Formal Education

Sankita was born on the streets of Mumbai to a poor family who could not afford a better life. Her father is a porter. Sankita lives with her parents and two brothers on the footpath next to the G.T. Hospital.

Sankita was barely 8 years old when she came in contact with the organization in the year 1998. She attended the centre regularly and gradually enrolled in a school for formal education. She liked studies. Being a smart and intelligent girl, she completed the 7 th standard at Lord Harrison Municipal School without any hitch. However, continuing education after 7 th was a problem for her since her family's economic condition was not good and the secondary school was located at a far away place. Hence, there was no choice for Sankita except to discontinue her schooling.

Skill Training

Babita, a 12-year-old girl stays with her brother, as her parents are dead. Her father was an alcoholic and his life ended due to that very reason. Chronic illness claimed her mother's life. Babita and her brother make a living by selling empty oil tins. They buy empty oil tins from shops at a lower price and sell it after cleaning, for a moderately higher price of around Rs. 5 /- for a tin. Babita came in contact with Vatsalya Foundation in 2003. Time went by and gradually she started taking interest in beadwork. She liked the work and enjoyed making malas, bracelets and rings. Through different designs and colours, she unleashed her creativity. Now she not only learns the intricacies of the beadwork but also teaches other children.

Healthcare

Ankit lost his father – a victim of alcoholism, around 5-6 years back... They used to live at Wadala and his father used to do odd jobs for a living. After his father's death, his mother started living with another person. Since his relatives had their own problems to address, he was left alone with no one to support him. He started residing with a group of boys at Carnac Bunder area. He does not have any contact with his mother though he knows where she stays. By some means Ankit had to survive and like many other street children he took up rag picking to survive without realizing its repercussions. After a while, he developed skin disease. Due to lack of any care and treatment, it infected his whole body .

Referral to the Shelter

Life in the streets was not easy for Rani. Her handicapped father begged in the streets and her mother worked as a domestic help to run the household, which consisted of 4 brothers and two sisters. They lived at Crawford Market. Rani used to study in at a nearby school and was also attending the classes run by the contact centre regularly. She was good at studies and enthusiastic about learning.

Her father's death (6 months back) and mother's involvement with another man made life even more tough. Her elder brothers were living separately. Her mother did not have time to take care of her. She started feeling desolate and insecure. Her younger sister Rati, was also in the same state.

Repatriation

Cities have a fatal attraction. Mumbai, being the dream city, attracts lot of people from villages in the hope of leading a better life. A small percentage manage to improve their standard of living but a majority live in a miserable condition. Many meet premature death because of poverty, poor living condition and addiction to narcotics.

A small percentage manage to improve their standard of living but a majority live in a miserable condition.

Group Home

Farid, Taufiq, Kamruddin and Bashir were living on the streets of Crawford market. Farid, 20, works in a cutlery shop and eared Rs. 1700/- per month. Taufiq, 15, did catering work and manages to earn enough to meet his food expenses, entertainment and gambling. Kamruddin, 15, and Bashir, 14, are also involved in catering work.

Farid was counseled to stay in a group home rather than living on the streets. The staff of TVF coordinated between the four youth. After individual counseling and discussion with them, they were ready to stay together in a rented room. It made economic sense and moreover, they were from the same village. TVF workers guided them in finding a suitable room in their budget.

Repatriation

Salma chose to live alone in the streets of Crawford Market rather than stay with her mother and stepfather. For an eighteen- year-old girl, the street was too dangerous, filled with anti-social elements. Salma had a difficult family as well as personal life. Her father, who was a drug addict, had expired 6 years back. She stayed with her mother, who worked as a domestic helper, along with Salma's two younger sisters. The problem erupted when her mother started living with another person in a rented house at Mahim. Her mother and her companion were not ready to take the responsibility of Salma and her siblings. Salma was a regular student at the South Mumbai centre of The Vatsalya Foundation. Her two younger sisters were also admitted to a shelter. However, Salma was sent home because of her irresponsible behaviour and corruptive influence over the other girls. She stayed with her mother for few months but both mother and daughter did not get along with each other. Her mother was keen to send her back to a shelter. Being an older girl it was difficult for her to join the shelter. The workers of VF contacted Child Welfare Committee and put Salma in a rescue home.