Home > Projects > Surviving the Strees of India: The Invisibles (June 2019-)
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Timeline: June 2019 onwards

In June 2019, NOSKK started a new project named “Surviving the Streets of India: The Invisibles”. We are the implementing partner of Save the Children, one of the biggest child protection organizations in the world.

Objectives of the project:

Vision: Ensuring the well-being of children living in street situations.

Overall Goal: To create an enabling environment for all children living in street situations in India, thereby strengthening their access to the right to survival, development, participation and protection, eventually unlocking their limitless potential.

Target Group: 

  • We will be targeting all categories of children in street situations stated above under the proposed intervention, including those that live with their parents on the streets.
  • Parents would also be covered under the scope of the programme through indirect support to secure an Aadhaar card and access social protection schemes.

Final Beneficeries: 8000 children living in street situations attain their right to identity through a legal and valid Identity document i.e. Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Birth registration certificates, ration card etc.

  • 5600 children have access to a stronger safety net by acquiring at least one social security scheme [Linked to a health Insurance scheme, financial institutions, skills development programme for employability, access to early childhood/elementary schools education and/or access to health facilities for health care and medicines]

Overall Objective of Save the Children in India

Project Specific Objective: 200.000 children living in street situations in ten cities of four states in India experience increased enrollment in schools; access to healthcare services, upskilling and employment opportunities, and financial services.

Project Area: In Howrah District

What are ‘Children in Street Situations’ ?

Following are the four categories of children considered as children in street situations.

  1. Abandoned or orphaned children
  2. Missing or runaway children on the streets
  3. Street ‘connected’ child/ Community child on the Street
  4. Child begging on the street

Problems children in street situations in India face

  • Everyday, they struggle for survival, food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine and protection. With hunger driving them, they consistently move from one place to another in search of food
  • The struggle of survival compels them to start earning money at an early age. They are engaged in occupation such as rag-picking, street vending, working as domestic helps, begging etc. They are often exploited by employers and the police which makes them an extremely vulnerable group. The risk of falling in the hands of criminals and becoming engaged in crimes is common
  • Many children in street situations are out-of-school and spend most of their time working in inhumane environments
  • The children are often described as ‘hidden’ or ‘invisible’ due to lack of identity, recognition or social status that can make them count
  • Crimes against children on the streets
  • All children in street situations are extremely vulnerable to crimes of sexual abuse and violence