WE ARE THE MOST SUFFERER OF POLLUTION, SAVE US

BALAKNAMA November-December 2019

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World’s Unique Newspaper for and by Street and Working Children

MARRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

“Balaknama is the newspaper presented by Street and Working children themselves to �ght for their own rights and problems because they are being completely ignored.

WE ARE THE MOST SUFFERER OF POLLUTION, SAVE US

Nowadays, pollution is rising day by day. We all know that people belonging to well economic families are wearing face masts to prevent themselves from pollution. But have you ever thought how people living on street will manage to survive under such harsh conditions? Balaknama reporters went to meet children living under the bridge. When the reporter asked how they are managing to prevent themselves, a 12 years old boy replied, “The winter has not yet come and the environment is full of fog and smoke. At night, when e are sleeping with our families, our clothes and the sheets which we are using to cover ourselves, gets black due to dirt and pollution. Due to this, we can’t even sleep properly.” On this, a 13 years

Talkative reporters Sonu and Nawab and Reporters Shambhu, Poonam and Deepak

STREET CHILDREN APPEAL

14 years old child said, “We will be free from this pollution when the people starts thinking for us that why we street and working children are working in such harsh environmental conditions?”15 years old boy said, “As like other people, face masks should be given to street and working children so that we can do our work in the pollution too.”14 years old girl said, “We street and working children work in pollution too. If people want a clean environment then they should also think about our future. At present, everyone is concerned for the pollution. Don’t you know that we children face it daily? At times while collecting garbage from the dumped areas we have to breathe in foul smell and the air is also poisonous for our health. Isn’t that a type of pollution? We all know that you people have a different way of looking at street and working children. Please change your way of looking at us. We and you are responsible for these

your country.”

CHILDREN’S MEASURES TO PREVENT FROM POLLUTIONold girl replied, “We sleep

under the open sky and due to the noise of vehicles moving

for us to take a proper sleep. There are some vehicles when they pass by, a very foul smell and pollution comes out from them due to which we have to cover our faces and when we do so we feel suffocated. At times, we feel like vomiting. Now you only tell, how will we survive in such conditions?” On the other hand, when the reporter interacted with the children working as rag pickers,

for us to work in such smoky environment. Before we used to go for collecting garbage at 3:00 am in the morning but now if we try to go out at 3:00 am,

things clearly and at times dogs

run behind us. We are always in the fear of getting bitten by the dogs.” Some more children said that they used to work in pollution but at present, due to the rise in pollution level they are facing problems in their day-to-day lives. One child sharing his problem said, “We work as rag pickers. We collect wires and burn them to sell. But now as the pollution raised, it is not easy for us to burn the wires as now we have to face double of it.” On interacting with the children working at car servicing shops, they said, “When we clean the car, a lot of dirt and dust enters our nose and eyes due to which we feel pain in our nose and chest. But at present, it is doubled. It has become very difficult for us to live in pollution then work in more pollution. As the pollution rose, cars have also effected and are getting dirtier due to which while cleaning them our hands pain. At time when we are cleaning the tires of the cars, there are some pointed things present in it and

them. Due to which it is very

car. Children belonging to big houses and good economic conditions, wear face masks and clothes to prevent themselves from pollution. What should we street and working children do?”

feelings said, “We are forced to work in this pollution as if

we deny doing our work then our family has to starve. That’s why it is our humble request

to our government to please do something to control the pollution as soon as possible.”

During a visit in the city of taj, Agra one of our reporters found that there are some economically poor families who

bad conditions, all the family members decided to work

kothis and bungalows for earning. They made this decision thinking that it will help them out of some problems but

WHY ARE WE ALWAYS TORTURED?ASKEDSTREET CHILDRENBalaknama Bureau nothing like that happened in fact the problems were getting

more for them. A recent incident came to our knowledge, that girls are facing many problems while going to the bungalows. In order to know about the problems and situations they are facing, one of our reporters went to those families so that he can get to know about the problems they are facing. During the conversation, we got to know that here are some boys who wait for the girls so that they can harass them while going to work or back to home. On

continued on pg. 2


PolICe helPINg StReet aND WoRkINg ChIlDReN IN eDUCatIoN

WIll yoU lISteN to ChIlDReN’S aPPeal foR helPINg them?

Why Do PeoPle behave RUDely WIth US?

World’s Unique Newspaper for and by Street and Working Children2

Street children forced to work in cold winters Pollution level in Delhi has reached 487 out of 500 in the starting of the November only. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said, “The pollution level is very bad. It may had bad effect on healthy people and adverse on weak and ill people’s health.” On this, judicial court has scolded NGT states. It is difficult to breathe in the rooms and even in the underground metros too. People are facing eye infections due to bad air quality. Metro authority took some measures which were to increase the metro speed, to decrease the metro fair and to increase the parking fair at the stations. CPCB minister, Mr. Harshvardhan instructed all the neighbor states of Delhi to take and follow the measures of GRAP to control the air pollution. Due to air pollution, there is delay in air and road transport as the visibility is almost zero. Doctors have suggested not traveling in the evening hours. Dr. Randeep Guleria, AIIMS said, “The pollution is totally unfit for the people and a protest is needed for taking care of our environment. He suggested children, old people, and heart and Tb patients to stop doing heavy activities.” Schools suggested the parents to make their children wear face masks as a prevention measure. CISF have order for 9000 face masks for the army persons at Delhi metro and stations and IGI airport, Delhi. The question arises is how street and working children will manage to face this pollution. They hardly manage to earn for their survival. Children expressing their fear, said, “If we stop doing our work then it will be very difficult for us to survive and will have to starve. We can’t stop doing our work and going outside. It s our humble request to government to please do something as soon as possible to control the pollution then only not only the human life but the whole earth will be able to survive.”

