The Dark Realities of Women Trafficking VIII: Samatol Foundation's Impact on Runaway Children

Samtol Foundation is founded by Shri Vijay Jadhav. He supports the children who run away from their homes and mostly take shelter at railway stations. He attempts to win their trust to understand their problems and rehabilitate them. When he was involved with the project of Save Narmada, he observed that many children leave their villages in search of some work. He realised that many such children stay on railway platforms, fall in bad company, and at times get addicted too. This made him work on the rehabilitation of these children. Attending a workshop organised by ' Rambhau Mhalagi Prabodhini' and contacting RSS helped him realise his objective. Thus started the Samatol Foundation. Equality, Affection, Gift, and Goal are the four guiding principles. When a survey was conducted in 2006- 07, it was observed that children came to CST railway station every year. Though the number of children who leave their houses is around 10 lakh, they come to Mumbai. At least 1 crore children run away in the country.
Social media paints a very attractive picture of the big cities, it fascinates them. Physical and mental torture, the inability of parents to satisfy their demands, sometimes in a fit of emotion, differences with the family, and strained relations between parents are some of the causes that make the children run away.


Of course, children leave their houses in search of better opportunities, and parents being too aggressive and disliking school, may instigate them. Sometimes they are lured by false promises by someone,( even relatives ) this works as a trigger in many cases.

Once the tide of emotions subsides, they realise the mistake, at this time if they get the right kind of counsel, they think of returning home. Else they adjust to the new situation. They pick up skills of pickpocketing and become addicts if stay away for a long period. They come in contact with the criminals, work for them inadvertently, do all sorts of odd tasks also,get involved in immoral activities and keep changing places. The system of bounded labour also contributes to this. The children who are lured with work, too face torture and don't like work sometimes, some of them escape and come to stations. Mostly porters who get to know about the new-comers, help the Samatol karyakartas.

Samtol attempts to help them by understanding their side, trying to report to the police and admitting them to shelter homes too. It helps them to regain their confidence and karyakartas try to get them connected to the family members by boosting their morale.

They are motivated to get educated to be able to earn some respectable jobs. Even camps are organised for this, it helps to build self-respect and confidence. Hindu Seva Sangh and Samatol together run 'Swami Vivekananda Manparivartan Kendra 'to support them in skills education.

Rehabilitation is not an easy task, girls, once run away are not welcome back due to the stigma attached to it. Some of them are unfortunately abducted because of insecure situations. Even boys are not always welcome. To deal with the situation, the related agencies need to be sensitive and sympathetic.

Of course, the procedure is a bit complex, it becomes a little stressful for children also. The system is understaffed, politicians have the least interest, thus it becomes the burden of social organisations mostly.

At present Samatol karyakartas work at Kalyan, Thane, Kurla, Dadar,CST, Jalgaon, Bhusawal,Pune, Akola,and Nanded stations. This is an unfortunate situation, but we all have to to work together ensure the rights of children.
Dnyandevi Childline: helping hand for children, based on the interview of Dr Anuradha Sahasrabuddhe
Childline was started in 2001 by the Dnyandevi Institute which was approved by Women and Child Welfare Ministry of the Government of India. It works round the clock. It helped to rescue lacs of children from the torture and offered mental support and shelter. Children forcibly involved in immoral activities or unfortunately trapped in unfavourable situations can contact the helpline and seek help.

Besides the legal structure, police and government do their best to protect children who are found to be embroiled in all sorts of illegal and immoral acts. They can reach the helpline for support. They experience some turmoil caused by torture at home or by peers, or at school or are caught in a very dangerous situation.

1098 is the helpline number.

She observed that children are brought or attracted to cities for some employment, usually neighbours or some relatives are found to be responsible in such cases. They become victims of physical and mental torture too. Girls come to cities with a promise or hope of good jobs and unfortunately, land in the flesh trade. Most of them belong to West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand. The child force gets some jobs at garages, fireworks units, tea stalls or dhabhas. They work in unprotected situations.

Children are sometimes brought to madrasas or ashrams for study but are exploited in a number of ways. A big number of children from Muslim communities later face this fate.

Children from Marathwada and Vidarbha also go to ashrams to learn the art of kirtan but regrettably fall victim to immoral acts.

In tourist centres like Goa or Kerala, many children are made available to tourists for entertainment unfortunately and are also used as sex toys.

Abducted children are also forced into begging. All such children can get help by contacting the helpline. Government law enforcement agencies are there, but we as members of society too have to be vigilant about the issue.