E-Paper
?The unknown? all set to find a voice of their own
MEET THE unknowns--Haseena, Maneesha and Govind. These children represent multiple others who are doomed to lead a life of anonymity and deprivation. But now they are being trained by 'Childline' to speak up their mind before the government officials and representatives of NGOs in the 'National Children's Meet' which will be held in Mumbai from May 31 to June 2.
MEET THE unknowns--Haseena, Maneesha and Govind. These children represent multiple others who are doomed to lead a life of anonymity and deprivation.
But now they are being trained by 'Childline' to speak up their mind before the government officials and representatives of NGOs in the 'National Children's Meet' which will be held in Mumbai from May 31 to June 2.
They were chosen from among thousand others who participated earlier at district level and state level workshops conducted by Childline. "Although being an integral part of the society, such children are being neglected," said Santosh Kumar, paraprofessional in Childline.
The event in Mumbai is being organised by Childline India Foundation (CIM) in which children from 67 cities across the country are participating. "It is a platform being provided to children belonging to various downtrodden sections of the society such as ragpickers, domestic servants, child labourers etc, so that they could have direct dialogue with the administration about the dire conditions in which they are living," said Shagufta Naqvi, coordinator.
These children will represent the various colours of the national flag. Haseena, a 13-year-old, will represent the colour saffron and children residing at railway station platforms. Holding the mike in her hands she was least hesitant to relate her story. "World would have been a better place if children were not orphaned.
My brother was run over by a train while selling water at the junction station.
My elder sister is often being harassed by the men at the junction station and I have to muster all my courage to fight them back. There are other children like me who have to fight for survival each day. They often get killed in train accidents during their daily chores. Even some have become handicapped," she said.
Another girl Maneesha who is 14-year-old, will represent the children working as domestic servants. "Our freedom is snatched away from us. Instead of sending us to schools, our parents send us to work where we face harassment of all kinds, be it mental or sexual. We are often beaten for none of our faults. My mother comes to meet me only once a week and my father forcefully takes away the entire wages paid to me.
But I remain peaceful and I will represent the colour white of the tri-colour," she said. She wants to be a social worker as she is eager to teach those children who are deprived of education. Govind who is barely 12 years old, will represent the ragpickers and the green colour of the tricolour. He is a shy lad and belongs to Gaughat. "I have to cover at times ten kilometeres on foot to pick up the pieces of plastics and iron from the garbage heap. There are others like me who leave their houses early in the morning at 4 am and return by 9 am. Another trip is made in the afternoon at 2 pm and we are able to earn a meagre Rs 30 per day. We are often abused and fall prey to diseases such as TB, asthma, leprosy," he said. He wants to be a police officer.
"Something positive concerning the rehabilitation of these children will come up after the meet as they will attract the attention towards their sufferings," said Santosh Kumar.
