Rescue lost children on railway platforms and bus stops from abuse, starvation and trafficking

What happens when children lose their way back home, face abuse, starvation and land up at busy railway stations and bus stops? They are faced with dangerous situations, fall into the hands of abusers and are at high risk of getting lost forever. 

When little Vijay couldn’t find his way home he ended up working at a hotel where he was abused everyday till he thought of running away and followed the railway route to Ghaziabad railway station. He could have also landed up in the hands of dangerous abusers and lost his way forever, but Railway Children India and their network of outreach volunteers saved Vijay. They tracked his village and reunited Vijay with his family after 7 years of leaving his home. 

Lost children of India

“Every 5 minutes, children like Vijay take railway routes and arrive alone in India’s railway stations and are at risk at a railway platform. While less than 50% of them are found, rescued or united with their family… the rest fall into the hands of abusers - where they either get trafficked, sexually exploited, die or disappear forever” - Navin Sellaraju, Founder - Railway Children India

Intervention before exploitation

Railway Children India’s 24 hrs outreach teams recognize children who are alone and at risk at railway stations and send them to shelter homes that provide short-term accommodation for children with nowhere safe to stay and long-term care for those whose families couldn’t be tracked. These children are provided psychosocial support to help them recover from the trauma, medical assistance, education, vocational training until they trace their families.

But they cannot do it alone

“We rescue around 1300 children every month. Especially during the lockdowns, the cases of runaway kids had soared with most of them between the age of 12 to 16 years - which has increased the urgency for rescue and protection. The sooner we reach these children, the higher the chances of rescuing them from exploiters and traffickers.  But to do that we need your support,” says Navin. 

The organisation spends around ₹60 Lakhs annually through their Child Help Desk and Open Shelters in each location. With growing numbers of lost and runaway children, they are in dire need to continue their work and are looking for financial support. 

Your support will help us save thousands of children from the streets and from the hands of abusers and reunite with their families” - Navin

Reunite lost children with their families, give them a better life

Your contribution can lead India’s railway children back to the safety of their homes and also provide them with trauma counselling, nutrition, education and shelter. Don’t let them disappear forever, donate now.