Child Watch

Child Watch ensures that no child in the age group of 6 to 14 years is denied admission to formal school following the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. The project works with shop keepers and other employers of child labor to prevent the recruitment of child labour and selling of addictive substances to children. Child Watch works with the parents, especially fathers, to increase their involvement in their children’s lives and encouraging children to attend school. Rescue, rehabilitation and repatriation are also done by the project as needed.
This year, like other parts of the world, Kolkata has been highly affected by Covid-19. During lockdown, families living on the street lost their jobs and struggled to provide enough food for their families. The project activities were withheld from April to June 2020 and the Child Watch staff joined the HOPE Emergency Response Team to distribute relief materials to the community. However, the team maintained in contact with the Community Group Members, the children and their families throughout the pandemic and provided necessary support. The project activities resumed from July 2020, but mobility and gathering crowds for meetings was restricted as per Government rules.

The Child Watch social workers provided social counselling to the three children - Chintu, Mintu and Pintu who lost their father to covid last year protection and education. The children were produced before the Child Welfare Committee of Kolkata and placed in HOPE's Crisis Intervention Centre. Chintu is now enrolled in Class VI in a Government School and Mintu is in Class III. Pintu is in Class II. They are safe and support to ensure their holistic development.

Suraj, (name changed) is 12 years old and lived near a railway track with his mother. His father passed away 6 years ago. Suraj studied in Class V but due to Covid-19, the schools were closed. The school did not provide online class and Suraj did not receive education support from his school. He became addicted to substances and worked in local shops. The Child Watch social worker contacted the local police station and lodged a General Diary. Suraj was produced before the Child Welfare Committee and placed in HOPE’s Punorjibon Home for detoxification and rehabilitation.