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It's not British, it's no corporation, but this BBC is some broadcaster. Tune in with SANJAY AUSTA.
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FOR THE better part of their time they rummage through garbage heaps, wash dishes in homes, shine shoes outside railway stations or dodge the local beat constable. But when these street children take the mike they become professional media persons, asking loaded questions ranging from politics to social development. They have a media society called Butterflies Broadcasting Children (BBC), under which over 25 homeless children try to spread awareness about their needs, rights and problems of their lot.
Every Thursday they have their editorial meeting, where they discuss different themes for their programmes. They also distribute the work and decide who will hold the mike, ask questions, record, edit, etc. They interview those who come directly in contact with street children like cops and social workers. The 30-minute recording is then edited on a computer, interspersed with jokes, jingles and anecdotes to make it interesting and played out at any public place in New Delhi. These children have been doing these outdoor programmes for over four years now, and Butterflies, the NGO helping them, hopes to get them a slot on the radio soon. "We have been getting a tremendous response from people who hear these broadcasts in public places. Of course, there are those who look at these children and say they are up to no good. But the majority of people have encouraged them for their unique work," says Sunil, a media coordinator with Butterflies. Most of these children have run away from home because of alcoholic parents, stepmothers or to escape beatings. They come from neighbouring towns and do odd jobs, from working in a dhaba to becoming ragpickers. Papu, a 14-year-old ragpicker, ran away from his stepmother. Working with the BBC for a year, he says, "I want people to be aware of our problems. There is so much exploitation, and we become an easy target for anyone. Once I was arrested and beaten up by the cops just because I was on the railway platform." Almost all their themes revolve around the street children's problems. The last theme, before their recording machine broke down, was elections and how they would impact the aspirations of these destitute children. They interviewed many people, including politicians, about what they knew about the street children, or what they would do to help them if they came to power. One of the memorable pre-election interactions was with Dr. Manmohan Singh. "We spent over an hour with him. We gave him an 18-page memorandum, and he read through it very carefully. He told us if his party came to power he would do something," says 15-year-old Priya. Now that Dr. Manmohan Singh is the Prime Minister, these children have great hopes their problems will be addressed sooner than later.
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