Samatol, a ray of hope for platform-wandering children

Source: News Bharati      Date: 12/7/2011 6:44:26 PM

A certain passive event leaves a strong impression on the minds of children and a deep void is created in the relationship. At this tender age, in a fit of rage, such children then opt for an extreme decision of leaving their homes and the equilibrium of their life gets disturbed. Mumbai’s Samatol Foundation is working hard for brining these children back on track. The foundation is saving their childhood from wandering into the darkness of crime and intoxication and striving hard to send them back to their homes by transforming their lives. Hindu Seva Sangh has indeed served as a backbone for this noble work.
Thirst for materialistic pleasure brings these children on Mumbai’s railway platform. The struggle for earning their bread takes them on the path of developing bad habits. A series of spine-chilling experiences is left with them and thus their life starts wandering in the darkness of crime.
Interacting with these children on railway platform, Vijay Jadhav and the karyakartas earned their trust. By staying with them, sometimes even chasing them, karyakartas tried to develop the love for their homes in these children. However, before sending these children back to their homes, it was necessary to get them rid of bad habits so that their parents happily welcome them. It was certainly necessary to inculcate sanskars among such children and for this, Vijay Jadhav and his karyakartas initiated Samatol Foundation.
Vijay Jadhav, man behind this institution is the native of ‘Aale’ junction located in Junnar district of Maharashtra. After completing ITI, he joined a private company as a technician and quit after some time due to some personal reasons. After this, he decided to dedicate his life completely for the welfare of society and joined one social service organization. While working for the noble cause, he was moved by the plight of children wandering on railway platforms. Some institutions were running shelter homes for these children but he decided to find a permanent solution to the problem. The question that why these children leave homes at such a tender age began to strike his mind again and again. He started communicating with these children and found that because of the poverty and attraction towards the material pleasures, most of them have quit their homes.
In a metro city like Mumbai, there is a danger of getting these children indulged into bad habits and intoxication. Before sending these children back to their homes, Jadhav felt it necessary to first get them rid of their bad habits. However, it was not that much easy. Inculcating sanskars among these children by taking their psychology into account was indeed a Herculean task which Samatol accomplished by initiating various activities. Sanskar camps are organized for such children at a peaceful place outside Mumbai six times in an year where these children are made physically and mentally strong.
In this five-week-long camp, Samatol karyakartas, social workers and experts interact with children. During the first week, these children are given liberty to lead life like that on the railway station. In second week, they are taught to live a life filled with discipline, rules and regulations. The activities at the camp goes on increasing as the time passes.
Blending of informal education system with value education is effectively taught and along with this, moral values are also induced among the children. Counselling is done by expert doctors, motivators and psychologists. They accompany these children round-the-clock so that the children don’t move again towards the path of intoxication and bad habits.
Regular exercise and primary education form the nuclear part of the camp. Sanskars are also imparted at the time of meals. Through discussion, story telling, etc, children are groomed to think logically. The activities just do not end here but in the meantime, the addresses of these children are searched and they are sent back to their homes when they really start developing affection towards their families.
Such behavior of wards certainly annoys their parents but because of this, there is a danger of re-indulging of kids into bad habits and intoxication. Therefore, the institution also does counseling of parents and convinces them to re-accept their children without scolding them. For Samatol, the correct definition of rehabilitation is that these children should enlighten themselves by living together with their parents in their own house. Samatol endeavours such kind of rehabilitation.
The economic condition of some of the families is extremely poor. Hence if children are staying outside, their endeavour is that their heart should be always connected with their family members. Samtol karyakartas always keep in touch with their families and visit their houses in every 4-5 months to confirm whether the children are living in harmony with their families or not. The re-union of children who have transformed their mind through this camp and their parents is celebrated with enthusiasm.
Samatol Foundation that is doing a commendable work of uniting such path-lost children with their parents was established in 2006 and till now, the foundation has achieved success in sending 300 children back to their homes. However, accomplishing such goals requires a firm support and this has been provided by Hindu Seva Sangh. By allotting a widespread land with scenic beauty outside Mumbai, necessary facilities and a strong economic support, Hindu Seva Sangh has shared more than half workload of the institution.
Contact
Vijay Jadhav
c/o Ahmed Umar Building
Dr De Silva Road, Dadar (West)
Mumbai, 400028, India
Phone no: 02224374316, 9892961124
Web site: www.samatol.org
Email: samtolfoundation@yahoo.com

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