The Journey of a Child Friendly Railway Station Rescue and Rehabilitation of Children in Difficult

Circumstances at Lucknow Railway Station

A Presentation by :Ms Shachi Singh: Social Worker – Founder General Secretary Ehsaas

Mr. Ashwini Srivastav: Sr. DCM Northern Railways Lucknow

A RAILWAY STATION WITH PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT SO THAT NO CHILD IS AT RISK OF EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE OF ANY FORM

Insights that led to ActionChildren alone & at Risk around Railway Stations is A

heterogeneous Group requiring specific intervention for specific group eg: abandoned , lost runaway, trafficked

Children at the platform may be broadly divided into 2 groups

a) New Children b) Old Children

In Need of Care and Protection

In conflict with law

ANY CHILD WHO IS IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION IF NOT REMOVED MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME A CHILD IN CONFLICT WITH LAW

Common Trajectory of a Child on the Railway Station if Remained unattended :

For Boys :Once at the station Falls prey to

bad habits eg gambling

/substance abuse

Begging / odd jobs

Makes acquaintances

Ends up in prison

Attached to bigger gangs that exploit them Big crimes

Petty crime/survival

For Girls : Falls prey to ill intentioned boys and men

or pimps Begging / odd jobs

Accompanies family or send

by guardian Disappears from Scene:

A case of missing girl child

May be doing jobs, dead due to teenage pregnancies, or kept at home or

Trafficked the possibilities are many and frightening

Railway Children Surveillance and Protection Mechanism led to creating a Child Friendly

Station

The Railway Children Surveillance and Protection Mechanism is a Systemic

Intervention of surveillance for a protective environment which

*IDENTIFY *RESCUE *REINTEGRATE *REUNIFY

*MAINSTREAM children found on railway platforms through

networking and collaborative efforts

The Railway Children Surveillance and Protection Mechanism for a Child Friendly Station : A Three Tier Structure PLANNING

AND MONITORING COMMITTEE

RAILWAY CHILDREN

SURVEILLANCE AND PROTECTION

CELL

SURVEILLANCE & PROTECTION

NETWORK

Senior Railway & police Officials and NGO heads

Station level Railway & police officials and NGO coordinators and outreach workers

NGO’s

Child line

Coolies

Vendors

Railway Officials

Peer Educators

Street Children

Passenger

The Railway Children Surveillance and Protection Mechanism for a Child Friendly Station : Key Strengths Team work: A Multi-Stakeholder collaborative efforts

with clear roles and responsibilities based on skills. - GRP, RPF, Railway Officials,Porters,Vendors,Ngos,CHILDLINE,Passengers,Peer Educators

Each stake holder feels empowered to help children as the process is simplified and joint effort reduces the burden on any one agency.

Preventive and early intervention strategy.Helps identify source districts and areas of

intervention.Identifies abusers and ensures prompt action.A proper monitoring mechanism.

Infrastructure

Awareness

Identification and Rehabilitation of children

Safety Network

Training

Infrastructure

24 hr Drop in Shelter/ Open

Shelter

Child Protection

Booth

To identify and respond to the emergent needs of abandoned, missing, runaway and other vulnerable children Provide First Aid . This is supported by outreach team and the platform stakeholders surveillance network

Counselling, Restoration, Vocational Training. A safe enviornment for gradual weaning off the street

Basic Facilities : Nutrition, Health, Shelter, Education , Referrals

Support System at the city level for differently able

children , beggars, terminally ill and Children Homes

A Strong Protection Network

•Through monthly reports

•Quarterly meeting •Children Feedback

-Child welfare officers in RPF &

GRP -Trained , sensitive

and responsive police personnel

A strong network of support

organizations with clear roles and

responsibilities

Effective Outreach and CCTv Cameras

Active Participation of CHILDLINE .

A Monitoring Mechanism

A vigilant and responsive formal Bal Sahayata Manch (Child

protection forums) of stakeholders vendors , coolies ,

TCs at the platform

Implementation of legal

provisions for children

The Juvenile

Justice Act

Awareness and change in

perceptions

Announcements

Directions and guidelines to

assist vulnerable children

Providing life skills education

to older children

Proactive CWC and

JJBs

The Impact Child Labour Free Zone : No child employed at the station by

vendors and others if child is found by them they hand over to Child Protection Booth or GRP/RPF

Adult Abusers Identified and arrested.

Principle of Diversion applied by police and children identified as in need of care and protection and referred to Child Welfare Committees

New children identified everyday and either reunified or other rehabilitation efforts made for each child.

Active participation of Railway Officers in awareness programs , granting permission for display material ,pledge taking ceremony etc . due to shared vision to make the Station a Child Friendly Station

The GRP police station declared as a Child Friendly Police Station and constantly trains the new recruits.

Total Children Contacted

3425

Boys 3076

Girls 349

Reason of Leaving Home

Run Away 3102

Missing 204

Orphan 48

Abandoned 44

Trafficked 27

3425

Railway Children Surveillance & Protection Mechanism

June 2007 to Nov 2014

The Way ForwardImplement all other provisions of SOP issued by Railways

which do not already exist at the Lucknow StationReplicate the model in 6 more cities under Lucknow

Northern Railway Division in phase 1

Strengthen partnerships between various government departments

Strengthen surveillance inside trains to protect trafficked, missing and other children in difficult circumstances.

Barabanki Faizabad Unnao

Varanasi Raibariely Sultanpur

Thank You