The Editorial BoardBalaknama

eDItoRIalTalkative reporter Heena and reporter Shambhu

This news belongs to a coaching centre of South Delhi. There are some street and working children who want to study and go there but from past few days they are afraid to go as there are some people sitting outside the centre. They take intoxicants and always bully and harass children. That’s why children are afraid to go to the coaching centre. Telling about the harassment, children said, “They not only harass us but repeat the things our teachers try to teach us. Also they make fun of the games which our teachers make us play.” After listening to their problems, the centre’s worker went to the nearest police station and requested for help. As soon as the worker filed the report, policemen started to do a survey of that area and helped

them is every possible way they can. Not only this, but policemen also gave them beat men’s number to contact them when in need and gave them surety that whenever they will be need, policemen will be there to help them. They also said that each day one officer will come to visit their area, street and centre for proper safety. At present, policemen visit the centre twice or thrice a weak. Also when in need beat officers area always present there for helping them out. As a result, street and working children are now happy and fear free to go to that centre and study. Rather they now attend the classes regularly. With the help of the policemen, street and working children are now getting education for a better and a brighter future.

Balaknama reporter Sachin and Deepak

talking to some more girls, we further got to know that there are some boys who click pictures of girls and use them for bad purposes. Sharing their problems, girls said, “At first, they click our pictures and then photo-shop them to make nude images and upload them on the websites because of which the society disrespects us and even abuse us. That’s why we girls don’t agree to go out and work. The purpose of us getting out of our houses and work is not fulfilled rather we now face more problems.” Appealing for help the girls further requested, “We want that the person or boys who do this or harass us should be punished and some strict actions should be taken against them then only we can live with peace and work peacefully for our survival.”Balakanama Bureau

Why aRe We alWayS toRtUReD? aSkeD StReet ChIlDReN From pg. 1

There are many children in our society who are physically challenged and are treated badly or differently in our society. The only question raises is “Why?” Don’t those children have the right to live peacefully and happily in this society? At last what they can do? They live the

way in which society wants them to. Somewhat similar shocking incident came to our knowledge. There are 12 years boy, who can’t even talk or listen. He is deaf and dumb. He lives in Raghuvir Nagar, West Delhi. The sad part is that he doesn’t have the hand of his father on his head. His mother is always busy with her work so that she can earn for their survival but unluckily she

doesn’t get enough money for the treatment of her son. The heartbreaking thing is when this child tries to step out of his home to interact with other children and play with them; other children and the people living in his basti make fun of him and his problem and laugh at him. Luckily, he is so strong that these things and ignorance doesn’t effects him. Instead whenever he see any child going to school, he starts jumping and pointing towards him dreaming that one day he will also go to the school like him. But sadly, yet there is no one to help him so that he can fulfill his only dream. There are many other children like him in this society. We only request you to come forward and think beyond the society so that these children can also live happily and peacefully. Please do something so that these kids can also live their lives to the fullest.

A meeting was organized with all the children of Badhte Kadam in which talkative reporters also participated. All children talked about their problems, they are facing in their day-to-day life. While sharing, one of our talkative reporters said, “There is a game shop where people pay Rs 10 for 30 minutes. Everything

Balakanama’S reporTerS meT mr. YaTil from norwaY

Mr. Yatil met the talkative reporters and the writers of the Balaknama. He tried to understand how we run our newspaper. The talkative reporters told about themselves how they were facing problems and indulged in wrong things then one day they met Balaknama reporters and then they helped them to be a different yet better person. And now they are here with us as our talkative reporters. Mr. Yatil was very happy after knowing this. Telling about himself, he said, “I am taxi driver in Norway. I am on a tour to travel most of the cities and countries from July 2018 to December 2018. I have

covered most of them with cycle.” Our reporters were shocked to know that he traveled on cycle too. They asked, “People like you travel in the aero planes and trains and here you are travelling on a cycle. Why so?” He replied, “I want to become a famous person and want that people come to meet me.” In between this conversation, a child asked, “How do you look at children like us? What do you think about us?” He replied, “I am very obliged to meet all the Balaknama workers and reporters but I still feel sad for the children who are still indulged in rag picking work and begging as they have to deal with problems and policemen at such young age.”

Shambhu

is ok there except some bad souls. There are some people who come there not for playing but for seeing porn online.”

Telling more about the problem, he further added, “The main problem with this is that there are some children who see these men and are getting indulged in it. Not only they started seeing but many are becoming the part of it.” There is one more thing about the owner of the shop that is he is not bothered of this problem. Rather he says, “Why do I bother? Why should I say anything to them? I am here for earning. If I tell anything to them, they will stop coming to my shop and then how will I earn?” Sharing their feelings, children said, “We are very worried about our friends and future. We do want to get rid of this problem but how? We request you to avoid doing such things or seeing adult things in public or at least when you have children near you. Let them see educational videos which will help them in their future too.”

reporter Shambhu


CoNtaCt theSe toll fRee NUmbeRS If yoU faCe aNy

PRoblem.

