OUR WORK
- Rescue from Platform

Staff contacting children near the railway platform in order to counsel them and bring them to the shelter

Railway platforms in India with their masses of humanity are the most convenient places to hide or lose one's identity. Runaway children find them ideal hideouts. These platforms the breeding ground for dangerous vices and the children are drawn in to this vortex.

SATHI believes that the children belong to families. Runaway children must be rescued, counseled and re-united with their respective families.

SATHI staff is present on the railway platform from 5:00am to 11pm generally. If there are more children on any particular platform, the staff works 24 hours. Staff scours the entire platform. Staff observes the children and contacts them. They gradually convince the child regarding the hazards of the platform and the advantages of being in a shelter. The child is finally convinced and comes to the shelter.

Some times the staff takes the help of RPF (Railway Protection Force), GRP (Government Railway Police), local passengers, coolies, and older children to convince the child. The staff uses techniques like: taking the child to a restaurant, giving him medical aid if required, peer pressure, etc. in order to convince children who are reluctant to come to shelter.  It is difficult to get kids who are highly addicted.

SATHI’s  work with runaway children began in Raichur and has spread with its collaborating partners and  now covers 19 platforms.

• Karnataka (Bangalore, Hubli, Raichur and Wadi)
• Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad, Vizag. Tirupathi, Renugunta, Warangal, Guntur and Guntakal)
• Maharashtra (Mumbai, Pune, Solapur and Daund)
• Madhya Pradesh (Itarsi)
• Rajasthan (Kota and Jaipur)
• West Bengal (Howrah)

The trend of migration from South Indian states is usually towards Pune and Mumbai. With major platform being watched and monitored by Sathi and the collaborating partners the influx towards Pune and Mumbai has reduced drastically. Sathi conducted a survey on Pune railway platforms. Against an earlier average of 15 fresh migrant children per day, the number has now reduced to 3-4 children.