The childhood of these children residing in Sundarpur suburb of Sunderpur area in Varanasi city,
Which is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Seems to be in grim darkness.
Most of the people here earn their livelihood by begging to sustain their families.
In the hope of getting more money,
these people take their children along with them, when they beg.
And start begging in the name of their children.
At this age where these children should have toys, books and pencils in their hands,
they are actually given empty utensils in their hands and are forced to beg.
So these children are deprived from all the rights they deserve, including education.
Considering the problems faced by these children,
when it was seen that the local authorities did not take any measures to save the childhood of these children.
A local social worker, Ms. Pratima has taken up a commendable step.
To save the childhood of these children,
she has started a school in her house for the 20 children of this suburb.
Actually this suburb is pretty close to our locality.
So some children from this suburb used to roam about our house.
So I was eager to find out from where these children are coming.
These children were usually seen in dirty clothes.
Sometime they would come to beg.
While sometime they would come to play around.
So I followed them to their home one day.
Then I found out that their world is pretty different.
Why not do something for them.
So that day I got inspired and decided that I should do something for these children.
- You usually write fast right?
- Yes I do.
- Why have you come here?
- I have come here to study.
- Since when you have been coming here?
- For the past 4 months.
- Who has started this school for you?
- Pratima Mam started this school for us.
- What all activities happen in your school?
- We study here, play games and we are also given delicious food and fruits to eat.
Like Bananas and Roties.
We have a prayer session in the morning.
After that Madam note down our attendance.
- Kareena.
- Yes Mam.
- Deepak.
- Mam how do you manage the expenses of this school?
- At present this school is funded by me.
I withdrew all my savings going against the will of my husband and family.
I felt that rather than keeping this money in the bank.
I should spend this money for the betterment of these children.
Because if these children are looked after in a better way,
then maybe they can create a special place in our society in days to come.
If we are unable to look after them properly and bring them on right track then
these very children can become anti-social elements and become a threat to the society.
20....Twenty
My father gets drunk and beat my mother.
And also abuses her verbally.
- And what does your mother do?
- My father also pelts stones at her and she bears all the pain.
- What does your mother do?
- She begs.
- Do you go along with her to beg?
- No I don't go.
- Did you go earlier?
- Yes I did.
- What do you aspire to become?
- A Police Officer.
- Now what challenges are there infront of you?
- There are numerous challenges.
The first and the biggest challenge is to get these children to our school and teach them.
I feel that the parents of these children are not interested in sending their children to school.
Because they feel that their children are a source of income for them,
as these children accompany their parents when they go out to beg.
And normally these children earn I.N.R. 20-30 when they accompany their mothers.
So when these children come to our school their source of income is cut off.
Which their parents don't like.
So the first thing is that they are against sending their children to our school.
I have to go to their houses personally and get the children to school.
There are many problems infront of us.
Like buying shampoo, soap and oil to give bath to these children.
Also we buy many more things in order to make the lives of these children better.
We have to also buy them stationary items,educational books and notebooks.
We have to also make sitting arrangements for these children.
We have also gathered various types of toys, which these children can play with.
And we also provide them with meals.
At present all these things are bought through my personal expenses.
But as days go by, the requirements of these children are increasing.
Now they need proper desk and bench for sitting.
They also need black board, more books, school bags and uniforms.
Which is the need of the hour and they genuinely require all these facilities.
They definitely need these facilities.
Which I'm unable to provide them with right now.
Because there are no sufficient financial resources left with me right now.
So I want that I should be provided by some financial aid from any sources.
So that the education of these children is not stopped.
I want their education to continue.
So that these children achieve a particular level in their life.
It is quite simple if all these facilities are stopped due to financial constraints then obviously.
All these children will return to their previous condition again.
They will start doing things which they would do earlier.
I only want that these children to prosper.
I have also framed a plan for this.
Which includes educating these children and creating opportunities for them.
Because these children are smart and intelligent as much as our own children.
Their I.Q. (Intelligent Quotient) is also at same level.
Only they were not getting any chances.
We gave them a chance and they excelled in a very short span of time.
Which we did not expect before.
Right now there are 20 children studying here.
And I want that this number should increase to 200.
And there should be a higher education centre started for this children
So their education never stops.
If all these thing would take time.
I would like to appeal to general public and the government to provide me with some aid.
So that all my social work doesn't stop due to my personal financial constraints.
I would like to say to the viewers who are watching this interview of us.
Please provide us with some aid in education these children.
So that we can provide these children all the facilities which they lack with the help of people like you.
There are total 70 children in this suburb.
Ms. Pratibha had taken a responsibility of educating only 20 children amongst these.
As per her financial capability.
Which she is unable to continue due to lack of resources.
At present around 50 children from this suburb are still begging on the streets.
I want that some concrete steps should be taken in order to save the childhood of these children.
So that this commendable effort of Ms. Pratibha can be carried forward.
And I appeal all the viewers to help her educate these children in whatever way you can.
I'm Shabanam from Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh, reporting for IndiaUnheard.