ChIlDReN'S helP lINe NUmbeRS

Child line numberX

1098 police Helpline numberX

100

StReet ChIlDReN afRaID of faCINg PRoblemS IN fUtUReWorld’s Unique Newspaper for and by Street and Working Children 3

This news belongs to a 10 years old boy. While sharing about this past, he says that nobody can imagine the problems and situations he had to face in his past. He said, “There is drug gang in which children are getting indulged. The members of this gang trap innocent children in their gang and force them to spread intoxicant’s trade. Innocent children have been told to get money for joining their gang and selling intoxicants but when they

reporter Deepak are trapped despite of giving money, they have been forced to take intoxicants.” Telling about himself, he said, “With the help of some social organizations, somehow, I left the dark world of intoxicants but there are still many children who are still the part of this dark world and no one is there to help them out.” Sharing their feelings, children said, “We children want that none of us should be given intoxicants, no matter what. People selling such things should be imprisoned and

strict charges should be given to them. We want to get rid of this problem and get out of this dark world so lease step forward and do something to help us so that we can also live a peaceful and successful life ahead. We hope that through the medium of Balaknama, people selling intoxicants and children who are indulged in this must be aware of the problems of intoxicants. We request you to please do something for us so that none of us should have to face such problems in the coming future.”

Our reporters did a survey for finding out the reason of children being deprived of studies and indulged in child laboring. There are many children who come to cities from their villages by leaving their homes and are indulged in some or other kind of work. When they are told to study and provided the material

ChIlD laboR: ChIlDReN beINg DePRIveD of eDUCatIoN

by social organizations, they deny studying and agree for continuing child laboring. Let us talk about it deeply. During the visit, we met so many children who were working on grocery shops, button making shops and hotels. When we met them, we told them about our social organization under which they can study and educate themselves. At that time, children agreed to come daily and join our organization

but even after 3-4 days, here were not even a single child who came for study. One of our reporters went to meet again those children. The reporter asked, “Even after promising, none of you came to our organization. Why?” In the reply, children said, “We respect you, but we want to tell you one thing very clearly which is that, our parents sent us to cities for earning money not for studying. If, with our will, we start studying then our boss will not give us proper salary rather he will torture us by saying that if e want to study and what is the need of doing work and earning money?” Telling about their compulsion, they further added, “Another thing is that our family is surviving on our earning. If we want earn and start studying then how will our mother father and siblings will get to eat? How will they survive?” These are few main reasons why children are indulged in child laboring rather than studying.

Talkative reporter Shivani and reporter Shambhu

Children Breathe in foul SmellS for family’S Survival

This news belongs to poor people living in Tughlakabad. People living in this basti do different works like setting stalls, households and many also do the work of rag picking and cleaning the garbage. When our reporter interacted with the people doing the rag picking and garbage cleaning work, they said, “We came here

with our families with the hope of a better life. But sadly we have to do rag picking work for our survival. There is garbage hub in Tughalakabad where garbage from houses and big industries is dumped. As we don’t get enough garbage near our slum, we go there only. Sharing about their problems, children of this area said, “We are very afraid while doing this work. But we can’t do anything else. We have to do this work under compulsions for our survival.” When the reporter was coming back after interacting with them, he saw some children burning the wires. He asked, “Why are you burning those wires? How can you breathe in such foul smell?” The children replied, “We get these wires from the garbage. After cleaning the wires we separate the copper and silver wires and burn them. Then only we will get enough and proper amount for these wires. If we will sell these wires without burning, then we will hardly get some penny for our family’s survival.” On the next day, our reporter again went there for a visit. He saw that some children were taking those burned wires on rickshaw. He asked, “Don’t you feel foul smell while burning these wires?” The children sadly replied, “We do feel foul smell but what can we do? If we want our family to survive then we have to do this work, with or without our will.”

During a visit of some places, our reporter got to know that the people belonging to the society of band baja have to work hard for their survival. When wedding season comes, they earn a lot by performing in the baraat but it is off season they had to search for some other kind of work for their survival. While talking to them, we got to know that they have to play dholak till the wedding ends and often children are indulged in this work. They hardly earn some penny in this. Children sharing their problems, said, “While doing this work we had to face many problems like the dholak which we have to keep on our shoulders, is almost of 5 to 8 kg. When we keep it on our shoulders, our whole body starts paining. Even after

party to give us more money, they get angry on us and say that is we can’t come in this much amount, they will book some other group. There are people who only know to do this work and when the season is off, it is very difficult for their families to survive.” Adding further, they said, “It is our request to you people that please pay us some amount of money so that we can also have some savings for our future. If possible, please give us some kind of proper job or daily work so that we can also have a proper work and don’t have to face problems during the off season.”

reporter Shambhu

facing so much of pain and problems, we don’t get enough money for our work and it is difficult for our families to survive.” Reporter then asked, “How much do you get for one function?” the children said, “For one function, we hardly get to earn Rupees 500 to Rs. 600. When we split it in our

