Ruchika Social Service Organisation

In 1985, a pioneering educational initiative called "The Platform School" was launched at Bhubaneswar Railway Station to support children who were wandering, begging, or rag-picking in and around the station.

The goal was to provide these underprivileged children with a joyful education and raise their awareness of health and hygiene. Bright students were transitioned into formal schools. Each day, the children receive four hours of education, along with supplementary nutrition and health care services.

Most children living in slums often lack toys to play with, as their parents cannot afford them.

To address this, RSSO launched the “Mobile Toy Library” in May 2007, supported by New Global Citizen. This initiative involves a bus filled with toys, providing play materials to enhance children's physical, mental, and intellectual development.

The Mobile Toy Library serves over 600 children in the slums, where RSSO's Balwadis and Crèches operate.

RSSO's outreach workers rescue children in need of care and protection, including those living on the streets, working in vulnerable occupations, orphans, deserted children, trafficking victims, and runaways. These children are given shelter in Open Shelter Homes, with separate facilities for boys (ASRA) and girls (SRADHA).

At the shelter homes, the children receive counseling, food, clothing, medical treatment, bridge course education, training, and outdoor activities until they are restored or rehabilitated.

Upon the order of the Child Welfare Committee, families of the children are traced, and the children are either reunited with their parents or placed in transit or permanent shelter homes.