Children’s Day: These little dreamers find a home in Pune to keep it real

Mohor, an initiative by the NGO Swadhar, is a 24-hour shelter and educational centre for children of commercial sex workers (CSWs).

My dream is to become a police inspector and catch all the bad guys!” exclaims eight-year-old Omkar. He shares the same dream with most of his friends at the home, Mohor, a shelter near Budhwar Peth.

Waiting eagerly for this year’s Children’s Day, these 70 odd-children of the shelter have left  their pasts to embrace a better future. (Ravindra Joshi/HT PHOTO)

Mohor, an initiative by the NGO Swadhar, is a 24-hour shelter and educational centre for children of commercial sex workers (CSWs). This dream, Swadhar’s secretary, Sanjeevani Hingale says, “Is recurrent among most of the kids, as they are often exposed to them. Having come from such backgrounds, the profession of a policeman or policewoman is very empowering to them.”

Eleven-year-old Aarti believes that becoming a policewoman will not only liberate her, but also the people around her. Aarti’s world, as her friends say, revolves around books, and when asked she murmurs, “I want to study a lot. Education is very important, as that is the only thing that can help me fulfil my dream.”

But, for five-year-old Vaishali, empowerment has a different meaning. She thinks through imparting education one can empower many more people. “Like they teach us here I want to become a teacher and help many more to become big in their lives.”