Vikas Sansthan

The organisation's primary mission is eradicating child labour in industries such as glass, bangle, carpet, and brick kilns, focusing on rehabilitating these children through education. It manages 16 Non-Formal Education (NFE) centres tailored for formerly exploited child labourers. Key project components involve enrolling children aged 6 to 14 years in NFE and formal school programmes and creating awareness about the harms of child labour and the value of education among parents and children. It also offers free education services, including learning materials and school supplies. The project establishes routines and timetables for NFE centres, aiding the transition of NFE-attending children into formal schooling. It includes conducting exams, training NFE instructors, forming "Baal Panchayats" (Child Councils), and providing outdoor and indoor games to support holistic child development.

Vikas Sansthan employs a community rehabilitation programme to provide comprehensive support to disabled children and their families. The aim is to empower parents to become financially self-sufficient and better equipped to address the growth and health-related challenges faced by their disabled children. Essential counselling is offered to parents of disabled children and the broader community, promoting awareness of the rights of disabled children and encouraging the provision of adequate care. In a rehabilitation centre, disabled children receive physiotherapy and medical care from trained caretakers and physiotherapists. The organisation meticulously maintains progress records for disabled children, tracking their development and the care provided by their parents. Families are assisted in obtaining disability pensions enabling parents to better care for their children.

Vikas Sansthan raises awareness of child rehabilitation through child rights-themed camps followed by identifying families in need of support. The organisation engages with these families to address their vulnerabilities and reduce dependence on child labour. Families are educated about the importance of family planning, stress the significance of environmental protection, and encourage male family members to participate in domestic responsibilities. This empowers women to engage in income-generating activities. Vikas Sansthan offers separate counselling for children and establishes "Bal Panchayats" and "Kishori Manch" for boys and girls. Over-aged girls are encouraged to study at the organisation's NFE Centres and gender equality in education is promoted. Women family members are encouraged to join SHGs, seeking support from SHGs and Seed Federation. Counselling is provided to parents of disabled children.

Vikas Sansthan places significant importance on capacity building and training for various stakeholders. Training is provided to the staff team, women members of Self Help Groups, CRWC Members, Bal Panchayat Members, Adolescent Girls Groups, Teachers of Non-Formal Education Centers, and parents of child labourers, as well as parents of disabled children. Induction Training for the project team members aims to familiarize them with project objectives, expected outcomes, strategies, and their roles and responsibilities. Training for leaders of Bal Panchayats focuses on enhancing their leadership abilities in the fight against child labour in the carpet, glass, and bangle industries. Various themes are covered during this training.

Vikas Sansthan is closely engaged with the mothers of freed child labourers in their operational areas. These mothers are incorporated into SHGs.These SHGs encourage regular savings and credit activities among the mothers & link them with income-generating opportunities. In the long term, these SHGs are expected to contribute to the elimination of child labour by functioning as collective entities that support and advocate for the protection of child rights in the project areas. The organisation conducts various capacity-building training sessions for their members and leaders. It raises and addresses various problems, attempting to find solutions collaboratively. These SHGs provide a platform for women to voice their concerns and seek assistance from Government programmes and social security schemes. Women also receive information on health issues and discuss and resolve health-related matters within the groups, increasing awareness about health issues.

The organisation has mobilised the parents of child labourers and organised them into CRPC. The project team members have facilitated community-level processes and mobilised parents of child labourers & freed child labourers for their association into a collective called Child Rights Protection Committees (CRPC). CRPC was formed for the safeguarding & protection of the rights of the children. It keeps vigil on the incidences of child labourers. It always makes an endeavour to evade the incidences of child labourers in their respective areas. It works for the empowerment and development of the children. CRPC are playing important roles in taking up the agenda of Child Labour and Children's Rights more effectively. A number of 21 CRPCs are functional with 489 members.

Vikas Sansthan has successfully established Baal Panchayats, or Children's Parliaments, as a result of its project interventions. These Baal Panchayats have made significant progress with the collective strength of 1,131 members from 21 operational areas of the organisation. Members of these Baal Panchayats have been educated on various critical issues, including child labour, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child participation, sanitation, hygiene, gender equity, and other child-related matters. More than 1,131 freed children from the operational areas have joined 21 Baal Panchayats, engaging and taking action through their respective Children's Parliaments. These Baal Panchayats have matured, achieving notable accomplishments and earning the respect of their parents and the broader communities.