Railway Children India’s (RCI’s) dedicated teams protect at-risk children from transport hubs, facilitate stays at safe spaces till the time they’re reunited with their families and, eventually, gather strength and help from all corners to reunite children with their family. The more vital role of our teams, however, begins at the next step, where we attempt to fill any visible cracks that could lead children back to the vulnerable situations they found themselves in.
These cracks could be addiction issues, lack of financial resources, lack of employment for parents and more. Reunification and follow-up, therefore, reveal an array of issues. The solutions to these issues often lie in the myriad social schemes provided by the government, and require linking of in-need families, parents and children to be linked with helpful schemes. Here’s where RCI steps in as a facilitator, eliminating core issues at the root, preventing children from slipping back through the cracks.
Here are 5 ground stories where RCI helped families get linked to useful social schemes, and created a lasting impact on their lives. Read on!
1.The Ripple Effect of Financial Inclusion: Divyank’s Story
Divyank (name changed), is a 7-year-old resident of Daya Basti, Delhi. After his father’s untimely demise, Divyank and his mother found themselves navigating a challenging life. Divyank’s mother, Rajvi (name changed), now a single parent, faced numerous hurdles, exacerbated by a lack of support from her in-laws.
Rajvi’s efforts to secure government aid for Divyank were thwarted by the absence of a bank account in his name. With support from RCI, Rajvi navigated the complexities of opening her own account and subsequently a joint account for Divyank, overcoming initial difficulties. This achievement not only relieved Rajvi but also ensured Divyank’s eligibility for crucial government benefits.
Divyank’s case highlights the transformative power of financial inclusion and community support in overcoming adversity. It underscores the need for ongoing efforts to empower individuals, particularly single parents, with the knowledge and resources necessary to navigate the intricacies of the financial system and access the opportunities that can make a significant difference in their lives.
2. Education Against the Odds: Rukaiya’s Triumphant Enrolment
Rukaiya (name changed), a six-year-old girl resides in Tulsi Nagar. During the survey, it was noted that she had never been to school and spent her days wandering about in the community. Her father worked as a labourer in a bag factory and also drove a car, earning around Rs 8000 per month, which he used to support his four children. The family lives in a rented tin-shade house.
The RCI team faced challenges in encouraging Rukaiya’s parents to prioritize her education. Her father’s irregular work schedule, returning home only once in 10 days, and the absence of necessary documents made enrolling her in school a challenging task. To overcome these challenges, the RCI team raised awareness and engaged in conversations to persuade Rukaiya’s parents about the significance of education. The team also assisted in obtaining an identity card for Rukaiya’s mother from Bihar, enabling Rukaiya to be admitted to school. Thanks to these efforts, Rukaiya is now in the second grade. She attends school regularly and is a content and happy student.
3. From Financial Strain to Career Gain: Urmila’s Inspiring Journey
Urmila (name changed), a 30-year-old resident of the Balmiki Basti, Delhi Sarai Rohilla, is married to Shashikant, who worked as a clerk. Parents to two children, an 8-year-old boy in the 4th grade and a 6-year-old girl in the first grade, Urmila and her husband faced severe financial difficulties due to their modest income of Rs. 10,000.
Urmila happened to attend a parents’ meeting conducted by our team in the community’s child activity center. During this meeting, Urmila was introduced to a life-changing opportunity offered by the Government through the Pradhanmantri Kaushal Yojna. This initiative provides training courses to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30, including programs like Nursing Assistant and Front Officer training, both of which lead to valuable certifications upon completion. Urmila was excited about the possibility of gaining an employment opportunity and improving her family’s financial stability. She discussed this opportunity with her husband and sought his support to enroll in the Nursing Assistant course. With his encouragement, Urmila decided to embark on this transformative journey.
Preeti, a community volunteer from RCI, accompanied Urmila to the training center to help her with the registration process. The fact that the course was offered free of charge made it accessible to Urmila, despite her financial constraints. Urmila’s commitment to the course remained steadfast, with regular updates and guidance provided by both the volunteer and the training center.
As of today, Urmila is well on her way to completing the Nursing Assistant course in just 2-3 months. Her relentless dedication and hard work have brought her closer to obtaining a valuable certification that will open doors to employment opportunities in the healthcare sector. Urmila is brimming with gratitude towards Railway Children India for providing her with this life-altering opportunity and unwavering support through the Pradhanmantri Kaushal Yojna. The chance to acquire new skills and enhance her employability has brought hope and joy into her life.
4. Empowered by Community: The Uplifting Story of Nazir and His Family
Mohammad Noushad (name changed) had migrated from Samastipur, Bihar with his family to Tulsi Nagar in the hopes of securing a better-paying livelihood. However, this move was marred with many challenges. To begin with, the migration had resulted in the loss of schooling years for Nazir. Furthermore, Noushad’s troublesome personal life contributed to grief in the family.
Noushad worked as a daily wage labourer. Falling prey to peer pressure, Noushad soon became addicted to alcohol consumption. Thereafter, he even entered a relationship with another woman, which caused a violent stir in the family’s peace.
Nazir’s (name changed) mother, Shabana, was posed with a massive problem of financial uncertainty. This not only forced her to look for a job as a domestic help, but also forced Nazir to look for small jobs.
Shabana started working as a domestic worker, earning Rs 5000 per month, while Nazir found work in a disposable item—making factory, earning Rs 1500 per month. He worked there for two months after RCI intervention. Subsequently, he was seen working at a tea stall, where he earned Rs 3000 per month.
Gradually, Nazir was introduced to the Child Activity Center (CAC), where he met peers and some other children who had dropped out of school like him. Spending some time with them, he realized he had some viable options in the form of vocational training and connecting with social schemes. Presently, Nazir has quit his work and is well-connected with the CAC. Furthermore, RCI also facilitated school admissions of Rahnuma and Sadhnuma, Nazir’s younger sisters—a happy and uplifting change for the entire family.
5. The Power of Persistence: Helping Vishal Overcome Substance Abuse
Eleven-year-old Mishal’s (name changed) family resides in the Kishan Ganj nearby the busy Sarai Rohilla Railway Station. While his father worked at a restaurant in the city, his mother worked as domestic help to sustain the family’s living.
During a home visit on November 10, 2023, RCI’s staff checked in with the family as a part of the team’s routine outreach program. During this interaction, it was revealed that at a tender age of 11, Mishal had fallen prey to substance abuse. Since many of his peers indulged in these activities, Vishal only followed suit to fit in. However, in doing so, he began sniffing glue, smoking, cannabis, and consuming alcohol.
The team decided to pursue this matter further by setting a meeting with Mishal’s parents. During this meeting, Mishal’s mother further revealed that this habit of substance abuse had long taken an ugly turn with Mishal having dropped out of school, and even losing consciousness from time to time.
RCI’s team member recognized that Mishal needed more than reprimanding, and decided to catch up with him every day, even if it were for short conversations to understand his unending urge at such a tender age.
Mishal didn’t take these regular sessions very well. He despised them so much that he would run miles away from the community. Later, his parents too began backing off when the idea of enrolling him in a de-addiction center was presented to them.
However, team RCI did not put a stop to its efforts. Persistently following up with both Vishal and his family, our team received the go-ahead from his parents to enroll him in a de-addiction center.
Following their go-ahead and Mishal’s consent, he was presented before the Child Welfare Committee along with his parents. The committee conducted counseling of the child and his family and ordered that after medical examination of the child, the child should be send to a de-addiction center.
After the necessary procedures, Mishal’s mother expressed her happiness at her son’s future prospects. She could finally see a life for her son, where no substance was involved, and that alone brought a smile to her face.
