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
Top Related