One third of the world’s poor children live in India. The streets of Kolkata are a place of refuge and also a place of danger where young street children live, eat, play, sleep and work. Some children choose to live on the streets as an alternative to poverty and violence at home. Many are forced by poverty to work in hazardous conditions; others turn to petty criminal activities and theft in order to survive. Unfortunately many children living on the street are exploited. The Night Round program was prompted by Hope Kolkata when confronted with the vulnerability of these unreached street children. A baseline field study of 300 street children confirmed that their primary need is that of protection.
The organisation works closely with the Kolkata Police, Hospitals, and other NGOs focusing on safety, health and protection of childrens’ rights. Child watch addresses the needs of high-risk children living on the street by providing rescue, shelter, counselling, nutrition, healthcare and possible repatriation of children to their families.
Overall Objectives:
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To reach out to exploited, sick and hungry children living on the street.
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To set up initiatives that will ensure protection, health, emotional and psychological support for children at risk.
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To enlist the cooperation of key figures in the area, thereby ensuring sustainability of protection.
Brief Activities of Child Watch Project:
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4 Nabadisha /Drop In Centres set up in police stations in collaboration with Kolkata Police
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Open Shelter —Drop in centre for addicted children and a remedial coaching centre and life skills training unit
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Howrah De Addiction Centre —Drop in centre for addicted children & Punorjibon Rehabilitation Center for Solvent Addicted children
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Night Round & Day Round for the rescue of children in vulnerable situations
Achievements:
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Of 391 children attending Nabadisha, 160 children are placed in formal schools day boarding, hostels and shelter homes.
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Six children have being trained on life skills and driving skills. All children have completed the class and have received their driving licence.
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One hundred and eleven children received individual counselling and 270 children attended group-counselling sessions. The counselling component of the child watch program deals with issues such as violation of child rights, sexual abuse, insecurity, irregularity, addiction, behavioural problems, substance abuse, anger management, hyperactivity and behavioural management. Attention & concentration, communication skills, adjustment, family violence, school refusal, relationships & concepts of home life and risks associated with improper socialization are also addressed.
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By organizing night rounds, Hope Kolkata Foundation is providing complete and continuous protection for the children thus protecting the children from possible abuses. Follow up continues during daylight hours.
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Repatriating children with their families if appropriate and possible.
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Placing high risk girls in homes/ night shelters and
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Hospitalising sick and injured children.
These are some of the actions undertaken by the Night Round programme:
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Thirty-six children were rescued.
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Twenty-four children were repatriated.
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Six children were rehabilitated.
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Forty-four high-risk children were placed with other NGOs.
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Twenty-seven children were referred to other shelter homes.
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Ninety children received emergency health support.
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Twenty-five children received treatment in hospital.
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Two hundred and seventeen high-risk children were followed up.
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Four hundred people received emergency relief services during an 8 day monsoon heavy rain period
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Two boys attending the crisis intervention centre received prosthetic limbs free of cost (one child has been fitted and the other will be fitted once his corrective surgery is complete). These children will be fully mobile with the help of these prosthetic limbs.
A success story of rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation:
Dipak Dey (10+) and Biswajit Chowdhury (14+) were referred to Hope Kolkata by “CONC’RN”(“Care of Needy Children Rightfully Nurtured”), an organisation based in Jalpaiguri, North Bengal.
Conc’n run a drop in centre in New Jalpaiguri railway platform for solvent addicted or substance abusing children.
Why referred?
The boys arrived at Hope Kolkata Foundation on the 20th of November 2007. Both boys were injured and in very bad condition. Biswajit’s right leg and right hand were amputated as a result of a rail accident that occurred on the 24th of August 2007. Biswajit had fallen unconscious from drugs and had fallen in front of an oncoming train. Dipak also lost part of his right hand and his leg in a similar accident. They received primary treatment, at the time of the accident but this treatment was not a sufficient level of care for both boys. When Dipak arrived at HKF, his wound on his right hand was infected and required immediate treatment.
Background
Biswajit lived with his stepmother, father and siblings. His family tortured him and as a result he ran away and stayed in New Jalpaiguri platform. Before running away, he was a child labourer working on a street food stall. When he came to the railway station, he became addicted to solvents to kill the pain of loneliness and peer pressure. He started taking “ganja” and other drug substances.
The organization “CONCERN admitted him to their drop in center, but his addiction did not stop.
On the 24th August 2007 he decided to race with a running train while completely intoxicated on drugs. His accident resulted in his loss of limbs.
Dipak was also a run away child. He and his elder brother both ran away because, they lost their father a few years back and his mother abandoned them. Their grandmother used to beat them and force them to work.
Both of them came to the railway platform of New Jalpaiguri. They became addicted to dendrite glue etc.
Though they attended “CONC’RN’s drop in centre, their addiction continued.
Dipak started the education programme in the centre also.
What we did and why?
Immediately after their rescue on the 20th of November 2007, the boys were transferred to Parksite nursing home where they were admitted under the care of orthopaedic doctor, Dr. Pujari & plastic surgeon Dr. Suparna Ghosh. Both boys underwent major operations. Dipak had two consecutive operations, as his condition was more vulnerable as a result of his infection in his hand.
Both boys were psychologically traumatized as a result of their ordeal. Dipak was especially vulnerable as he was younger and his injury was much more severe. He was an attention seeking sweet little child and he struggled to overcome his trauma.
Besides their addiction, they were dropouts from school, detached from family and had no support network available to them. Under such circumstances, we felt it obvious and humane to provide them necessary services and support.
What happened to them after?
Over time, Biswajit improved. Biswajit was placed in our boy’s crisis intervention centre on the 27th of December 07. Dipak was placed in the boys home on the 18th January 08.
HOPE Kolkata Foundation also followed up with an organization called Mahaveer Seva Sadan. Following a few appointments and fittings, Biswajit was fitted with a prosthetic on the 1st of March 08. Mahaveer Seva Sadan provided the service at no charge.
Counselling support was also provided to both boys while they were staying at the centre.
The boys were also encouraged to pursue their education. Dipak is willing to continue his studies. Biswajit was less interested in education.
Once fitted with his artificial limb, Biswajit returned to his village and met with his family.
He later returned to Kolkata as he did not want to go back to his previous life of pain and sufferings. His father is a vegetable vendor and his stepmother is paralyzed. The family’s earnings are twenty euro per month. At present he is living in Punorjibon Rehabilitation home where he dreams of building a new and brighter future. He now understands the importance of life skills training if he is to become self-sufficient.
Dipak is continuing in education. He also continues to receive counselling support. Dipak is a very meritorious and intelligent child. HKF ’s plan is to enroll Dipak in formal school. HKF will continue to help him to build a successful future. As Dipak is an orphan child, he needs all the support we can give him.
Hospital expenses:
The hospital costs for Dipak totaled 1,000 Euro and Biswajit’s hospital expenses totaled 500 euro. Dipak will have another surgical procedure in the near future so that his artificial leg can be fitted. With the generous support of the Hope Foundation, both boys now have the opportunity to live a normal life. They are coping well with their physical disabilities and enjoying a new life in the Punorjibon Home.
