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

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

A dream come true for street kids

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI: It was like a dream come true for 52 street children and working children from Delhi and Noida who finally got an opportunity to go to school.

Their dream was realised with help from non-government organisation "Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action'' (CHETNA) which along with the United Nations Development Programme and corporate inputs has managed to give the children a chance at "educating themselves''. Most of these children work as rag pickers, vendors and beer bottle pickers.

Speaking about his chance to finally study in a school and have classmates, 10-year-old Kanhaiya, who sells decorative lights at India Gate and has got admission to Nirmal Primary Schools on Shahjahan Road, says: "When I grow up I will also run an NGO and see to it that no child has to work on the streets any more.''

The story is no different for 12-year-old Juhi who looks after a family of seven. She wakes up at 4 a.m. to do household chores and later makes time to study at the centre run by CHETNA. "The Government has given good facilities for these children. Their fee varies from 10 paise to Rs. 1.20 to study in a government school. We have already distributed uniforms to the girl students. I sincerely think that these children also have the right to education,'' says Satyabati Kalra, Principal of the Primary School in Sector 15 of Naya Bans, who has admitted 20 children.

Delhi has more than 12 lakh out-of-school children and more than 1.5 lakh children are eligible to get admission in private schools this year.

"Our target is to get 500 children enrolled this year. But this is not at all an easy task. We need to do regular follow-up with the children to continue school. For this we look forward to support form the government and the corporate sector,'' explains CHETNA director Sanjay Gupta.

Speaking about the programme and the changing attitude of school authorities, CHETNA education coordinator Anamika says: "I was surprised with the attitude of principals whom I have interacted with. There is a visible change in their attitude. Last year we were able to admit only 14 children. This may be the outcome of constant awareness programmes by the Government with the help of non-government organisations.''

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