Project Objective
ü
To rehabilitate children abusing
substances
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To develop an effective intervention
model
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To create awareness about the issue amongst children and stakeholders
Rationale
Research studies show that the presence of Street children is an
urban phenomenon all over the world today. The problems surrounding street
children are growing in big cities and towns as a consequence of the growth in
size and complexities of cities. The accelerating processes of urbanization,
rural-urban migration, globalization and family disintegration have caused many
social problems including that of marginalized children.
Among the broad category of
marginalized children, a group of street children stands out due to their
specific characteristics and lifestyle
- Street
children are an extremely vulnerable group because of the way they are forced
to live homeless on the streets.
- They
are roofless, rootless and alienated from the society.
- They
are roofless, rootless and alienated from the society.
- They
grow up on the margins of the society without love, care, protection and
supervision of adults.
- Moreover,
they are deprived of their basic rights of survival, protection,
development and participation.
- They
have to fend for themselves for their own survival and sometimes for the
survival of their family as well.
- Civic
amenities like latrines and bathing facilities are beyond their reach.
- Malnutrition
and hunger is widespread among them.
- Due
to constant exposure to the unhealthy conditions of living on the streets,
children suffer from a range of ailments.
- Owing
to the lack of guardian control over their lives children indulge in
various addictions like smoking, sniffing glue, and Xerox solutions
leaving them debilitated.
- Street
children become the victims of the sub-culture of the street: drug abuse,
gambling, drinking, vagrancy, thieving and prostitution. They are
high-risk group for HIV/AIDS.
- Street
children are subjected to harassment and eviction by the municipal
authorities because of their unauthorized occupation of city roads and
vacant places. Street children are also
- They
are victims of physical and sexual abuse.
Target Group (at Present)
Children who reside and work within
the premises of railway stations, inside the train and surrounding area.
Work Area
Railway stations from Sealdah to Ranaghat,
Sealdah to Sonarpur, Sealdah to Bongao and the surrounding communities.
Methods
Regular counseling and therapy sessions
both with individuals and groups are essential aspects of the project. The
project comprises of an array of other activities, such as: identification of
new children indulging substance abuse, establishing strong rapport with all
the substance-abusing children, assessment of their perception and needs and
organizing activities like life skill workshops, heath camps, counseling with
parents, parent meetings, art and craft classes, etc.
Education is also provided to these
children through the system of non-formal education. Keeping the focus on the
children’s best interest, they are either sent to a shelter home or
rehabilitation centre.
