Child Beggars in India - keeping these kids safe

This is the second of a series of blogs about the work of Project Help India in the area of anti-human trafficking. In our first blog we provided an overview of the work we do, this week we want to tell you specifically about anti-childhood begging. Kids who beg are most vulnerable to trafficking - the two go hand in hand and are usually run by the same crime syndicates (local mafia) - especially in the slums.

There are at least 300 000 child beggars on the streets of India, with some estimates of over half a million kids. Most of these children do not attend school. According to Cook (2019), many children are actually abducted and forced into begging.

“The statistics are alarming. According to the Indian National Human Rights Commission, up to 40,000 children are abducted every year. The whereabouts of more than 10,000 of them remain unknown. What's more, it's estimated that 300,000 children across India are drugged, beaten and made to beg every day. It's a multi-million dollar industry that's controlled by human trafficking cartels.”

Project Help India contributing to ‘Operation Mukti’

It was just this week on Wednesday 3rd August that 2 members of the Project Help team, Shalini and Arunima, attended the first of a number of planning meetings for ‘Operation Mukti’ at the Kotdwara City Police Station.

‘Operation Mukti’ is a child safety initiative conducted by the Uttarakhand Police and led by the Deputy Police Superintendent. The operation will be held in partnership with a number of government departments including the Social Welfare Department, Child Development Department, Child Welfare Committee, Department of Labour and Employment, Health Department and Child Helpline Department. Project Help India is the only non-government organisation (NGO) invited to participate.

The motto of the operation is “Support to educate a child”. The aims are to;

  • to stop child beggars.

  • promote education among the children

  • raise community awareness to prevent child beggars

  • protect vulnerable children from trafficking and other forms of exploitation

Operation Mukti will be held across a very wide region of Uttarakhand State during August and September (60 days) and it will be divided into three stages.

Stage 1: To mark out areas where children beg and work as scrap/reg pickers. Children will be identified and educated about the dangers of begging and provided with pathways for attending school as an alternative.  

Stage 2: Delivery of a community awareness program is spreading awareness in the region about child labour, child begging and how people can assist to fight this social issue

Stage 3: Implementing individual plans (IPs) designed for individual children. Risk assessments for these children will be based on their level of risk of harm, needs and personal circumstances.

At the meeting our staff, Shalini and Arunima, spoke about the mission of Project Help India specifically about our education centres and parent seminars. The many officials were grateful for our willingness to contribute and they also acknowledged the significant contribution that Project Help played during the COVID lockdown.

The Project Help India team has been asked to play a critical role in Operation Mukti, particularly in the delivery of Stages 2 and 3. At the meeting, officials from all of the departments praised the work of Project Help India and acknowledged our key role in ensuring the success and smooth running of the Operation.

Further to this, the Child Development Department asked Project Help to assist in the rehabilitation of two orphaned kids from the Dugadda region. We were then approached by an official of the Child Helpline Department to assist in the resettlement of families from the Himalayan hills who have lost their homes due to the recent heavy rain.

It is an incredible honour for Project Help India to participate in Operation Mukti, and an important responsibility that we now have to help these 2 kids and people in need.

How you can help

For us to provide the time and resources require we ask for your help that we might specifically create the role of a Project Help Child Safety Officer. We mentioned this last week. We are seeking a donation of $1500 AUS would pay the annual salary a Project Help Community Care Worker - a specific role that we would love to create to specifically develop our anti-human trafficking programs, and participations in joint venture initiatives such as Operation Mukti. Please contact us if you can help.

Thank you so much.

 

 

 

 

 

#endhumantrafficking

Globally, one in every three victims of trafficking detected is a child. The share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled, while the share of boys has increased five times over the past 15 years. *

Today, 30th July, is World Day Against Trafficking

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery that exists in every corner of the world. Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Human trafficking in India is one of the largest aspects of organised crime. According to data, Divya (2020) suggests that 95% of trafficked persons in India are forced into prostitution. A Reuters study (in Habibulla 2021) estimates there are 20 million prostitutes in India - 16 million women and girls are victims of trafficking. Most remain in forced labour and debt bondage for life, unable to ever return to their home and family. COVID has exacerbated existing inequalities and made those living in poverty, especially the Dalits, even more vulnerable to significant harm and exploitation. 

For Project Help India, ‘World Day Against Trafficking’ provides us with an opportunity to share with you the important work that we do to fight this hideous crime, and to raise awareness with you.

