Samatol’s main basis of work occurs on the platforms of junction railway stations. Children who runaway from home usually board a train, and land mainly at these junction railway stations, due to the way they are run.  It has been observed that focussing on children coming from outstations is more important than looking for local children when it comes to the consequences the children face.

The volunteers’ first step is to approach the child and build a relationship with them, rather than waiting for the runaway to contact a volunteer. Once befriended, the volunteers try to obtain as much information regarding how and why they arrived at the station from the child as well as other vital details.

For this, Samatol has created two classifications -

1. Children who are new to the railway station (approximately been there 5-15 days)
2. Children who have been living for more than 3 months at the station

There are a various number of reasons why children run away from home. These include:

• Home Problems
  • Single or Step parent is looking after the child
  • Poverty
  • Pressure and Stress from external parties like school or competition
  • Neglect and Poor family communication
• Trafficking
  • Organ trafficking
  • Sex trafficking
• Looking for Work
  • Children watch television and films portraying big cities to be the place to make a living, and so children try and follow suit
• City Attraction
  • The city is home to attractions like malls, restaurant and places to party
• Do Not Know
  • Some children just have no idea as to why they have run away

 

Samatol currently has a team of 10 people working on the station. They work in a shift of 8 hours respectively, dependent upon the arrival times of different non-local trains.

Station Procedure

There is a procedure the volunteers follow for any child that they have been in contact with. This is crucial in order to comply with all relevant police, medical and governmental requirements with handling of children.

The following procedure is observed on the stations:

1. Observe children who are dwelling on the railway station.
2. Volunteers introduce themselves and Samatol Foundation to the children.
3. Once a bond has been created, they take all required information and try to understand the child’s problem.
4. They register the found child at the police station
5. A Medical test is conducted at a government hospital in accordance with the registered number given at the police station.
6. They make all efforts, as soon as possible to help the child.

Children who have been living on the station for more than 2-3 months, are addicted to substances have run away from home more than once, complete the Manparivartan camp before being reunited with their families.