Aangan

In Bihar, efforts are underway to advance the state's objective of enhancing the safety of girls, particularly in public spaces, by addressing issues related to sexual violence, abuse, and child marriage. In Maharashtra, collaboration with the 'Police Didi' programme focuses on facilitating communication, knowledge sharing, and access between law enforcement, children, and educational institutions to combat sexual violence and exploitation. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan, support is extended to the 'Suraksha Sakhi' initiative, which engages community-based women's groups across police jurisdictions to foster trust, enhance access, and proactively address safety concerns for both children and women.

In Jharkhand, the initiative focuses on establishing School Safety Hubs as a platform for consistent dialogue and collaborative action among school authorities, community organisations, and adolescent girls. The primary goal is to ensure the safety of girls, track their attendance, and maintain their enrollment in schools.

Under the Aspirational Districts Program in Bihar, Rajasthan, and Odisha, a partnership with the Kaivalya Education Foundation is in place across five districts. This collaboration aims to strengthen school systems, equipping them to proactively prevent child harm, maintain a secure environment, and ensure regular school attendance for children.

In addition, community-based initiatives have been introduced targeting adolescent girls and boys residing in high-risk areas, specifically sourced from districts where children previously originated from Child Care Institutions (CCIs). These programmes, known as "Shakti" for girls and "Chauraha" for boys, have been designed to enhance resilience among these youth, endowing them with legal knowledge and a comprehensive grasp of potential risks they might encounter. Furthermore, these efforts involve collaborative efforts with families and local Government authorities, collectively working toward the safeguarding of children within these communities.

Recognizing the imperative need to prioritize the prevention of child harm, Program PACT (Parents and Children Against Trafficking and Harm) was launched. This initiative aims to engage entire communities in the proactive prevention of child harm by harnessing the collective knowledge and insights of parents and community members to safeguard children. Operating in 86 locations across six states, PACT has successfully trained 15,000 community volunteers, collaborated with 520 Government officials, and reached out to 250,000 vulnerable children and 23,000 at-risk families. As a result, the programme has contributed to the enhanced safety of approximately 300,000 children.

In six child harm hotspot districts, it executed a large-scale, multi-sectoral strategy for prevention. This approach effectively engaged local Government officials, including the police, education authorities, and panchayats, promoting their accountability and responsiveness. Trained community women played a pivotal role in identifying and tackling these issues. It established mechanisms to foster continuous dialogues among diverse stakeholders and democratized data collection for issue prioritization. Additionally, it enhanced children's access to safety information through peer networks, culminating in comprehensive initiatives to combat child harm at scale.

The publication of 'Changing Spaces,' an action report, effectively amplified the voices of rescued children, drawing the attention of the Maharashtra Department of Women and Child Development. Subsequently, Aangan received a mandate from the State to oversee the operations of 100 Child Care Institutions (CCIs), with the primary objective of enhancing the quality of care and treatment provided to children within these facilities. This appointment marked a pivotal step towards improving the overall welfare and protection of children in the State's care.