Samparc India supporting orphans and children of sex workers
ProMosaik’s Denise
Nanni and Milena Rampoldi conducted the
following interview with Amitkumar
Banerjee of Samparc-India which all
began with the very humble purpose of
giving the orphan and destitute children of sex workers new identities and the
opportunity to grow under the community umbrella. ProMosaik would like to thank
Amitkumar for taking the time to provide detailed answers.
Nanni and Milena Rampoldi conducted the
following interview with Amitkumar
Banerjee of Samparc-India which all
began with the very humble purpose of
giving the orphan and destitute children of sex workers new identities and the
opportunity to grow under the community umbrella. ProMosaik would like to thank
Amitkumar for taking the time to provide detailed answers.
How extended
is the issue of orphan children in your region of intervention?
is the issue of orphan children in your region of intervention?
As Social Action for Manpower Creation, SAMPARC
is a renowned institute for the care of orphan, CSW, and other needy children,
so that all well-wishers of children and the competent authority CWC (Child
Welfare Committee- Government Body) prefer having children cared for by
SAMPARC. Children are admitted in the district through CWC. Annually 3000-4000
children appear before CWC to get admission in 62 institutes recognised by
government in the district of Pune, Maharashtra, with SAMPARC always being the
first choice of all concerned people. NGOs operations are mostly based on their
own fundraising. Shelter homes which are 100% aided and controlled by
Government are run by only 3-5 staff members. Approximately 5000-6000 children
are cared by volunteer organisations including SAMPARC which has been actively involved since 1990.
Most important of all is that SAMPARC continues the rehabilitation of the boys
and girls even after 18 years of age for their higher education, employment and
marriage.
is a renowned institute for the care of orphan, CSW, and other needy children,
so that all well-wishers of children and the competent authority CWC (Child
Welfare Committee- Government Body) prefer having children cared for by
SAMPARC. Children are admitted in the district through CWC. Annually 3000-4000
children appear before CWC to get admission in 62 institutes recognised by
government in the district of Pune, Maharashtra, with SAMPARC always being the
first choice of all concerned people. NGOs operations are mostly based on their
own fundraising. Shelter homes which are 100% aided and controlled by
Government are run by only 3-5 staff members. Approximately 5000-6000 children
are cared by volunteer organisations including SAMPARC which has been actively involved since 1990.
Most important of all is that SAMPARC continues the rehabilitation of the boys
and girls even after 18 years of age for their higher education, employment and
marriage.
SAMPARC has very limited resources in the
district of Pune and can only admit 270 children of which 120 are girls and
rest boys. Every year only 30-40 children get replaced through CWC.
district of Pune and can only admit 270 children of which 120 are girls and
rest boys. Every year only 30-40 children get replaced through CWC.
In what ways do you identify the children
that could benefit from your support?
that could benefit from your support?
During the past ten years the SAMPARC lost
control over the admission of any children directly to its organisation. CWC made
the decisions regarding the placement of
children in SAMPARC on the basis of the following criteria:
control over the admission of any children directly to its organisation. CWC made
the decisions regarding the placement of
children in SAMPARC on the basis of the following criteria:
a. Children in
difficulty with the Police who have the CWC review and order their placement in
institutions.
difficulty with the Police who have the CWC review and order their placement in
institutions.
b. Similarly by any public servant,
NGO, volunteer organisation, Non-Governmental organisation, Social Worker or
child himself, or any child referred by a hospital to the CWC for vetting procedure
and placement.
NGO, volunteer organisation, Non-Governmental organisation, Social Worker or
child himself, or any child referred by a hospital to the CWC for vetting procedure
and placement.
In the district of Pune 10% are orphans, 15% are
street children, 35% children of CSW, 2% are victims of trafficking, and 3% are
abandoned, with the rest being the children of single parents who are mostly
mothers — working as a maid servants or security guards — unable to take care
for their own children; or children whose
fathers are alcoholics, in which case
concerned people approach the CWC and try to have them placed in
suitable institutions for care and protection. All categories will be found in
SAMPARC children’s Home. In fact, SAMPARC acts in accordance with the Juvenile
Justice Act and follows the advice and guidance of CWC for the admittance of
children to the institute. Sometimes they place physically challenged children
which SAMPARC reschedule them with the help of CWC.
street children, 35% children of CSW, 2% are victims of trafficking, and 3% are
abandoned, with the rest being the children of single parents who are mostly
mothers — working as a maid servants or security guards — unable to take care
for their own children; or children whose
fathers are alcoholics, in which case
concerned people approach the CWC and try to have them placed in
suitable institutions for care and protection. All categories will be found in
SAMPARC children’s Home. In fact, SAMPARC acts in accordance with the Juvenile
Justice Act and follows the advice and guidance of CWC for the admittance of
children to the institute. Sometimes they place physically challenged children
which SAMPARC reschedule them with the help of CWC.
SAMPARC always ensures that children’s homes are
operated by having the overall involvement of one adult per seven children
which serves to create a tremendous positive impact in the life of the
children. Apart from physical support, the children also get psychological
support that enables them to remain confident both physically and mentally, and
to remain healthy. SAMPARC believes in providing special education in math’s, reasoning,
general knowledge, sports, drawing, painting, music, and cultural activities.
Such tuition helps children to grow properly. They are also given various
exposure visits and vacation trips. Food, nutrition, and medical support are
provided which results in less disease and health problems.
operated by having the overall involvement of one adult per seven children
which serves to create a tremendous positive impact in the life of the
children. Apart from physical support, the children also get psychological
support that enables them to remain confident both physically and mentally, and
to remain healthy. SAMPARC believes in providing special education in math’s, reasoning,
general knowledge, sports, drawing, painting, music, and cultural activities.
