New Delhi: The number of street children are on rise. Without any estimate or census, children are surviving with their own means and ways by picking rags, begging, working as casual labourers, doing all good or bad things, that can help them survive each day. Government needs some data or figures to initiate welfare schemes for street children but it feels helpless when it comes to counting them.
"Is counting that difficult? We are doing it at the Nizamuddin Sarai Kale Khan area. We are doing it in child friendly ways, and we will be happy to share data in a press conference around 20th of November," says Jyoti, a 16 year old former street beggar and now National Secretary of Badthe Kadam- A Federation of Street and Working Children.
Jyoti along with others in absence of response from Government, thought of initiating a census of peers. The 20 day census is just focussed in Sarai Kale Khan area till Platform number 1 of Nizamuddin Railway station. "We have divided the entire area into 5 grids and a social map has been made to guide the surveyors. Children are contacted using three different methods to ensure accuracy," said 18 years old Chandni, a former rag picker turned advisor of Badthe Kadam. "We are aware that people may doubt our methods, so we are prepared with full-proof methods," said Chandni.
"Contacting children is not that easy, as there are many children and they keep changing places. This was the biggest hurdle. We invented a way. We tied a holy band from Nizamudin Aulliya's Dargah, and requested children not to remove it for the next seven days. This trick really worked," said 19 years old Sanno, who happens to be a child labourer in a garment industry at East Delhi and presently is advisor of a street children run newspaper called Balaknama. We are facing lots of arrogance from employers and to overcome them we invented a new way and we shared that we were there to educate children about child helpline 1098. This trick is working and employers are allowing us to interact with children," said Sanno.
"We are finding it difficult under Sarai Kale Khan flyover, as every day 15-20 new children are arriving. During the process we also came to know that every month 3-4 babies (less then 8 months old) are getting stolen. The survey may reveal many findings," said 17 years old Shambhu a former car cleaner and now district secretary of Badthe Kadam.
"I had met Deputy CM Shri Manish Sisodiya and he shared that he is meetings with children at schools. I requested him to do similar exercises with street children and we are still waiting to hear, however his response was very positive," said Sanno
"We are not worried if our attempt go unnoticed. We are doing our bit. We know that street children are everywhere. In the last 10 days just in three of five areas, we found 400 children, and we are estimating the same in rest of the area. This is just a small sample to convey: when a team of 6-8 street children/youth can do this census, why government cannot do at Delhi level?" asks Chandni
"I am happy that someone at least asked me about my well being. I have shared all my heart with the survey team. I wish to go to a children's home. Lets see how this counting may help me", says 14 years old Aslam, a rag picker, who showed his hand band with pride.
"We are really amazed with the idea which these children have drawn the attention of the authorities. They came to us and we were happy to provide them inputs in their idea. We even deputed interns from Department of Social work, Jamia Milia Islamia to assist these children. Census of street children is an issue of international debate. These young urchins are showing ways to rest of world", said Sanjay Gupta, director of NGO Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action (CHETNA) that mentors Badthe Kadam.
