Chasing dream to reality: Drug addiction dispels education for street children

New Delhi, Sept 11: With education for street children being swayed by drug addiction the alarming issue poses a chasing dream in the Capital if left unaddressed. The street children who live their life in the railway platforms say that though they want to change their lives but education still remains a distant dream for them. While talking to UNI, street children stated that education can change their life but their leaning towards drug addiction and the mentality of the society towards them from being educated is coming in the way. "I want to make good friends but no one is willing to make friendship with me because I am not educated and a drug addict," said 15-year-old Sanjay (name changed). Many street children who work at different railway stations as rag picker said that they are likely gravitate toward inhalants because they're cheap and legal, and therefore easy to get. Talking about the life in the railway platforms street children stated that their life at platform becomes vulnerable in night as some drunk people usually harass girls and small children. Street children claimed that due to their conditions no school enrolled them and if they get enrollment in some schools teachers and students over there pass bad comments on them. Without support, street children fall prey to substance and physical abuse and are never able to get timely or adequate medical assistance. The another major obstacle to street children in getting education is their family's poor economic conditions due to which they had to work. "When I asked my parents that can I go to the school they told me that their economic conditions is very weak so instead of going to school I should work," Sanjay said. Talking about the society street children stated that they are not recognised by society. "If society supports us our life can change but it is the irony for us that no one recognises us. Our life is worse than that of a dog. A dog at least gets to eat every day," said 16-year-old Raju (name changed), a rag picker. With the help of NGOs street children are making an action plan which they will send to Central government. In the plan they have stated their main problems and the demands from government. Street children stated that government should open some separate schools for them so that they get proper education and also restrict the selling of inhalants to the minor children so that they can't get addicted. "Street children are the most vulnerable to all forms of exploitation. The action plan is a way that the street children can express their obstacles in front of government. In the past despite various Government schemes and work by non-government organisations for Delhi’s street children, we haven’t been able to streamline efforts in an effective manner," said the non-government organisation Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action. UNI