Let’s Join Hands To Give A Promising Future to India’s Street Children
As the citizens of India, the children of the country must be well looked after. After all, they are the future and every country’s prosperity is significantly related to how well the children are taken care of. Let’s unite to recognise the value of the youth in the nation and inspire those around us to aid in their growth.
Unfortunately, many underprivileged children work to support themselves daily. In India, this is the grim reality of life for a street child. All children must be under adult supervision yet children who live on the streets are left to fend for themselves. Vegetable markets, railroad stations, bus stops, shady alleys, factories, and even residential areas are places where they hunt for odd employment. Children put in arduous, long hours for a below-minimum wage. Their physical, mental, and even psychological health suffers greatly as a result.
Street children engaging in child labour can be witnessed all over the country. Unfortunately, a lot of people have chosen to disregard this practice because they have grown numb to it. Sadly, well-educated and wealthy families also employ children at their homes (domestic assistance or nannies) and places of work without any hesitation or second thought. This must end, and there must be an elaborate and effective plan in place to help them recover and rehabilitate — an evolved approach and action are the need of the hour.
Children can be seen begging anywhere in India, including at traffic lights and major marketplaces. The cause is that underprivileged children have no other method to get access to any essential materials. They typically live in utter poverty without access to adequate food or shelter, even when they are working for their daily wage.
Underprivileged children must go to school — after all, it is their birthright. They need to interact with other children of their age and engage in some quality playtime. They also require proper healthcare resources regularly so that they do not face any unseen or undetected health scares. Vaccinations and other immunizations are also integral for wholesome development. All children must feel safe and protected, irrespective of their socio-economic background. Street children must experience a safe and stable environment, far from the surroundings that a street child experiences daily.
Salaam Baalak Trust, an NGO in Delhi NCR, is a reputed non-profit organisation that has been working for the welfare of street children for over 30 years. SBT runs Children’s Homes for boys and girls to ensure they have access to all of the basic necessities. This includes a safe shelter, regular meals, proper education, mental health programmes, job placement etc. You can support their future by donating for children’s education and their overall development. Support now!
