Help change the lives of children working on the cremation ghats of Varanasi
Children of the cremation ghats
The city of Varanasi, in northern India, is home to one of the world's oldest living civilisations and is to this day of great importance in the Hindu religion. The cremation grounds in the banks of the holy Ganges in Varanasi have their own religious relevance, as it is said that Hindus cremated here will go to heaven. Traditionally, the last rites of the Hindus are performed on cremation pyres on the ghats by members of the Dom community including children as young as nine years, thus forcing them to give up their childhood including their universal rites to many basic amenities. A walk through the laneways near the world-famous ghats shows the extent of the extreme poverty these children and their families face on a daily basis. Ironically, those who are supposed to help us reach heaven after death are themselves are living a life of hell each day.
With your help, the children and their families can break this cycle of poverty. Plan is working with the Dr. Shambhunath Singh Research Foundation to improve the lives of vulnerable children working on the ghats of Varanasi so that they and their families have opportunities to attain their rights and realize their full potential without discrimination. A key challenge is to change the attitude of society towards the Dom community and their children.
In the first phase, the project aims to help up to 300 children and their families by:
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Building rapport with children, their parents and other community members
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Improving children's understanding of their rights and duties and providing theatre
training to help children express their voices on the issues that are affecting
their rights to education, health, recreation and non-discrimination.
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Increasing school enrolment and attendance by children
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Providing routine health checkups
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Creating regular recreational opportunities for childre
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Providing vocational/skill enhancement courses including language courses and professional
tour guides training to increase the number of adolescent boys and girls who supplement
family income from other means of employment
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Increase community members access and benefits from Government education, healthcare
and employment schemes
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Establishing self help groups to advocate on their rights and to look into other
sources of family income generation
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Networking with Government departments especially education and health departments
to increase the reach and improve the quality of their services
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Helping to improve the school environment and eliminate discrimination and corporal punishment.
"Children of the Pyre"
Film maker Rajesh S. Jala's critically acclaimed film "Children of The Pyre" got a number of international awards including best documentary at Montreal and Sau Paulo Film Festivals. The film is about children working at cremation grounds in Varanasi. He filmed and followed these kids for 18 months. His keenness and commitment to change the lives of these kids brought him at the doors of Plan and Plan embraced his resolve which resulted in launching project "Bhaghirathi".
So come forward and extend, your hand to save these children from this life of darkness…this will be your true gateway to heaven!
Plan India
E-12 Kailash Colony, New Delhi, India 110048
