The recent Salma Khan release Bajrangi Bhaijaan highlights the story of a little girl who is reunited with her family in Pakistan. However, in real life too, there are many such stories that deserve to be called “heroic”.
CHETNA, an organisation working for the welfare of children, has since 2006 re-united nearly 6,000 children with their families.
Its project, Dreams on Wheels, which started some years back, has helped reunite children lost on railway platforms with their families. Cities covered under this project include Delhi, Jhansi, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior.
Children found abandoned on platforms are first taken into confidence by members of CHETNA, who try to talk to them about their family’s whereabouts and even provide medical attention if needed. The children are then presented before the Child Welfare Committee. In case a child is not able to explain the whereabouts of his/her family or the same cannot be traced, he/she stays in a children’s home. “The aim of the project is to ensure that each child gets his/her right to a good life through protection, family reunification, education, recreation, health and participation. The project has been designed with the vision of creating a safe, child-friendly environment in the communities by creating awareness and strong advocacy efforts,” said CHETNA director Sanjay Gupta.