Our work in Anti-Human Trafficking is one aspect of the ‘holistic’ nature of our mission to care for children. The main areas of vulnerability for the kids that we work with are sex trafficking, forced hard labour, forced marriage and organ harvesting. Our efforts mostly focus on education and awareness. We also work closely in partnership with the local police responding to situations specific to the children and families who attend our education centres, or who are known members of the slum communities and villages where we work. Organised crime syndicates (mafia) prey on vulnerable slum kids and they also target parents who may be unemployed, alcoholics, addicts or living in desperate circumstances. To sell your child for as little as $50 with the promise of a better life for them, can be an easy trap.

Project help works hard to keep our students safe from these people (many of whom are also ensnared in a vicious web caused by their own circumstance of poverty). This is why our staff are visible and highly engaged in community life.

What we do

  • we support and provide assistance where possible to the under resourced Uttarakhand State Police Anti-Human Trafficking Unit. The police work closely with our team to deliver school and community awareness programs and interventions to rescue missing children and young people.

  • In 2021-2022 Project Help India, with the police delivered 16 workshops in local schools and colleges

  • We estimate that 5000-6000 students attended these workshops

  • We transported the police between venues, providing refreshments and equipment such as data projectors and sound systems

  • Our teachers at our 8 Centres provide regular safety lessons to all of our students. Awareness of sensitive and scary content for children, is presented in a caring and age-appropriate way.

  • Information seminars for the parents of our students are also delivered.

  • We duly note that 16 children were rescued over the past 12 months by the Police Team in Kotdwara.

How you can help

If this is an area of social justice and advocacy that you are invested in, please let us know. Your donation to Project Help India’ can be directly used to support our Anti-Human Trafficking initiatives. Over the years, some of our supporters have asked for their donation to be specifically used to fund our school programs and to help and encourage the police team. At times we buy resources (printers, ink cartridges, paper and stationery) for the Police Unit. It would be our great pleasure to direct your donation to your requested area of impact.

Any large donation would certainly provide us with leverage to do more. Your donation of $1500 AUS would pay the annual salary a Project Help Community Care Worker - a specific role that we would love to create to specifically develop our anti-human trafficking programs. Please let us know if you would like to help. 

Our Annual Report for 2021 is pretty exciting!

2021 was significant for us as we moved forward in the breadth and depth of our projects and the level of support provided to individuals, families in the slum communities of Kotdwara, Bijnor and Chandigarh – especially in our response to the COVID pandemic in India.

We hope that you are able to take a small amount of time to read this report as we are confident that you'll be encouraged by how much has been achieved within the short space of 12 months. Link here

In 2021 we received donations and income totalling $220 911. This is an incredible amount and we are so thankful considering that in 2020 we received $149 539 and in 2019 we received $45 774. We believe that this amazing result reflects the deep compassion of our supporters as we witnessed last year the suffering in India caused by COVID, especially its impact on those living in poverty. Sadly today, we see the ongoing impact of the pandemic on many people …the poor just seem to get poorer – it’s a brutal reality and an ugly vicious cycle.

A special thanks goes to Janus Henderson Foundation for your donation of $51 000 and the MorningCrew, led by Andrew Costello (Cosi) at Radio SAFM for inspiring their listeners to donate $25 000 in just 2 weeks during the height of the lockdown in India. Thank you to everyone for your donation large or small - every dollar makes a difference. We know for a fact that your generosity has literally saved countless lives.

For those who have so generously given to the Project Help India story this year and in 2021, we can't thank you enough. You may not realise this but you are a significant part of the story of people’s lives. We 'do life' with these people and we have witnessed first-hand the difference your financial contribution has made to their circumstances, providing them with hope, dignity and love.

“At Project help India we seek to learn from the people we help and get alongside. We celebrate our differences, earning respect and building trust as we live life in community together.”

As we reflect on these many achievements, our thanks and admiration goes to two very special and inspiring people, Amit and Daisy Samuel. It is Amit and Daisy who each and every day, pour out their hearts, energy and love to their community. Their efforts and sacrifices often go unnoticed, and their work is challenging and difficult. Amit and Daisy are both incredibly well respected by the leaders of Kotdwara, they bring vision and are often called upon to provide counselling, guidance, respite and mediation. They are God’s love to this remote and often forgotten part of the world. If you would like to meet Amit and Daisy, we will be holding a Zoom supporters evening in August (invitation to come). Thank you also to our wider team of 28 staff In Kotdwara and Bijnor… you are all remarkable.

