On the buses
In India, we’ve been working in train stations and on the streets for 25 years. But it’s only recently that, thanks to your support, we’ve extended our reach to one of India’s busiest bus terminals.
Buses account for 60 per cent of travel in India’s capital, Delhi. And, with up to 100,000 people regularly travelling through its bus terminals, it’s easy for children alone and at risk to go unnoticed, as Rahis Salmani, Railway Children’s Project Coordinator, explains:
“When compared with a train station, the awareness about child protection is quite low at a bus terminal – children roam around looking lost without anyone approaching them to help. Children can easily merge into the environment by polishing shoes, selling items or picking rags.”
That’s why we have established a presence at one of India’s biggest bus terminals, known to be a hotspot for child trafficking. Every day since, our dedicated team of project workers have been there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Working together to protect more children
Our work at the bus terminal brings together local child welfare services as well as the police, local authorities and the Child Welfare Committee – all united to help meet the immediate needs of vulnerable children before looking at longer-term solutions to the problems that led them to the bus terminal.
Since working in Delhi’s bus terminal, we have been able to:
- protect 421 children found vulnerable and alone
- reunify 364 children with their families
- help train 296 transport officials on safeguarding
- inform 2,260 passengers about our work with vulnerable children
Everyone playing their part
With the sheer size of the terminal and the number of people passing through each day, we can’t protect every child on our own.
That’s why it’s essential to raise awareness and empathy with the public around the need for action to protect children at risk. Through public awareness campaigns and providing safeguarding training, we’re encouraging everyone to be a part of keeping children safe.
Our work at Delhi’s bus terminal is a powerful example of how your support enables our project workers, members of the public and local authorities to come together to ensure we’re there for more of the children who need our protection.