We WaNt PRoPeR WoRk aND ComPeNSatIoNreporter Deepak

group, each of us hardly earns rupees 100. When we ask the


StReet ChIlDReN UNIteD agaINSt DRINkINg

Salty WateR

eveN afteR WoRkINg haRD, We oNly get Some PeNNIeSStReet ChIlDReN DemaNDS Safe

eNvIRoNmeNt IN SChoolS

4

PleaSe DoN’t RUIN oUR fUtURe

A meeting was organized with the talkative reporters of Balaknama in which each and every child participated with full encouragement and motivation. While talking about themselves, they said, “Our current situations are not so good for our survival. We belong to Bengal where our families were facing problems for earning so we came to Noida for our survival. Though the money issue was solved at some point but we still don’t feel secured here.” Telling about the problems, they said, “There is no safety and security for us. No type of facility is provided to us. At present, whosoever is coming


from village, he/she is falling ill. Voice variations have been seen in children and adults too due to salty water. We have to drink salty water which comes from the motor in our slums. What else can we do? We don’t have any other facility of drinking water in our slums so under compulsions we have to drink the salty water only because of which many of us are falling ill and facing health issues.” Requesting for clean drinking water, they further added, “We are dying to drink clean water. We children request you to please provide the needed facilities for slum people too. At least provide drinking water in the areas through taps in the areas, facing such problems so that we can also live a healthy life.”

Talkative reporter Sonu and reporter Shambhu

Recently we got news that parents are not allowing their children to go to school due to which children are much tensed. When our reporter met these parents they clearly

said that their children will no more attend the school. Our reporter tried to interact with the parents to know the reason behind this decision but not even a single parent told us anything about it. Our reporter then interacted

with children but children also didn’t say anything to us. Then the reporter said, “If You people will not tell us anything then how will we help you?” listening to this, some children said, “Our parents don’t allow us to go to school as we have to face many problems while going to the school.” The reporter then asked, “What type of problems do you face?” the children replied, “There are some evil boys who throw stones at us when we go to school.” The reporter then asked, “Have you told your parents to talk to them?” Children said, “Our parents do went to talk to them but those boys were not ready to talk. Instead, they started fighting with our parents too. When we shared about it to our teachers, they didn’t bother anything. We still don’t know who are they and what did they want? We just request to stop throwing stones on us and let us go to school. Please don’t ruin our future. Let us study and have a better life ahead.” Another boy, Raju said, “We want that some strict actions should be taken against these boys so that they will never do the same with any other child. We also request you to stop this as soon as possible so that we can continue our studies and can have a better future.”

reporter poonam

reporter Shambhu

After a visit in South Delhi and Noida, our reports got to know that street and working children are not happy and satisfied with their work. They are searching for different kinds of work for their survival. We got to know that in some areas of both the places, children used to go to

collect cardboard and garbage. While their work, there were some policemen who used to beat them due to which children were much tensed for some days. There were some children who thought that there are many places in Noida, where building construction and metro construction work is going on and they may get to do some kind of work there also. They made a decision

of collecting iron from these areas. At present, there are many children who have left the work of rag picking and are indulged in the work of collecting iron. Telling about their decision, children said, “At the areas where construction work is over, it is easy for us to collect iron by digging around the metro pillars. Places where buildings or houses have broken down are also a good source of iron as we just have to dig the mud with our hands. After working so hard, we get some amount of iron which we well to hawkers. We are not doing this work with our will rather we are doing this for our survival.” Sharing about the problems, one child said, “While digging the mud, we have to face pain. At times our fingers and hands got hurt and starts bleeding while searching for iron and at night it pains badly. Due to pain we can’t even sleep properly but still we have to do this work.”

During a meeting with slum children, our reporter got to know about the problems poor children are facing in their present life. Telling about themselves, children said, "In our past, we used to do the rag picking work with our parents. We often used to help our parents in other works too like household work and cleaning work. With the help of some government organizations, we got the chance to study. They gave our names to government schools and helped us to continue our studies. But at present, it is not the same. Yet we have started going to schools but we are not free from labor. After coming back to home from school we still have to work with our parents like we used to do. Sad part is that even after getting chance of study, we are not able to concentrate on

our studies properly." Sharing more about the children studying in school, they said, "Another problem is that our seniors who are studying in 5th -6th classes bring intoxicants in school and intake them there only. After taking intoxicants, they torture their juniors. When we tell about them to our teachers and when the teachers ask them, they hide their packets and lie that they were not taking intoxicants." Small young children are more tortured due to this drug addiction. Requesting for some kindness and leaving this, they said, "It is our request to every one of you to please do not take intoxicants. These products should not be brought and taken in schools neither out of the schools. Our age is not of taking intoxicants and spoiling our future. Rather it is if studying and playing to have a better and bright future."

Talkative reporter Sonu and reporter Shambhu


5

TOILETS ARE OF NO USE BECAUSE WESTILL HAVE TO DEFECATE OUTSIDE

WHY YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND

OUR PROBLEMS?