Such tuition helps children to grow properly. They are also given various
exposure visits and vacation trips. Food, nutrition, and medical support are
provided which results in less disease and health problems.
In what ways do you support them?
SAMPARC believes that the people involved with
the children should be primarily concerned with achieving good results for care
and protection of the children. SAMPARC has established involvement of expert
organisation such as the Miracle Foundation and other similar groups to work
with the children, so that . . .
the children should be primarily concerned with achieving good results for care
and protection of the children. SAMPARC has established involvement of expert
organisation such as the Miracle Foundation and other similar groups to work
with the children, so that . . .
a. Girls get sense a of
independence, fearlessness, confidence, and can take leadership roles in
various areas.
independence, fearlessness, confidence, and can take leadership roles in
various areas.
b. Their health
(HB), is properly maintained with water, sanitation, hygiene and food values
are meeting the basic required standard.
(HB), is properly maintained with water, sanitation, hygiene and food values
are meeting the basic required standard.
c. Children
should be in a homely atmosphere where they feel their interests and basic
requirement are protected.
should be in a homely atmosphere where they feel their interests and basic
requirement are protected.
d. They are
confident to express their opinions with girls and boys having equal status.
confident to express their opinions with girls and boys having equal status.
e. They
are doing their school studies properly and receiving the necessary support to
overcome their problems in the SAMPARC Shelter Home.
are doing their school studies properly and receiving the necessary support to
overcome their problems in the SAMPARC Shelter Home.
f. A group of expert, qualified
and trained counsellors act for SAMPARC Children’s Homes. SAMPARC is now
extending the same benefits to other NGO’s for qualitative development and
training on counselling to create benefits for another 2000-3000 children.
and trained counsellors act for SAMPARC Children’s Homes. SAMPARC is now
extending the same benefits to other NGO’s for qualitative development and
training on counselling to create benefits for another 2000-3000 children.
In what does your women’s empowerment
project consist of?
project consist of?
SAMPARC women’s empowerment though initially
started through active effort of SAMPARC personnel where women can express
their desires and opinions while resisting torture, unhealthy environments and
alcohol somas to improve the scope for growth. During the first ten years, it
was a constant effort to develop self-help groups and to ensure that crystallised
their efforts to achieve an organised approach. Consequently, a Co-Operative
credit bank and about 187 self-help groups are now carrying out women’s
activities.
started through active effort of SAMPARC personnel where women can express
their desires and opinions while resisting torture, unhealthy environments and
alcohol somas to improve the scope for growth. During the first ten years, it
was a constant effort to develop self-help groups and to ensure that crystallised
their efforts to achieve an organised approach. Consequently, a Co-Operative
credit bank and about 187 self-help groups are now carrying out women’s
activities.
Today it is a very natural for women to refer to
SAMPARC Mahila Bachat Gat as their outreach leader in maintaining women’s groups
that promote the interests of women in the Maval Block district Pune,
Maharashtra. A very strong women’s group functioning as a natural force without
having involvement of any political and religious views in their own
activities.
SAMPARC Mahila Bachat Gat as their outreach leader in maintaining women’s groups
that promote the interests of women in the Maval Block district Pune,
Maharashtra. A very strong women’s group functioning as a natural force without
having involvement of any political and religious views in their own
activities.
There are lot of opportunities among the women
and villages to develop comprehensive support programs in the area of
leadership development in income generation — livelihood, agriculture, animal
husbandry, village planning, and resource mobilisation. They need exposure
visits and scope to learn from others.
and villages to develop comprehensive support programs in the area of
leadership development in income generation — livelihood, agriculture, animal
husbandry, village planning, and resource mobilisation. They need exposure
visits and scope to learn from others.
How would you define your approach?
SAMPARC maintains two approaches, one is to
follow the basic and statutory norms for care and development of orphan
children and for students in SAMPARC schools, hostels. And the other is to mobilise
communities in the field of vocational education of school dropouts, poor
village people for medical support and health awareness, and women’s
empowerment programs. The last approach involves lots of meetings and
interaction at the village community level to identify target
population/beneficiary. To intensify the approach SAMPARC organises various
training programs that analyse annual operational plans and endeavours to
understand the approach, the work, and the meeting program targets. SAMPARC
considers the program should ensure . . .
follow the basic and statutory norms for care and development of orphan
children and for students in SAMPARC schools, hostels. And the other is to mobilise
communities in the field of vocational education of school dropouts, poor
village people for medical support and health awareness, and women’s
empowerment programs. The last approach involves lots of meetings and
interaction at the village community level to identify target
population/beneficiary. To intensify the approach SAMPARC organises various
training programs that analyse annual operational plans and endeavours to
understand the approach, the work, and the meeting program targets. SAMPARC
considers the program should ensure . . .
a. Maximum cover of
village populations.
village populations.
b. That women and
children are the main beneficiaries.
children are the main beneficiaries.
c. Detail of
the programs are known at Gram sabha/Panchayat.
the programs are known at Gram sabha/Panchayat.
d. That SAMPARC
women self-help groups should have consent.
women self-help groups should have consent.
e. That a village
person should be a signatory to operate the account.
person should be a signatory to operate the account.
f. That a managing committee
should be responsible for implementation of the project.
should be responsible for implementation of the project.
The above approach helps SAMPARC to make
activities village based with training requirements being implemented as and where required.
activities village based with training requirements being implemented as and where required.
