NGO reunites 17 runaway kids with families

Mumbai: Ranjit Gaikwad (12) ran away from his school hostel in Nanded. After two months of painful search, he was re-united with his family with the help of Samtol Foundation, an NGO that works for rehabilitation of street children.

Ranjit was one of the 17 children rescued and re-united with their families by the NGO on Sunday, during a special event. Most of these children have spent almost two months with the NGO, and their families are from different part of the country.

Ranjit's father Chandu said, "Last one-and-a-half months, we were just running from pillar to post to look for my child. After talking to his friend, we came to know that he didn't like studying, and wanted to work instead. Last week, we got a call from the foundation and finally today, we got back our child."

The Samtol Foundation has been working for the cause for the last nine years, and as many as 5,500 children have been reunited with the parents till now. Most of these children were picked up from Mumbai and Thane railway stations. Every rescued child had a different story about why they ran.

Rahul Rathod (15) met his mother, who came all the way from Indore, after three months. He had also run away from home to avoid studies. After landing at the CST station, he came in touch with a Samtol Foundation volunteer, who brought him to the shelter in Thane.

"I spent the last two months with the foundation, and learned a lot of things. I want to thank the foundation people for that. Finally, they called my mother. I am going home happily now, and will never run away again," said Rahul. His mother Anitadevi, also expressed happiness.

Foundation trustee Sanjay Kelkar said, "We have been working for the last nine years with the help of 23 volunteers, who work for remuneration. We do not take any help from the government. Only our well-wishers donate money for the cause."

"Once these children come to us, we have almost one-and-a-half month rehabilitation plan. Our councillors talk to them and take them into confidence. We also run a 45-day programme, aptly named Man Parivartan (change of heart), in Mamnoli, a small village on the Kalyan-Murbad road," said foundation secretary Vijay Jadhav.

He added, "The programme involves early morning physical exercises, counselling sessions and cultural programmes, all aimed at getting the children's lost identities back, de-addiction from various substances and instilling in them, a sense of discipline. During this programme, all efforts are made to get in touch with the families."