The Hindu : New Delhi News : A dream comes true for street kids

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

A dream comes true for street kids

By Bindu Shajan Perapaddan

The four street kids who have got admission to a Government school, from left to right, Pintu, Ajay, Rishi and Sunil.

NEW DELHI, AUG. 8. This one is for anybody who doubts the ability of life to take people by surprise. Miracles do happen and when lady luck decides to be kind, no one can stop her.

Yes, life suddenly seems to have taken on a new meaning for four boys who are witnessing an unforgettable dream coming true for them this academic year thanks to the Government Co-ed Secondary School, Masjid Moth, South Extension part -II.

Having abandoned their life on the streets, the four boys -- Pintu, Ajay, Sunil, Rishi -- have found admission into the school and by corollary a new life and many new friends. And while life seems to have given these young boys yet another chance, they seem all too eager to grab it with both their hands.

All four boys picked up by the non-government organisation Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (Chetna) had a history of abuse and drug addiction. Abandoned by their parents, the boys had to polish shoes, pick garbage from the streets and do menial jobs to sustain themselves and were constantly at the receiving end of policemen and older boys.

"Life has never been better,'' says Ajay who has never lived in a home before coming to Chetna. Abandoned by his mother and addicted to "whiteners'' Ajay used to collect garbage earning Rs. 20-30 a day and would then have to face harassment by cops who he claims would pick up boys like him and beat them up accusing them of stealing or causing mischief. "Today I go to school along with other boys and am happy. I want to learn how to assemble mobile phones when I grow up. And since I have no family I want to go abroad and work,'' says Ajay, who adds that he loves a plate of `channa-roti' and is crazy about Sunil Shetty.

But giving admission to these street children has not been an easy decision for the school authorities. There were too many considerations including acceptance by other students and teachers, worries about how the boys would adjust to the disciplined life of the school and even the question of whether they would be able to cope up with the rest of the class.

"We had already worked with one street child from the same organisation and we found good results. The boy is good in his studies and is well behaved. Encouraged by his results we decided to take a chance. And we have found that with a little hard work and some adjustments from both sides, life can be improved for these children. While we have provided them with free uniform and books, I have also asked my teachers to take care of these students. Also, their co-students have not been told about he background of the four,'' explained the principal of the Government Co-ed Secondary School Renu Sharma.

Meanwhile, Chetna's director Sanjay Gupta claims that making the dream of these children come true wasn't an easy task. "The boys came to us after they came to know us through their friends about the various programmes and were keen to go to school. And while we haven't been able to give them a home, we have placed in their hands a tool to make their lives better. They continue to do small jobs and even sleep in night shelters but are confident boys now and know that they can do something with their lives,'' said Sanjay.

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