INNOCENT GIRLS WORKING TO EARN FOR FATHER’S INTOXICANTS


� is news belongs to a place in Noida, whose name has been kept suspicious. On investigation, we got to know that people living in this place defecate in an open area only. � ere was no facility of washrooms in their areas. � e good thing is that government has started the construction of public toilets in their areas. But the sad thing is that even a�er the construction of toilets, people are not getting rid of their problems.

Street and working children are facing problems at present situation of the city. During an interaction with them, we got to know that they do not beg with their will, they beg due to their compulsions. � ere is not even a single person who will understand their problems and come forward to help them. When they beg at bus stations they have to face many problems and listen to di�erent harsh taunts

One or our reporter organized a group meeting with our talkative reporter to know about the current problems slum children are facing. During which one major issue came into our knowledge which is that there are some girls whose fathers are indulged in the dark world of alcohol. � ey don’t bother about the world and society they only want alcohol to drink and survive. � ey only need money not for food and shelter rather for alcohol. Our talkative reporters told us that

It seems like their problems have become much more. Telling about the problems, some people said, “It is clearly written on the walls of the toilets that it is a free facility for us but when we go there, the care takers of the toilets asks for money from us to use these toilets. When our elders tell them that these are made by government for us and they say that who will pay their cleanliness. Due to this, we are forced to defecate in an open area only.” Telling more, they further added, “� ere

put bandage on her leg. He even gave medicines for early wellness. At present, she is free from pain. Children who beg said, “Why? Why people behave rudely with us? Why don’t they try to understand our problems? Why don’t they understand that we are doing this work under compulsions?

there are some innocent girls who are much tensed for their fathers. When our reporter met those girls, they shared about their problems and the way they are living. Sharing their stories, the girls said, “We are not doing anything with our will but we can’t leave our work as we have to earn for our father. Our fathers are badly indulged in the dark world of alcohol. If they don’t get alcohol to drink, they beat our siblings and mothers. � at’s why we girls have to go to bungalows for house cleaning work. Our work is not our

is one more issue of concern that is; the workers allow girls to use washroom for free and asks rupees 5 from boys. � at’s why we don’t allow our girls to use the washrooms as we are not sure that they will be safe inside the toilets.” Requesting, they further said, “We request you to take some actions against such people and care takers as soon as possible so that we can get rid of this problem. � en only we, street and working children and slum people will be able to defecate in closed toilets.”

Instead of understanding this, they torture us. We only want that people should not behave like this with children like us. Rather they should try to understand our problems and should not hurt us so that we can do our work fear free.”

problem. � e problem is the place and bungalows where we have to work. � ere are some guards who look us with obscenity and try to get sexual with us. If we stop them to do anything with us, they threaten us that if we don’t allow them to do such things they will lie to the house owner that we are not doing our work properly and not only this, we are looking for the bug articles too.” Under this fear, innocent girls are not able to share their stories with anybody and have to collect money for their father’s alcohol.

Reporter Shambhu

Reporter Shambhu

Reporter Shambhu

given by the people. Sharing about the di� culties and problems, one of the children said, “When they go to cars, the car owners shut down the window glasses and at times talk in abusive language to them. A�er one or two time, they just take their cars from there at high speed.” At times, children got hurt and cars just move from their legs.” Sharing about a recent incident, a child said, “� ere was a 14 years old girl who was begging at the red light and one car just hurt her leg badly. She was sitting there and crying in pain but

no one came to help her. It is not like there were no people around her. � e place was full of crowd but everyone ignored her.” A�er listening to him, our reporters went to meet her. � e girl, sharing her problem and pain said, “Before this accident, I used to earn for my survival but now I don’t have money for my treatment. I can’t even go out for begging.” Listening to her, our reporter contacted to a social organization to help her in any possible way. � ey took her to hospital, where doctor looked a�er her and


gaRbage vaN foR a CleaN eNvIRoNmeNt

fReqUeNt mIgRatIoN IS ComINg betWeeN eDUCatIoN aND ChIlDReN

Children’S BoSSy nature had Bad effeCt on SiBlingS

6

Talkative reporter Sonu and reporter Shambhu, noida

Talkative reporter pinki and reporter Shambhu


CaN SomeoNe Save US fRom thIS PRoblemOur reporters got to know about a major problem children living in Agra are facing. There is no proper facility of drinking water in their areas due to which they have to wander here and there in search of drinking water. During the investigation, we got to know that there is a river near their slum. People of this basti throw all their wastes in this river only. When asked about their problems, they said, “We are throwing wastes in this river due to our poor situations. We even have to take bath and wash our clothes

in this river only. Yes, drinking water does come to our slum areas but it is also not pure and clean rather we have to drink salty water only. That too, it only comes in the morning and evening for an hour or two. In those two hours, it is difficult for each one us, to collect drinking water and collect some for our bath and washing clothes.”Other than children, slum people asking said that there is a big problem of clean and drinking water in their slum. They said, “The river in which we take bath is not clean. People often take their cows and buffaloes to this river for bathing purpose.

