There are more than 30 million orphaned and abandoned children in India - that's almost 4% of the youth population. Since the COVID-19 Pandemic struck in 2020, thousands more children have been orphaned, and the true figures are still unknown. It was thought that 1,000 children were left orphaned as a result of the pandemic in Uttar Pradesh alone, but the real figure could be much higher.
What's more alarming is that of the 30 million children without a legal guardian or career, less than half a million were actually in institutionalized care. The rest are left wandering the streets, vulnerable to abuse and trafficking. The sight of children on the streets on India is incredibly normalized, with most turning a blind eye to the problem.
There are several threats facing orphans in India, especially for those who live on the street. One of the biggest risks is exploitation. It’s thought that eight million children aged between five and 14 are forced in child labour, but the true figure is likely to be much higher. Some children are forced to work on fields or in factories, whilst others undertake domestic work. Thousands more are trafficked every year, and although the country has attempted to crack down on trafficking and child labour, child exploitation is still a very real threat to orphans who have no adult protection. Girls are often sold off as child brides, with 27% of girls in India being married before the age of 18. Boys don’t fare better, with many being sold to extremist groups and being forced to fight as child soldiers. Orphaned children living on the streets have the protection of the law, but in practice, they have no physical protection from danger.
Seeing the facts, we planned a project of opening a "Smart Orphanage" for which we are running a fundraiser campaign. As the project is big, it is not possible alone. Hence, we need your love & support. Your generous donations will help us achieving the cause. No donation is small when it comes to helping the disadvantaged section of our society.
Remember, Small Actions x Lots Of People = A Big Change!
So, Let's Get On With Giving!