The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Destitute girls start life afresh here

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Friday, Aug 22, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Destitute girls start life afresh here

D.V.L. Padma Priya

Residential Bridge Camp helps combat child labour and trafficking

Apart from providing shelter and education, RBC also counsels children regularly
Field organisers spend at least 15 to 20 days convincing girls to come to the RBC

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

For a better morrow: Girls rescued from tragic circumstances at residential bridge camp in city. —

HYDERABAD: She entered the room groggily and hugged the lady, feeling secure and warm. But until two months ago, three-year-old Rani wasn’t as comfortable. For, she was found abandoned in the Secunderabad railway station. Another girl Vennala was orphaned when her father, a farmer, committed suicide while Maheswari is a victim of domestic violence.

A common thread binds them all. They are below 13 years of age and were rescued by an NGO Aman Vedika and admitted in a Residential Bridge Camp (RBC) at Chilkalguda, run in collaboration with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). RBCs like these are the only hope for homeless children like Rani and children rescued from the scourge of child labour.

Thanks to the RBC, Vennala now goes to a Government Primary School in Medibavi along with 30 other girls. She seems as normal as any other child, with a twinkle in her eye and dreams like any other toddler of her age, to make it big in life.

With a strength of 87 girls, this camp is helping combat child labour and trafficking in its own small yet significant way. Apart from making arrangements for schooling and shelter, RBC also counsels children regularly.

Complicated task

However, it has been a challenge to ensure that the girls stayed on in the camp, says Sailaja, in-charge of the RBC. “It’s a very complicated task to handle a girl child, especially those who have been victims of sexual abuse,” she says. “I feel safe here and I want to stay here, study and become a doctor,” says Premalatha.

“Children won’t come if we tell them they would be sent to school. We have to first feed and clothe them,” she says. The field organisers spend at least 15 to 20 days convincing girls to come to the RBC. “Girls don’t trust anyone and hesitate to reveal their identity,” says V. Nirmala, a field organiser.

Working with groups like railway police, vendors associations among others, the NGO scrupulously collects information. “We have a network of informants at railway stations and bus terminals who inform us on spotting a girl moving aimlessly at public places,” says N. Yellaiah, a field organiser.

“When a girl wearing gaudy make-up or looking confused is spotted on the platform, we know that she has run away or is part of a racket and we immediately inform NGOs,” says a RPF constable.

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