This river is also linked to bungalows and factories. As we all know that water is used in kitchen and washrooms, that is too comes in this river only.”On talking to some more children, they said, “We know that we should not use the water of this river but we don’t have any other option. When we come back after taking bath in this river, our whole body itches badly and we get rashes. There are high chances of us to fall ill. That’s why we request all of you to help us so that we can get clean water to drink and use for other works too. Please help us so that we can also live a happy and healthy life.´

reporter poonam

During a visit our reporter saw some children who were sitting sadly. When he asked the reason the children said, “Our whole life is spoilt. We don’t have any proper place to live at.” When he asked why they don’t have any proper place to live, the children replied, “We children belong to Bengal, Bihar and West Bengal. There is no proper way of earning for our survival that’s why we have left our villages and our families shifts from one place to another in search of work to earn because of which we children are getting deprived of education.” Telling more about themselves, they said, “In past, we used to go to school but as soon as our parents got to know that some workers are needed at the mall construction site in Noida, they packed our bags and took the train to Noida. All this happened so suddenly that we can’t even

During a visit we got to know that there is a place where 500 to 600 slums are present. Dirtiness is getting encouraged in this area day-by-day. On investigation, our reporter got to know that there are bushes near the slum area where poisonous snakes and wild insects live. Due to which slum people have decided to dig a pitfall in the slum area and throw their daily garbage there only. Not only it is making our environment dirty but it also stinks badly. In rainy season, the pitfall gets filled up with the rain water and the garbage and dirty pitfall water flows in the slum. When our reporter interacted with some children, they said, “We don’t go far to throw garbage as we have already told you about the poisonous insects and snakes living in the bushes. It is very unsafe for us to go there and hence we throw it in the slum only.” The reporter then asked, “Do you like throwing your garbage in your slum? Don’t you feel that stinky and foul smell?” On this, a mother replied, “We do feel bad about it and it is difficult for us to live in this foul smell but what else can we do? If we go to bushes and somehow

Our reporters had a group meeting with talkative reporters and street and working children. During which, children talked about their problems and situations they are facing in their present lives. Sharing his story, a 14 years old boy, Jahangir said, “With the help of a social organization we got a chance of going to school. During past, many of us used to go to the school but at present many children have denied to go to school.” Listening to him, our reporter got shocked and asked, “Why are children not ready to go to school?” Another boy in the meeting

replied, “There are some elder children in the school who threaten and torture each and every new child and their juniors too. When a child denies following their order, they run towards him/her to beat him/her.” The reporter

then asked, “Have you told about this to your teachers?” the children replied, “Our teachers know everything. They just ignore even after seeing. When we told them about this, they said that we are not studying properly

that’s why those seniors are beating us. According to our teacher, they are beating us for a better future. Then he orders us to go back to our classrooms. Then those seniors say that even after telling to our teacher, they didn’t take any action against them and starts torturing us more. That’s why we don’t like to go to school. When we were not in the school, it was a dream for us to attend the school but now after facing such situation, we just want to leave the school and sit at home. We just want that teachers should listen to us and do something against them so that we can have a better life.”

informed our teachers that we are now moving to city and will not come from tomorrow. At present, we are living in Noida only.” Sharing about their current situation and fear, a girl said, “There are some social workers who taught other children. Seeing them I also started going to them for studying. With their help, I have learned many things. They say that admissions will start soon and they do our admission. Though I am extremely happy

any insect or snake bites us then where will go? We don’t have any ayurvedic physician here who will treat us. That’s why due to our compulsions we throw garbage in the pitfalls.” Giving a suggestion, she further added, “If some garbage picking van comes in our slum on a regular basis then there will be no need of throwing garbage in the pitfalls.”

but on the other hand, I am afraid that something like last time will happened and we again have to shift from Noida to some other place or city and I will again have to leave my school.” Children requested and said, “We request you to give our parents a proper work so that they don’t have to change our place and shift from one place to another. Then only we will be able to continue our studies properly. We want to study for a better future.”

reporter Shambhu


ChIlDReN’S DemaNDS StRICt aCtIoNS agaINSt theIR fatheRS

loCal laNgUage’S baD ImPReSSIoN oN INNoCeNt ChIlDReN

7

Talkative reporter Salman and reporter Shambhu

reporter Shambhu

reporter Shambhu


Balaknama reporters organized a group meeting with talkative reporter. During the meeting, they all shared about their problems. During which a new problem came into our knowledge. They all have come to city areas from villages so that they can live a better life but now it is even more difficult for them to survive. Even after working hard, they are not getting what they expected to. Let us know about them in deep. Children said, “Our mother goes out for work daily. Our fathers also often go for work. But the problem arises when they both come back in the evening. As they meet in the evening, they both start fighting due to which we children have pay. Our fathers beat our

During a meeting with slum children, we got to know that environment of this slum is getting worse day-by-day. People living there use abusive local language in their daily life and in the evening, there are some people who start thinking that they are a big man after drink. They abuse to each and every single child and woman whom they see. Children said, “At present, there are some children, who have started doing the same. We are just learning what we are seeing. We want that something should be done to clean this harsh and bad environment of our slum else we will also learn the wrong things and it will be very difficult for us leave this bad habit in our future.”

mothers’ when they come back due to which our mothers can’t do household work and we have to starve at night.” Telling about the reason, one of the talkative reporter said, “Our fathers beat our mothers only when he is drunk, which he often is.