To our supporters, do not underestimate the power of your giving. Please continue to be generous because the impact on people's (especially children) present circumstances and their ultimate future is significant.

Please contact us, if you would like your donation to go towards a particular need or project that touches your heart. And please be in touch if you would like to know more.

Again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. With love and thanks, from the team at Project Help India.

Their eyes shining with happiness

Here’s some fantastic news about two of the kids who attend our new school in Village Dalernagar which opened in June.

You might recall that ‘Project Help India’ has brought education for the very first time to these kids, and their community in Northern India. As with our three other schools close by, the location of Village Dalernagar is incredibly remote. This community is isolated from due to the mountainous terrain, dense jungle, poor roads, extreme heat in summer, monsoon floods and landslides. A motor bike ride to the closest local school (approximately 20 kilometres away) is not possible for these families that live in poverty.

The main source of income for the families in this village is cattle rearing and the selling of milk. These families barely make enough money to survive. They only live with the most basic of basics. There are no healthcare facilities close by. In case of a medical emergency the people have to wait for next morning to travel to the nearby city of Kotdwara. Without a school there is also little for the children to do. They spend their time sleeping, roaming or working for their family. Teens and pre-teens are particularly at risk of harmful behaviours due to little supervision or monitoring. The traditional practice of Guana, the early marriage of girls from age 13, is also followed by many families.

For the kids who are now attending our new centre, the past few weeks have been a life transforming experience.

Imran’s Story

Imran a 12 year old boy, born to a Muslim family of the Gujjar community. His father’s name is Mr. Gulam Rasool and his mother’s name is Mrs. Reshma Khatun.  He has a younger brother, Rihan, and a younger sister, Afreen. He lives in a mud house in the middle of a jungle. Imran was once a disobedient, naughty and undisciplined child. He spent his days sleeping, fighting and roaming around, and was famous among the villager for all the wrong reasons. He has never been to any school or has ever learned to read and write. When the education centre was opened, he was among the first intake. He has been greatly inspired his teacher Dilshad and his lessons. Once described as a very naughty boy, Imran is now the first to get to class. He tries his best to learn all new things and he enthusiastically participates in all of the activities. He listens to the teacher with curiosity and concentration. The teacher and his parents have observed significant positive changes in Imran. He now wakes up early and revises the lessons taught. He is now rarely involved in fights. …’this once known delinquent has now turned into a decent and hard-working student’. *

Imran’s family expresses gratitude and immense happiness for all the positive changes and growth of their son. They thank Project Help India for bringing education in their village and in the lives of children.

Asma’s Story

Asma is a 9 year old girl who lives with her family in the middle of the jungles of Dalenagar. She is the youngest sister among her 4 siblings. Her father Mr.Samshad does cattle rearing and sells its milk while her mother Mrs Aamna is a housewife. Asma is a cheerful, ambitious and energetic girl who from a young age, has shown interest in learning, saying if only she could go to school.

Asma was always interested in playing with books and fascinated by the pictures. Once, her elder brother went to a school in another city and he came back on the holidays. He sometimes brought books back home to give to his little sister. As Asma grew she was not only interested in playing with the books but she also tried to read them. Her dream of learning and to be able to read was only a dream because there was no school in her village or the surrounding area. Little did Asma know her dream was about to come true.

Asma was head over heels when she heard that Project Help India was opening a school in her village, She had to wait for 9 years to begin her education and to live her dream. Asma is the one of the most active, intelligent students in her class. She comes to class daily and never misses any work told by her teacher. She completes all her homework and classwork on time. Asma has started recognising the alphabet in her books and she eagerly awaits the time for when she will start reading and understanding.

Asma says that she hopes to become a teacher one day, to be able to help other children like her. ‘Her eyes shine with happiness when she talks about going to school and she thanks Project Help India for helping her to take the first step towards her dream’. *

For both Imran and Asma, their eyes are beaming with happiness and they have a great sense of pride. At ‘Project help India’ we too are delighted and so proud of all our new students.

We thank our supporters for helping us to transform the lives of kids, their parents and family and ultimately their community

*quoted from ‘Project Help India’ Field Officer’s report (July 22)

Above ….a few more smiles from some of our new students

Become part of the story

Thank you for making a difference and for helping us to tell our story