Child Rights:
Children form one of the most significant focus groups of PGSS. The issue got attention with the advent of CHILDLINE in the year 2005. Prior to the advent of CHILDLINE, PGSS worked for the children through the issues like non-formal education, playful education and integration of the never been to school and school drop-outs in mainstream of education.
But with the advent of CHILDLINE, organization’s approach towards children changed and went on to include children’s survival, protection, participation and development as important ingredients of children’s issues.
CHILDLINE: CHILDLINE is a twenty-four hours’ emergency helpline/ toll free number-1098 and outreach services for the children in need and distress. It is a joint venture of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, G/oI and CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) Mumbai. Since 2005, CHILDLINE is consistently striving to reach out to the children in distress and need. Being situated on the Indo-Nepal border, Gorakhpur is very vulnerable in terms of trafficking particularly child trafficking. Open houses with children in slums, outreach activities at railway stations, bus stands, sensitization meetings with railway coolies, taxi drivers, workshops with police, media, educational institutions etc. are some activities accomplished as a long term strategy to control child trafficking in and around Gorakhpur. 24 hours’ emergency helpline and the call centre are dedicated to take care of the immediate needs of the children in needs. There are various cases reported at the call centre that range from emotional guidance to rescue, medical aid, repatriation, sponsorship etc.
The year 2011 witnessed establishment of CHILDLINE sub-centre at Nichlaul, Maharajganj to take care of child rights and related issues in and around Maharajganj.
Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) of Children with Disability (CwDs):
SLF supported CBR program is a reflection of the organization’s concern for the persons with disability (PwDs). The program includes educational aid, medical aid, vocational aid, access to entitlements like pension from government, railway concession etc. Udaan, a brand developed by PGSS to observe the World Disability Day every year. On this occasion, it is wonderful to see the participating in different competitions like dance, song, race and performing them through different cultural items. At the end, receiving the prizes from the platform of Udaan is a memorable experience for all participant-CwDs. This is a humble effort of the organization to integrate the CwDs in the mainstream of society.
Fight against Encephalitis: Brain fever or the Encephalitis kills innumerous lives every year in the region. Majority of these unfortunates ones are children. The organization prepares the community through preventive approach like fogging, immunization, use of mosquito nets, use of boiled water etc. to keep the disease away.
Hope, the ability centre: Hope, the ability centre at Maharajganj is a unique venture of SLF-Varanasi and PGSS, Gorakhpur. It takes care of both physical and social aspects of disability. The social aspects are aimed at bringing about an attitudinal change in the society, in the families of CwDs and in the CwDs themselves. The social aspect is taken care of with the help of ‘community based approach’.
Anti-Child Trafficking: With a support from agencies like CRS, the organization has been fighting to minimize child trafficking across Indo-Nepal border. The activities include outreach at railway station, bus stands, open houses in slums and sensitization activities rallies, wall writings and street plays.
Child Protection Policy: The child protection policy came into being as a reflection of organization’s concern for children’s protection. The policy clearly outlines the mandate for the protection of children as human beings.