– Lopamudra Mullick Senior Manager – Program and Strategic Alliance, Railway Children
Working with families of children protected and transport terminal and vulnerable children living within slum communities settled around transport terminal is an integral part of Railway Children India’s programme. The insights gained from the extensive work with children over a period of 28 years, have guided RCI in shaping its case management approach and identifying key priority areas to establish a robust family safety net, thereby mitigating unnecessary family separations in the future.
The factors identified related to both the individual or family context and the broader community context:
- Maintaining daily activities without significant disruption.
- Negative perceptions and impacts of life on the streets.
- A strong sense of responsibility towards the family.
- The presence of supportive or attachment figures within the family or community.
- Satisfaction with current life circumstances.
- Parental understanding of their children’s needs leads to agreement with their choices.
- A small act of support to empower a family member who can then find solution themselves. E.g. a sewing machine and training to enhance the income level.
Our involvement with families extends beyond children reunified from transport terminals in and around Delhi NCR, where we intervene. We also engage with families residing in slum settlements located within 1 to 2 km from these transport terminals.
Family reintegration in the context of children protected at transport terminals
Railway Children India’s Family Reintegration Programme is a structured process aimed at ensuring the child’s well-being and successful reintegration into their family. The process begins as soon as a child is identified at a transport terminus. Initial assessments focus on understanding the child’s situation, including identifying risks, vulnerabilities, and strengths, with the child’s best interest at heart.
Following the initial assessment, the family reintegration process involves re-assessment to develop a comprehensive understanding of the immediate and ongoing needs, as well as potential risks, of the child and their family. This re-assessment paves the way for the creation of tailored Family Reintegration and Care Plans, which are critical for addressing the specific needs of both the child and the caregiver. These plans include targeted interventions and activities designed to mitigate risks and build on the child’s strengths.
The implementation of these plans varies based on the child’s geographical proximity to the project areas. Direct interventions are provided to children residing within 2-3 hours of travel from Delhi, and children living beyond these travel limits are assisted through network interventions.
This structured approach ensures that children identified at transport terminals receive tailored support and interventions, facilitating their successful reintegration into their families and communities. The ultimate goal is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive and develop positively, supported by a stable family and community network.
Family work in the context of vulnerable slum communities around transport terminals: Children from these settlements often find themselves spending time on railway tracks due to reasons such as stone pelting, dropping out of school or never having attended, lack of monitoring and supervision from the parents. Additionally, there are instances where parents attempt to marry off their daughters or push their sons into child labour.
Presently RCI is working with 1789 children and 944 families across 7 slum settlements across the railway tracks in Delhi NCR. The intervention was deemed necessary not only to prevent the children from developing harmful connections with street life, and becoming victims of any form of abuse and exploitation but also to prevent unnecessary family separation.
Thus, to reinforce the family safety net and prevent 1789 children from being drawn into vulnerable street life, and thus avoiding unnecessary family separation, RCI, started working with the cohort of children created along with follow-up visits to the families and meeting their parents, assisting them in accessing government schemes and services as part of family-strengthening initiatives. Initiatives for resilience building within families have also been introduced to enhance parenting skills and foster strong bonds between parents and their children. 829 families out of 944 were linked with various government services and entitlements in close coordination with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSAs), District Child Protection Functionaries, Medical Associations, and local NGOs through Medico-Legal Camps held in the communities.
A compassionate team of Care Leavers, serving as Community Mobilisers, works closely with families and children. These Care Leavers understand the importance of staying in the family and the pitfalls if the child has to face unnecessary separation. They prioritize keeping families together and are vigilant in identifying any emerging vulnerabilities that could lead to separation. Their interventions include linking children with government schemes, providing emotional support, connecting families with entitlements, and facilitating participation in meetings and training sessions to educate them about rights and legal implications.
To further enhance community engagement, 7 parent groups are functional, and parents actively participate in the meetings and the sensitization workshops held for them.
Below are two classic examples illustrating how rigorous follow-up with children and families across seven slum settlements has helped identify emerging vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities could potentially lead to unnecessary separations and expose children to abusive situations.
