Mumbai: The Maharashtra government announced a squad of mobile trucks on Tuesday to recruit street children for education. The plan was approved at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Mantralaya Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
According to the government, the decision will help street children at 29 municipal companies in the state. These children will be sent to Aganwadi or school according to their age category. The mobile van fleet will also provide medical examinations, protection and consultation for street children.
Women and Child Development (WCD) officials said they had launched a pilot project in the suburbs of Mumbai, Thana, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur regions in 2022-23. According to a survey by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) during the pilot project, there were 71,058 street children in the above areas. Of these, only 37,059 Street children are in Mumbai. “During this period, 3,813 street children benefited from the program,” officials said.
After the pilot project was successful, the WCD department proposed to convert it into a permanent plan. The national cabinet approved the plan on Tuesday with the rule of Rs 8,06,31,000 this year.
“The cabinet has approved the deployment of 31 mobile vans from 29 municipal companies. Of the 31 vans, three will be deployed in Mumbai,” the official said.
In the total budget, the government will spend Rs 790 crore on mobile vans, while the remaining amount has been designated for advertising and administrative expenses.
WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare said it is socially unjust to deprive children of streets of education and health. Ms Tatkare said: “The mobile van program is hopeful for them. Education, food, health care and social projections will be provided to them based on their needs. The smile that each child faces will be a real success of the program.”
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the service will be provided through selected NGOs. A mobile van will have four members, namely counselors, teachers, female staff, drivers and caretakers. The van will also have GPS tracking and CCTV cameras. A CMO official said: “A social survey report will be prepared for the children. A personal rehabilitation plan will be developed based on the needs of the children.”
Another CMO official said the program will run over the next three years. “Publishing this news will examine the impact of the program and it will continue if needed,” the official said.
