we asked our digital audience to post the image of #Thelnvisibles sign to draw attention to the cause and show their solidarity for children in street situations. This was publicised by engaging current and prospective influencers and supporters to inspire public action. Here is a peek.

#Thelnvisibles Sign

CSC @streetchildren • Apr 12"Should the life of a child on the street be based on luck? No, it's their right and rights are equal for everyone" says former Street Child Salmaan. He survived the streets, many won’ t. Join us on #StreetChildrenDay and pledge your support for #Thelnvisibles.

Ali Fazal M @alifazal9 • Apr 13 2mn children live on India’s streets. We at ©Stcjndia pledge that we will not stop till we get our last child off the street. Join me this #StreetChildrenDay in making #Thelnvisibles visible. ©ThomasSCIndia @deespeak i am tagging some of my friends to come on n support this.

Shraddha Srinath, Hussain Dalal, Satyajeet Dubey and 2 others

“When my mother goes to work, I stay in the park and play with the children in the neighbouring hut. I am scared sometimes of the Police who come to the area and lock the main gate of the park. We have created another gate by breaking down one of the fence rods so it is easy to get out if we need to.”

“My mother works very hard so I know that I have to do my part. I do the cooking, cleaning and utensils of the house whenever she asks me to. I don’t speak much to my father; he is mostly at work. I miss my parents when they are away for work during the day. When we were in my village, they used to be around a lot more. I also used to get a lot of gifts, like clothes, from Teacher Aunty when I was in the village.”

PHOTO FEATURE

“I liked the Adhaar process, even though it took a long time. I liked that they took my picture and I didn’t get scared. I will tell my friends in the park about this.”

About the Photographer These photographs have been captured by Vicky Roy. He is working with us on a photo project for #Thelnvisibles, as the cause is very close to his heart. Originally from West Bengal, Vicky Roy ran away from his home and started working as a rag picker at the New Delhi Railway Station, before he was rehabilitated by Salaam Baalak Trust, Delhi. He studied photography at Triveni Kala Sangam. ln 2007, he held his first solo exhibition titled, “Street Dream” at India Habitat Centre.

Watch this space for an exclusive conversation with Vicky about his journey, achievements and his thoughts on #Thelnvisibles

“I will be able to go to school again, even if my parents decide to live in the city. I will give my ID card to the teacher and they will have to enrol me. I will tell my parents to send me to school now that my ID card is done. I will also get a new dress for school. If I go to school, I can get a job and buy new clothes for myself and my little brother.”

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IN MY OPINION

“Registration for identity is very beneficial. Earlier the registration of Aadhar for these children was below 20% but now with this new procedure and work happening, the rate will increase. This is a good initiative. It will now be easier to link the children with various schemes and services of the government including education and even track them. If any child is missing, it will be easier to track the origin of the child and rehabilitate the child, there will be reduced duplication of beneficiaries while accessing Government schemes and this will help us to reach more number of children. Save the Children is doing useful things. They developed the Standard Operating Procedure with detailed roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and have been organizing orientation sessions and trainings for the stakeholders to understand and internalise it By doing this, appropriate platforms have been created for convergence.”

— Mohd. Salam Khan Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, South East Delhi.

“By getting an Aadhar card one gets his/her own identity and a proof of being the citizen of India to be able to enjoy the schemes that are made for their betterment and development, it also helps them get the recognition and a social status and position in society that they would have not got otherwise. Facilities like getting admissions in school, opening of bank accounts, getting digital life certificate, helps in making of PAN card, helps in getting meals to children in schools etc. In future National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), will try to implement the SOP at national level so that all children who are living in vulnerable conditions in the streets come under the care and protection and get their identity and their entitlements.”

— Rita Singh Member, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights

(DSCPCR)

“Why is identity important? Have we ever thought about it? You know me by my name, you know what I do and you possibly even know what my dreams are, but there are millions of children living on the streets who don’t have that identity, who are not even called by their own names. People refer to them as ‘Raju’, ’Rani’, ‘Chhotu’. Nobody knows where they are coming from or whether they go to school. Many of them are even employed in child labour against their wishes and many don’t even have access to hospitals or basic healthcare. These are all the privileges that we take for granted. As an artist ambassador of Save the Children, I can’t even begin to tell you how much pride and joy it gives me, how much my character has developed and how much better I feel, as a human being, knowing that I’m part of a process that is giving identity to these children.”

— Dia Mirza Actor & Artist Ambassador for Save the Children

#THEINVISIBLES IN THE NEWS

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