Sathi (​Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situation)

Sathi (Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situations) is a national award-winning Indian non-profit working with children in vulnerable s Read moreituations. Sathi has been doing this work for over 27 years. Founded by Pramod Kulkarni, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, Sathi has worked across the landscape of India to put children’s lives on track and ensure a stable future for every child. Sathi’s work includes: (1) the rescue of runaway and separated children from railway platforms and resettling them with families or childcare institutions; (2) engaging with government-run childcare institutions and working towards resettling children who languish in institutions without family contact; and (3) working with children in street and slum situations and helping them secure valid legal identity documents which will in turn grant them access to social protection schemes of the state. Sathi has had humble beginnings in the rugged district of Raichur in Karnataka; but has over the years expanded in geography and scale. Sathi has worked in more than 40 locations in 14 states across India and has reached out to more than a 100,000 child beneficiaries directly. Sathi’s most notable achievements include pioneering work in the rescue and rehabilitation of Children in Contact with Railways (CCR); this has resulted in the design and development of best practices for the rescue, counselling, restoration and aftercare of children. Sathi is known for this pioneering work across the social sector. Many non-profits making an entry into this space are mentored by Sathi.

Vision: Create a safe, secure and nurtured environment for runaway and separated children within the child protection system from the grassroots to national level, so that the children can develop holistically with self-confidence, self-worth and dignity.

Mission: Create a safe and secure environment for runaway children found on railway platforms, in SATHI’s shelters, Government Homes, Institutions and other NGO shelters, to protect them from neglect and abuse.

1) More than 2 decades of work specifically on issue of runaway children on railway platforms and experience of helping more than 1 lac children.
2) Success of the home-placement approach with nearly 85% retention
3) Developing a unique camp methodology for helping children with addictions and deviant behavior such as habitual runaway, rough attitude, etc. Nearly 300 camps have been conducted helping 7000 children
4) National level presence (48+ railway stations in 13 states)
5) The launch and expansion of Railway Childline – a joint initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Railways – is a major milestone in SATHI’s journey of advocating for a mechanism to rescue unaccompanied, runaway and separated children at all major railway stations across India.
6) One of the first NGOs to successfully obtain government grants for the work related to children in railway stations; presently SATHI runs 2 Open Shelters and 2 Railway Childlines
7) Worked with more than 45 Govt. Children Homes on restoration of children staying for long durations
8) Networking and familiarity with railways, police, Govt. Departments and NGOs Working with run away and missing children to find their way back to home since 25 years