HUMA SIDDIQUIIn India, at least two million babies die each year from poverty related causes, which include malnutrition and avoidable infections. Community Aid and Sponsorship Programme (CASP) is trying to mitigate the suffering of children to the best of its ability.According to CASP president Dr S D Gokhale, ``At the start of the new millennium, CASP reaffirms its commitment to the children of India in critical areas and renews its pledge to restore to childhood its right to survival, protection, development and participation.''
Speaking at the inauguration of the silver jubilee celebrations this year, Gokhale said, ``Even as the century draws to a close, more than half of India's children still do not have basic access to nutrition, health, education and security.'' Despite concerted efforts on the part of the government and development agencies, deeply ingrained cultural attitudes and prejudices have proved extremely difficult to change, he said.
CASP's strategy for children has been two-pronged:
It sponsors children, which involves the strengthening of their environment.
It reaches out to the rural poor through community development programmes.The ultimate goal of all CASP endeavours is to eliminate the very need for aid. The main criterion for all planning is the sustainability of a project, after funding is withdrawn. Community participation at every stage is therefore-from inception to implementation-vital to the programme's success, he says. CASP sees the fate of future generations resting in the well-being of the girl child, and works actively towards her empowerment. To deal with the exploitation and abuse of girls, CASP has started a programme in the red-light areas of Mumbai, Gokhale says.
He adds that many varied and complex factors conspire in the creation and perpetuation of child labour, which is the bane of our society. Poverty is often cited as a primary cause. Many children do not go to school because they must work, but the opposite is also true.
According to him, street children are a part of child labour, employing themselves to pick rags, polish shoes, sell fruit, newspapers and wash cars. They spend nights on the streets, stay up late, get little sleep and often go hungry. CASP is now trying to put them in a congenial atmosphere. A major project to support the education and health of 1,000 restaurant boys has now been launched.
Major health problems like leprosy and HIV/AIDS affect children, too. Modern drugs have rendered leprosy completely curable. Yet a shroud of fear and superstition still clings to the disease and child lepers are treated as outcasts. An increasing number of babies are being born with the AIDS virus and thousands of children will be orphaned by it.
Gokhale says that CASP undertakes public education and support programmes on leprosy and AIDS and works to restore dignity and peace to such patients and their families in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
CASP also endeavours to reach out to the children of prisoners and provide them protection, support and a sense of belonging, which is necessary for their development. It equally pledges emergency assistance to victims of armed conflict. CASP puts its efforts into rebuilding lives shattered by disasters-both natural and manmade.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.