‘Most children flee their homes due to poverty’

What is the motivation behind your focus on child rescue and rehabilitation?
Don Bosco organisation has worked on children and youth for four decades. The children who are found on streets in different kinds of situations are important. Our focus is always riveted on street children, rag pickers and destitute children neglected in Bengaluru.

Rescuing and rehabilitation is a complicated process. How do you manage to do it?
The main motto of Don Bosco is to ensure service to these children. Don Bosco has presence in 132 countries around the world. As our motto is to serve children, we have to serve them. We have a proper system in place. The founder founded the organisation on this motto. In the beginning, there were financial problems among other initial problems. Gathering the destitute children at one place was a major one. We overcame it with the help of society, media and the government.

Once a child is rescued, what is the next process?
Once a child is rescued, he or she will be   admitted first. We will be friendly. We will guide them by taking them into our confidence. We build trust in them; motivate them for education and involve them in other positive activities. Whatever we do, we ensure that it is done in a friendly manner. We are in places like bus stops, railway station and market. Wherever they are we reach them.

Does caste and religion got to do anything with the runaway children?
See Don Bosco has a faculty strength of 162 to take care of the kids. We provide service to all children irrespective of their caste, creed and sex. We treat them equally. We do not promote a particular religion. However, we see to it that their faith in the god remains intact. We teach them an inclusive way of living. There is no room for caste, colour and creed.

How is education of runaway children taken care of?
Ultimately, all our efforts are motivated towards making them good human beings. Some of the rescued children go back to their families. Many  children are orphans. We provide them education and help bring them to the mainstream of society. We also help children who are poor in academics to develop skills so they secure a job for survival We also assist them after education to get jobs.  

What do you think are the reasons behind children running away from homes?
The main reason for a majority of children coming from North India to Bengaluru is poverty. They come to earn a livelihood and support their family. Others are deprived of education, some are harassed by parents and sexually exploited by close circles. Some children are victims of child labor. They are trafficked for begging, child labour or sexual abuse. There are different reasons for kids to leave their parents. If they are leaving their homes for neglect, then it is a bad thing.

What you want to tell the society..?
I am part of an organization called Bosco Bengaluru. I am immensely happy to be working for children at risk in many ways. We will continue to be there in situations of risks so that we can save, protect and help these children to move into safer situations.

What is your message to the society?
My message to society is that one should not expect children to work to their comfort. We continue to work to improve the lives of these children.  Our society must tell itself that they do not need children to work for their comfort. So, there could be situations where child labour could be noticed. That has to be brought to the notice of authorities. They can call child helpline 1098 so that the authorities can go and intervene and save these children. People should pledge that they will never ever employ children in their places.