#TheInvisibles Telethon: Experts, Celebrities, Social Workers Come Together To Save India’s Children

We all are living in these unprecedented times of coronavirus, but not everyone is privileged enough to win this battle. The most affected people during this time are those living in poverty, struck with a sudden lack of funds, food, mobility and a struggle for survival. And, as with all humanitarian crises, it is the children who have been affected the most. Nearly 20 lakh children live on the streets of India, without an identity, a name to call their own, during this time when social distancing and lockdown have become the necessity of life, not everybody can afford to stay at home, simply because they don't have a home. 

Save the Children and NDTV have joined hands to bring focus to the lives of children living in street situations via a 21-day campaign #TheInvisibles. The aim of the campaign is to generate public interest and raise funds to ensure these 20 Lakh plus children who live, earn, sleep and eat on our streets are protected. Amidst the crisis the world is facing, they are most vulnerable, exposed to infection and disease. As a part of the campaign, a 2-hour special telethon was organised were experts, social workers and celebrities came together to save India's children and discuss solutions to fight the coronavirus outbreak. 

Joining the telethon with NDTV's Dr Prannoy Roy, Bidisha Pillai, CEO, Save the Children talked about the ongoing crisis the country is facing and how the NGO is doing its bit to fight this battle.

She said, 

People cater to the problems of adults, but children are often overlooked. They have very different needs. We are facing the greatest challenge of our lifetime, and in this situation as well, children have different consequences. They don't know the crisis and what to do, so we need to communicate that to the community, the impact on health and especially hunger, where children of migrant workers are hungry. And also impact on education, where they can't go to schools where they were also fed mid-day meals - possibly the most important and nutritious meals in their day, is unavailable to them. At this point of time, our response needs to be tailor-made to the kind of crisis being faced by the children. Children need to understand what the pandemic is all about and what needs to be done to overcome it.  They needed masks, sanitisers, sanitary pads, kits for pregnant mothers, and amid the crisis, we are providing these. We are also providing dry ration and vegetables for these families, that will help them sustain.

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights added, 

When it comes to the children living on the streets, we need to understand that it is a social issue as much as it is a health issue. Ministry of Home Affairs has said it is important to provide shelter to these people wherever they are. They have also said we need places that are declared safe to keep these kids, like hostels and schools. We have requested to all the state governments to follow these advises and safeguard the lives of such children.

Dia Mirza, Goodwill Ambassador UN Environment and UN Secretary General's Advocate for SDGs who is also working with Save the Children organisation since 2016 joined #TheInvisibles telethon and said, 

We started #TheInvisibles campaign back in 2016, hoping to help 20 lakh kids living on streets with an identification card. Because any facility they need - health, school, to name a few, needs an identification card. I have met the brightest, curious, vibrant and wonderful kids through this program. I have realised that despite their hardships, the kind of hope these children have, we as privileged people don't. These kids are on the frontline of exposure to every extreme situation faced by the society.

Talking about how different state governments have helped the NGO in providing relief-care in the times of coronavirus to the vulnerable group of people, Anindit Roy Chowdhury, Director, Programmes & Policy, Save the Children said,

Even to move with food items and hygiene kits in the lockdown is difficult but we have received tremendous support form 10 state governments. Child champions and advocates have done a great job in helping us facilitate help and have been on ground leaders. We are so happy that children have helped us help them.

Urging people to take actions and support the vulnerable group in this time of the pandemic, especially children, Actor Neha Dhupia said, 

We can talk all that we want, but we need actions right now, and we need funds to help these children. I want to fold my hands right now on national television and request everyone to donate and help children. No amount is small, your help can save the lives of many.

She further added,

We talk about staying indoors and practice social distancing, but these children have no homes and we need to help them out because most of them don't even know what is going on. They are the ones who are most endangered. At this time of crisis, the one thing each one of us think is the wellbeing of our kids. But who will think of the children living on the streets?

Music Composer, Vishal Mishra talking about the need of protecting India's children in this pandemic said,

I think we are all soldiers without the jersey. I think everyone right now wants to do something for their country, regardless of their caste, religion, creed. We need to be together today for a better tomorrow.

Actor Konkona Sen Sharma said,

The problem is not visible to us right now. We are sitting at home and not going on the streets so we don't see these children. We are consumed with our own problems right now and don't realise that these children are the future citizens of our country and are very vulnerable. If we're sitting at home watching tv in an AC room and have food in the fridge, we are extremely privileged. We have to realise that these children must be facing a trauma right now and we need to talk about them and help them out.

Highlighting the need to make the invisible the visible - the street children, Writer-Director Tahira Kashyap Khurrana on the special 2-hour telethon added, 

We need to help these children because this is our future. Schools are shut right now, they are not only missing out on education but also nutrition that they used to get from their mid-day meals. A lot of kids also face physical abuse at home, so a lot of them are also locked inside their homes with their abusers.

Businesswoman Malini Saba adds, 

Children are the last to be heard, and we need to come together and help the kids who are at home as well as who are not at home. Having lived around the world and worked with a lot of children, I think there's a fire in the belly of the Indian children and a desire for knowledge. We need to keep that fire burning because we have an enormous talent pool for us.

Mitali Raj, Captain, Women's Cricket Team on the #TheInvisible telethon added, “I fell inspired and motivated by kids like Lusi, child champion. If they can do something like this with limited means and resources, anybody can do anything.”

Indian professional boxer, Vijender Singh talked about the need to protect India's future - the children and said,

It's a big topic and discussion. This is about our children who are the future of our country. We need initiatives like #TheInvisibles telethon of NDTV and Save the Children. Crisis is on one hand, but the health of our children, street children in particular who are 20-25 lakhs in number, is paramount.

Actor Huma Qureshi at the telethon said,

I don't know what's more important than our children right now. They are future and are depending on us. The homeless children are the most vulnerable right now and it is our responsibility to protect these kids.

Rahul Ram from the Indian Ocean in the hope for a brighter future amid the ongoing crisis of coronavirus for India's children, especially the street children said, “Along with kids, we also forget the tribals. Amid the pandemic, we can see how they are suffering. My wife works with stray dogs and feeds street dogs every day. Looking at her van, many kids also come to her asking for food.”