When the reporter interacted with elder people, they said, “There are some people whose local language is this only. We do try to control ourselves to not to use such language in front of any child but we are unable to.” On this, children

We have a way and suggestion for our better life which is, if some strict actions are taken against our fathers for beating our mothers and drinking then maybe they will leave this and we can also have a better yet peaceful life.”

said, “We know that this is our local language but why don’t our elders understand that this language is spoiling our future in some way or another. We only request that people should not use abusive language in front of us.”

We met some children in special areas of Noida. These children were afraid of some things and problems but at present, they are no more afraid as they have faced those problems and moved on. As we all know that, there is a lot of rush at the red lights. When these children came from their villages, they tried to find some kind of work in shops, hotels or stalls but due to their age no one was ready to give them any kind of work. If some child is given work then he/she will not be pain as per their need and hard work and the amount was

This story belongs to a place in Gurgaon whose name has been kept secret. There are almost 500 to 600 slums in and most of the people belong to West Bengal. The only reason for coming to Gurgaon was that they don’t have enough money to survive in West Bengal. One of our secret reporters got to know that there is market in this area where young innocent children sit and sell vegetables. Don’t you feel awkward that why does only children work in this market? Let us tell you about it deeply. On investigation, we got to know that contractor of the slum is very cruel. He often reaches before 2 days to take the slum rent. Not only

not enough for the survival of their family. Their parents then decided to start their own work. They bought some balloons from Sadar Market and gave them to children for selling at red lights. But at that time, children were afraid of speedy vehicles. Those children who used to wait for cars to stop and then cross the roads, now easily crosses the crowded roads. As soon as the car stops, they ran towards toward it. When our reporter tried to know how they overcome their fear, a 15 years old boy, Salman said, “As if our teacher give us some work to do and we learn it as we practice it daily, that’s how we learnt this work and overcome our fear.”

this, he looks with obscenity to each and every girl of the slum. The reason behind children working in the vegetable market is that the owner of the area doesn’t allow elders to come and sell their vegetables as they have to pay much to elders and less to children. When they keep elders for selling vegetables, they ask for more money and children don’t know much about the present rates so they work in the amount which they give them. They greed children by saying that if they will come tomorrow again then the contractor will them more money tomorrow and also fresh vegetables. By this way, children agree to come again and hence the contractor uses the innocence in the wrong way.”

aND thIS IS hoW ChIlDReN’S got RID of theIR feaR

CoNtRaCtoR USINg ChIlDReN’S INNoCeNCe

foR hIS Wealth

reporter Shambhu

Have You ever HelpeD Someone like THiS?

We have a clever and brave talkative reporter in our team. He knows about each and everything. His name is Chris and is of 11 years old. You will be shocked to know about his work. He lives in Seemapuri with his family. As his family’s economic condition is not so good so each family member goes out for work. The good thing is that even after so much of economic problems, he is studying in 7th class. Telling about himself, he said, “My school hours are from 12:00 pm to 06:00 pm. One day when I was coming back from school, I saw a child who was crying and screaming loudly. His age was just 3 to 4 years. I went to him and asked him why he was crying but he didn’t speak anything. He was continuously crying. Then I took

him to my home and gave him things to eat. But he denied eating. I felt very sad. Then I went to the nearby Mosque and asked for the announcement. They did the announcement that there is a child of about 4 years of age who is crying loudly. If someone has lost his child, he/she can take him from the mosque. After the announcement, there were 2 people who came to take the child. They were his parents. As soon as he saw them, he ran towards them and started crying.” He also told that the parents thanked him a lot for his work. They said, “We are very thankful to you. Because of you only we have met our child and our child is also safe.” Giving them a suggestion, Chris said, “It’s ok. It was my work. But next time onwards please make sure not to leave your child alone at any crowded place so that you don’t have to face such problems again.”

Talkative reporter Chris and reporter Deepak


8

BALAKNAMA AND BADHTE KADAM IN NEWSWE ARE SHARING SOME PICTURES OF THESE MOMENTS WITH YOU….

Published by Badhte Kadam ,31, Basement, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi-110049 "newsletter for limited circulation". Photos of children are published by their consent. For info or support; [email protected] or call 41644471

Balaknama is written originally in Hindi by children reporters. This is translated version of Hindi and translation assistance is taken from adults ensuring the

original feel intact. Translated by Vibha Shakya.This edition is for limited distribution. All pictures are published in this edition after children’s their approval.

Balaknama acknowledge part support from Sardar Nagina Singh and Family


WILL THE SOCIETY’S THINKINGCHANGE IN FAVOR OF POOR CHILDREN?

HARASSMENT USING7 TO 8 YEARS OLD CHILDREN

THIEVERIES IN SLUMS; HOW TO SURVIVE?Talkative reporter Salman and reporter Shambhu

Reporter Shambhu

Talkative reporter Tooli and reporter Shambhu, Gurgaon

While going to your work or in the markets, while shopping you must have seen children wearing dirty clothes. You must have thought that why they wear such dirty and stinky clothes and if somehow they come near you, you people just run away from them. Our reporter informed us that children wearing such clothes are o�en seen with hatred. We only have a single question to you. Have you thought why they are wearing dirty clothes? Have you ever tried to know the reason and understand their situation? No. Right? Neither anyone of you will ever try to because each one of us is busy and indulged in our own work. If our society gets aware and awake then there will not be a single child begging on the road in dirty clothes. � e reporter met those children and asked.

