The children on the streets have suddenly found a place where they can bank their dreams, quite literally.
The children on the streets have suddenly found a place where they can bank their dreams, quite literally. With a bank exclusively for them, they need not fear for the safety or manipulation of their hard-earned money. They can tuck it away safely in their own accounts and save money to plan a better future.
Hamara Foundation, an organisation working for the development and empowerment of the street children since 1989, recently inaugurated the Children’s Development Khazana (CDK), a bank which true to it’s name aims to facilitate the development of the street kids by saving their ‘khazana’ for them.
“We realised that no matter how hard we try to stop them, these children out of helplessness, compulsion or sheer need have to venture out to earn for their survival. But usually they are either cheated or looted by the more powerful. Therefore we thought of giving them a better alternative to develop their saving habits,” said the managing trustee of the Hamara Foundation, professor Asha Rane.
An offspring of a Delhi-based NGO Butterfly’s project Child Development Khazana also called Bal Vikas Khazana of 2001; the bank seeks its inspiration from such banks operational in seven other cities. Interestingly, this bank for children will also be operated by the children themselves at posts as high as the manager.
“The children and staff were given two days intensive training by the volunteers from Butterfly about the functioning and responsibilities of the bank,” added Rane. The working hours of the bank will be between 4 and 6 pm to suit the children..
While presently there is just one branch of CDK at the Mumbai Central office of Hamara Foundation, plans are in place to spread the branches across its other centres considering the huge response to this innovative project.
The CDK already has 30 account holders between the ages of nine and 18 as per the rules. The turn out can be credited to the constant visits of the volunteers over past few days to railway stations and several other work places of these children to guide them on how they can now save their earnings Amongst the strict rules is also a confirmation that the child is actually hardworking and does not indulge in any addictions, thefts or gambling.
The other incentive of saving regularly is the hope of getting loans from CDK. “If any child is regular for six months in saving, we can also try an offer them small loans which we call advance in case of need,” concluded Rane.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}