A sewing machine: An empowering & transforming force for women in communities
35-year-old Kanika (name changed) has 3 children, 2 adolescent boys, aged 17 and 18 years, and one adolescent girl aged 14 years. RCI supported all her three children, who frequented the Community Activity Centre. Her 17-year-old son has been enrolled into Computer Training and is presently studying in class 9, RCI regularly follows up to ensure his smooth transition into class 10 and adequate support for his board exams. The 18-yearold son had dropped out of school, RCI enrolled him in 10 class through open schooling.
Kanika’s daughter attends school regularly and actively participates in activities at the Community centre. Given the financial circumstances of the family, it was crucial to closely monitor the children to prevent the risk of adolescent boys dropping out of school and engaging in labour activities.
Kanika, like many homemakers living in the urban slums, lived with financial constraints due to limited employment opportunities outside her home. With a family of five and her husband earning a modest income as a rickshaw puller, Kanika grappled with significant financial challenges. However, sewing machines emerged as a transformative instrument, enabling women in the community to earn an income while remaining in the comfort of their households.
Railway Children India’s timely intervention altered Kanika ‘s life. This gesture provided Kanika with an avenue to explore livelihood opportunities and supplement her husband’s income. Armed with the sewing machine, Kanika wasted no time in leveraging her newfound opportunity. She sharpened her sewing skills and commenced offering tailoring services within her community.
She earned approximately Rs. 1200 to Rs. 1500 per month, depending on the frequency of orders, which were sporadic rather than consistent. However, she aspires to broaden her clientele within the neighbourhood, and word of her adept craftsmanship is spreading rapidly. The income she generates from her sewing business has enabled her family to afford essential expenses and enhance their quality of life. Kanika’s narrative illustrates the transformative potential of a seemingly modest gift – a sewing machine–in enhancing the livelihood of a struggling family.
This serves as a classic example of family strengthening, from the lens of securing the economic stability of a family and being able to take better care of her children, and preventing separation.
From reluctance to acceptance, how the RCI’s team supported a family ensured their daughter went to school
The young 9-year-old named Shaheen (name changed), resided in a modest three-set rented house. Shaheen’s father had once operated an embroidery machine, providing for his family. However, their lives took an unexpected turn when he suffered a debilitating fracture six months ago, rendering him unable to work. It was then that Shaheen’s mother bravely took on the role of a sweeper, working tirelessly in people’s homes to make ends meet. Shaheen had two younger brothers and two sisters, all living together in their humble abode. Despite their dreams of a better future, the family’s precarious financial situation kept Shaheen from attending school.
In June 2023, Shaheen was identified as “not going to school” during a vulnerability assessment conducted in the community. RCI team visited Shaheen’s house for a followup. The entire family had gone to their village, Bahuara Post, in Hariharpur District, Darbhanga, Bihar. Determined to help Shaheen, our team member Shubham spoke to the mother over the phone, learning about their return plans.
In June 2023, Shaheen was identified as “not going to school” during a vulnerability assessment conducted in the community. RCI team visited Shaheen’s house for a followup. The entire family had gone to their village, Bahuara Post, in Hariharpur District, Darbhanga, Bihar. Determined to help Shaheen, our team member Shubham spoke to the mother over the phone, learning about their return plans.
In September when Shaheen’s family finally returned to Tulsi Nagar, the RCI team member explained the importance of education and informed them about school admission. The father, though unwell, promised to consider the idea.
Concerned about their financial constraints, Shaheen’s mother expressed her worries about obtaining the necessary documents and photos for school admission. Shubham reassured her and supported the family in obtaining the photos and required documents to process the school admission. Finally, after continuous efforts, the school application form was filled out and submitted to the admission in-charge. Shaheen, full of hope and excitement, started attending 3rd grade regularly for the first time.
The story of Shaheen’s journey to education is a testament to the determination and unwavering support of the RCI team. They had not only opened the doors to learning for Shaheen but also brought a ray of hope and happiness into her family’s life. With regular follow ups, Shaheen’s educational journey was set to flourish, offering her a path towards a better life.
