Children in street situations (CiSS) are a common sight in urban India and among the most vulnerable groups, with limited access to protection, education, health-care and adult supervision. They are mostly found in cities near traffic signals, railway platforms, and religious places, shopping areas, near bus and auto stands, under flyovers, bridges or on road pavements. Every day is a struggle for survival, food, water, clothing, shelter, medicine and protection. Of the many categories of children in difficult circumstances, street children are estimated to be one of the most rapidly growing groups of vulnerable children in urban India.
In this context Save the Children initiated a program with a title “Making#TheInvisiblesVisible in 10 cities of India namely, Maharashtra, Delhi, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh with a target of reaching out 2 Lac children in street situation (CiSS) within a period of 2 years 2018 – 2020. In Maharashtra, the intervention focused in 3 cities such as: Mumbai, Pune and Nashik with a target of reaching approx. 72000 CiSS. The goal of this initiative was “ to ensure well-being of children living in street situations in terms to create an enabling environment for all children living in street situations in India, thereby strengthening their access to right to survival, development, participation and protection, eventually unlocking their limitless potential”. The project specifically aimed for “Children living in street situations in three cities of Maharashtra experience increased enrolment in schools; access to healthcare services, upskilling and employment opportunities, and financial services though the following strategies”
• Securing Identity Documents for children in street situations
• Stakeholders Capacity Building for effective implementation of Standard Operating Procedure
• Popular Mobilization
• Ensuring social security entitlements for their Right to Education, Health care services, financial inclusion and employment and upskilling
In Pune New Vision Partnered with Save the children and were able to reach out 20290 CiSS to get linked with different legal identity documents such as: Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate, School Certificate, Pan Card etc. and 10725 CiSS linked with different social protection schemes of Education, Health, ICDS services, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development Programs.