During a visit, our reporter got to know that there are many girls who are being harassed daily but they are quite due to compulsions. Our reporter met such girls and tried to know their stories. A�er the interaction we got to know that there is a slum where boys don’t do any kind of work and just at look each and every girl with obscenity. During the visit our reporter also got to know that the parents of these girls go out of the house and slum area for their work due to which boys have the advantage of saying anything wrong and vulgar they want to. Telling about the situation, girls said, “� ese boys send innocent young children

� is news belongs to a place whose name has been kept secret. � ere are 500 to 600 slums made up of tarauline. People living in that slum works as a laborer or work in kothis. Every single family member works hard for their family’s survival and is living from past many years happily. At present, we got o know that they are facing a problem and are not happy. When our reporter went there to visit, he got to know that the good were stolen in 7 to 8 houses. When the reporter interacted with children, they said, “Our parents work hard for the whole day and in the night they are in deep sleep due to which it is easy for thieves to steal our goods.” Giving us another reason, they further added, “Another thing is that, our slum is totally unsafe for us. Our parents leave the doors open in the night so that air can

“Why do you wear such dirty clothes?” the children replied, “In our slum, water doesn’t come for 4 to 5 days. We have to wander in search of drinking water, from where will we get water to wash our clothes?” � ey know that you can’t do anything for them so they only requested for some kindness and said, “We only request you that whenever the next time you see such children, please don’t look at them with hatred. � ey are also a child like yours. Please be kind with them as you are with your own child. We hope that through the medium of this news, people will change and will be kind to street and working children.”

to us and tell them to say that, that boy loves you and wand to talk �lthy with you. � ese boys use young and innocent children of 7 to 8 years of age as we can’t even beat them. We are tolerating this and ignoring this as we all know that if we will share about it to our parents they will leave their work and will starts staying at home only and we children have to pay for it. It is our request to you people that if possible than please come forward to help us so that we can live safely.”

pass and we can sleep properly. � e thieves took advantage of this only. Due to this it is easy for them to enter the house and steal anything they want.” � en the reporter interacted with the parents, they said, “� ere are 2 person who came from outside and don’t do any kind of work. � ey are always drunk and just wander here and there. We get our salary at the month end. We have recently got our salary and kept it in the house. We

slept thinking that now we don’t have to �ght for food. We will buy grocery in the morning but nothing like that happened. � e thieves had stolen everything. How will we manage to buy goods for our survival?” Parents further added, “It is our humble request that those persons should be caught and strict actions should be taken against them so that they will not even think of doing anything like this again.”

WHY DOES CHILDREN TOOK THE BROOMSTICK?

CHILDREN DEMANDS FOR FAST CONSTRUCTION OF AANGANWADI

Talkative reporter Muskanand reporter Shambhu

Talkative reporter Riya and Reporter Shambhu, Gurgaon

� ere are many places in Noida where garbage is dumped. � ese areas stink badly. In order to clean these areas, children of the nearby slums picked up the broomsticks. Children decided to clean the areas and on the very next day they started this work from their own slum only. While looking at them, parents and some workers of social organizations also started doing the same. As soon as our reporter got to know about it, he went to meet these children. On interacting with them, children said, “Our slum was getting dirtier day-by-day as people living in the slum used to throw garbage in the slum only. We even tried to talk to tour slum

� ere is a slum in Gurgaon. People living here belong to West Bengal. � ey came here in search of work. In West Bengal, hey used to wander here and there in search of some work and if someone gets some work to do then they were not getting the proper money for their work. � at’s why they le� West Bengal. At present, they are living in a slum of Gurgaon. We got to know that parents are busy with their works and leave their children home alone. Children of 12-13 of age look a�er their siblings of almost 1 to 2 years of age. Children

people but no one came forward to help us in keeping our slum clean. � en we thought that when our respected Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi Ji picked up the broomstick to clean our country then why we children can’t do the same to clean our slum. A�er this, we spread the awareness among the

sharing their feelings said, “We like to look a�er our siblings but because of it e are getting deprived of studies. We can’t study properly. We have talked about it to our parents too but they say that if we will study then our parents have to leave their work and sit at home for looking a�er our siblings. If our parents will leave their work then we will not have any

slum people about the bene�ts of cleanliness. We even had a rally in which we tried to make our elders understand that the starting of cleaning our country is to clean our house and areas �rst. We hope that through the medium of this news, you people will be motivated to keep your environment clean.”

source of income and it will be very di� cult for us to survive.” Due to this reason, children’s will power and motivation for studies and education is getting down day-by-day. Children giving suggestions said, “We children know that if some aanganbadi would have been here then it will be easy for us to leave our siblings with them and they would have told us the right way of living. But sadly, there is no even a single aanganbadi near our slum. � at’s why we children request government to construct an aanganbadi near our slum so that we can also get a chance to study and can have a brighter life ahead.”

Balaknama reporters are respected with the ‘Junior Nagrik Award’

You can also celebrate your birthday like them with street and working children

Street and working children celebrated Dusshera through painting medium

Street and working children celebrated Diwali with lot of happiness and motivation

WE ARE THE MOST SUFFERER OF POLLUTION, SAVE US

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