Transform childhoods of 500 slum children in India

Public awareness and street play at Dadar station.

The children in the caravan in collaboration with Railway Childline rallied on the railway station and performed a short street play and were addressed by the senior authorities of the Railway force, distributing pamphlets and brochures on child rights awareness. This event was organised with the support of other civil society organisations, NGOs, Childline and Railway authorities.

Around 10-12 authorities and railway police present.

Reach out to more than 500 people at the railway station. 400 brochures and bookmarks were distributed.

Dadar railway station event was organized in collaboration with GRP, RPF and Station Director.

Station Director - Kakde sir, station manager - Panda Sir shared that it is very important to provide safe environment for children. On station with the help of CHILDLINE, they are trying to make the station child-friendly.

They also appreciated the efforts that YUVA is taking for spreading awareness about Child Rights and ensuring their participation in it.

Following people were present:

1. Inspector GRP- Prasad Padhte.

2. Avinash Pawar- GRP

2. Sub Inspector RPF -SK Singh

3. Station Director - Kakde Sir

4.station manager - Panda Sir

5. Electric Department- Prakash sir

6. Cleaning supervisor - Amit Kumar

BASS performed a street play on child rights and Appealed Travellers to ensure a safe environment and participation of children-

“Badde Badde log… Baatein Baddi … “

Street play begins with the title. Where BASS children showcase that how at various places be it home, locality, factories children are not safe and are denied of their basic rights to:

1. Development
2. Protection
3. Life
4. Education and
5. Participation

Through the play, it was narrated that at factories they are hired though there are strict rules to prohibit them from working if they are below 18 and fall between 14 to 18 years but in these places, they’re made to work as the labor cost of hiring children is comparatively lesser. Also, at home, they are not safe and are at constant threat and danger of exploitation from their own family members and relatives. At times even when we know that something wrong has happened to the child, we remain silent to not escalate the issue in fear but it actually enforces the perpetrators of such heinous acts. In our society girls are still looked down when it comes to education and are expected to stay inside and do learn and do household chores and be marriage ready instead of aspiring for a better career with the pursuance of education.

In the end, everyone took an oath to safeguard and promote these minimum basic rights and practice meaningful participation at every space and approach authorities who are working towards promoting these interests of children like- Police, YUVA, ChildLine, BASS, etc. in case any problem arises.

One of the Passengers at Dadar station after witnessing the street play stated and accepted the importance of awareness generation of the rights of children. And appreciated that though in some way it’s been done and like the efforts of the team.  He said he could relate this as he has a younger sister at home.