Dream on Wheels

Plan is currently working on a project to create child friendly railway platforms by ensuring that children who live and work on railway platforms are ensured their rights to survival, protection, development and participation. To improve the lives of these children, Plan initially conducted a situation analysis at the eight railway stations between Delhi and Bhopal. The study covered various aspects like reasons behind leaving homes, living conditions at the platforms, areas for intervention etc and based on the findings of this study, Plan initiated a project to support children at railway stations. The activities under this project are broadly those of direct action with the children which includes creating opportunities for non- formal education, life skills development, health check ups, recreation activities like dances, debates, skits etc. as well as activities for the repatriation of the children, the second being sensitization of stakeholders such as railway police, vendors, porters etc and the third that of advocacy and networking with other like minded organizations.

Progress

Under the project efforts, have been made to expand the outreach and 18 contact points have now been set up. Through the 15 NFE centers, the outreach has expanded and 482 children have been linked with education; of these now a total of 57 children have been linked to formal education. Apart from this, at every contact point regular recreational activities are conducted for the children. The capacity building through leadership and life skills workshops on health and hygiene, drugs, child rights and education and are also conducted regularly for the children.