Gaya Rescue Project, Aug 22nd, 2012

1. Gaya Rescue Project, Aug 22nd, 2012

2. The problem… • In the district of Gaya, hundreds of street-children live on and around the station platforms. • Most of them are orphaned or abandoned children. • Few are separated from their kin during travel or due to kidnapping which is quite rampant in Bihar. • Children survive by begging, scavenging and rubbish-collecting. They are at great risk from violence and abuse, including child-prostitution, drugs and trade in organs for transplants. • There is little or no government help for these children.

3. Rescue Junction goals • Rescue Junction is a 24 hour shelter for street children living on the platforms of Gaya station in Bihar. • To act as a safety net for vulnerable youngsters who are lost and in danger of exploitation. • To locate & reunite lost children with their families. • To provide vocational training opportunity to children and young people currently working in the trains. • To create awareness in the community & local government about the plight of these lost railway children. • To act on behalf children inhumanely kept in remand homes & fight for justice. • To provide child protection and legal services to the children.

4. Project details • 24 hr shelter for platform children. • Provides care and informal education. • Music, art and yoga used to teach the children with very little attention span. • Provides safe storage for their possessions and personal saving accounts to bank their earnings. • Provides 3 meals per day • clothing and healthcare. • 300+ children taken care of by the shelter

5. 2011 Milestones:Recognized by Indian Government • Gaya Rescue Project is now the nodal agency for Childline in Gaya. Childline is India’s first 24 hour emergency services for children in need of care and protection. Rescue Junction is now the centre for Gaya region. • This is the first time the trust has managed to secure funds from the government. However the funding is paid only retrospectively and covers only the cost of the child line services.

6. 2011 Milestones: • The Chairman of Rescue Junction, Deepak, has been appointed as a member of district level committee in Gaya for human trafficking and repatriation, by the Chief Secretary Bihar and District Magistrate. • This takes the organization to the forefront in helping to make Gaya a safer place. • Members of this committee have power to arrest or order the arrest of persons suspected in illegal activities concerning children like child labourand child abuse

7. 2011 Milestones:Rescue operation to free child labourers • Acting on information gained,the Department of labour together with Rajasthan Police raided a bangle factory where 65 children from Bihar were rescued, 31 of them from Gaya Distrcit. All children have been returned to their families with the help of Rescue Junction’s help. • Trafficked children who were lured away by traffickers have been reunited with their families and the responsible people jailed.

8. 2011 Milestones: contd • 111 children united with parents in 2011 alone. • The police verify all repatriations. • Handovers take place in the presence of a senior police officer. • The number of missing and rescued children reunited with their parents has increased by 25% • Longer-term rehabilitation counselling and support has continued at the centre. • Marked reduction in substance abuse, disruptive behaviour, and a corresponding improvement in social skills. • Greater trust between the staff and children who attend the centre.

9. 2011 Milestones: contd • Longer-term rehabilitation counselling and support has continued at the centre. • Marked reduction in substance abuse, disruptive behaviour, and a corresponding improvement in social skills. • Greater trust between the staff and children who attend the centre.

10. 2011 Milestones: contd • Facebook page was created : https://www.facebook.com/pages/People-First-India/106083302779969 • This page is updated regularly with pictures and article about rescue junction activities • The publicity through the facebook page has attracted some small donations from individuals around the world

11. Funding • 70% of funding comes from a grant • 20% comes from OWCF and PFI • 10% from ASHA • Funding proposal from ASHA • Year One           (April 2011)    $5,400 • Year Two           (April 2012     $5,776 • Year Three        (April 2013)    $6,180 • Funding request was made from Rescue Junction in Dec 2011 as some urgent expenses had put a pressure on their resources • We were in the search for a new steward since Jan 2012, so even the 2011 funding has not been provided yet.

12. Expenditures from Jan 1st to Dec 31st 2011

13. Expenditures (contd) • The Project Development Officer establishes links with all relevant agencies including the state welfare department to promote and develop the project • Community Liaison officer engages all sections of the local community in working with the development officer to raise a community awareness regarding child exploitation and trafficking • Bihar Street Children Forum is conducted to have a formal network of organizations working with street children and use the childline model to develop the network

14. Expenditures (contd)

15. Expenditures (contd.) The legal officer attends all sittings of the local juvenile court on behalf of children who have no legal representation and those who have suffered injustice . He also prepares cases, gives legal advices and offers fully confidential services to all children who wish to see him. He also acts as a link between the project and local courts an judiciary.

16. Expenditures (contd.)