Lara Shankar talks about an effort in Mumbai rallying for rights of children through advocacy and volunteering.

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What does volunteering mean? Does it mean going to your local NGO (non government organisation) to help do their work or add value to their programs by teaching children or beautifying their work place? Usually we approach an NGO, we see them doing ‘good work’ and we join to ‘help’. We thus continue to forget our role in society. And that is to fight against injustice. Do we, as citizens, have a sense of what we ought to be doing as our duty? If we don’t ask ‘why’ then how will we be able to participate and demand accountability? Isn’t that why we must vote? So that each and every one of us matters. So that our leaders turn around and acknowledge our existence. But wait a second, children cannot vote! This brings it upon us, the “above 18” populace, to stand up for the rights of those below 18.

At CRY, we decided to give volunteering a new meaning. The change that we sought was from "What can we do?” to “We’ll fight for what’s right!” And not just with who comes to CRY but with each and every average man and woman out there. The urban middle class is a huge and ever-growing section of the population that is also a reservoir of energy, power, influence and a voice that can shake things up forever.

There are quite a few battles that the middle class struggles with, such as, demanding proper roads, application of taxes, clean surroundings, proper disposal of garbage, lack of open spaces and access to quality education and health services. Now ponder a minute and try and see these issues from a child rights point of view and they still hold. For a child living with her family on the streets of Mumbai, many rights stand violated and exploited. Without access to education or health facilities, having to drink unclean water, living amongst animal and human waste, exposed to harsh weather conditions, child rights die a million deaths each day. Yet how many of us have the luxury, or may I say the conscience, to feel upset when children’s rights, along with their dreams, get swept away by the roadside? Should we continue to believe that more than 60 years after independence, we cannot do anything? It will be lethal to believe we can do nothing.

A group of residents in Mumbai decided to do something, to take action for child rights. They joined M4CR – Mumbaiites for Child Rights, an initiative started by CRY in July 2007. Being a part of this network of urban citizens gives the members an opportunity to understand the linkages of child rights with larger social issues and exercise their democratic right of demanding accountability from the system. “When the city pays so much tax and it does not get its returns in terms of development, we must ask where the money is going? Child rights are closest to my heart as I’m a teacher. When children do not get what they deserve now, then how will they grow up to have a better standard of living? Children should get everything!” exclaims Aftab Siddiqui, volunteer member of M4CR in H west ward, Mumbai.

CRY’s role with those interested in exploring volunteerism is to enable them to envision alternatives to the world around them and work towards change.  Volunteers are encouraged to envisage a childhood that is fulfilling. Health, education, play, security, stable livelihood source and housing are some of the basic requirements in this regard. Likewise, human rights, like the right to life with dignity, equal access to services with adequate quality and employment guarantee are essential for the overall development of the family and the status of child rights.

M4CR is envisioning a public action group comprising of the urban privileged class and the affected communities in each ward of Mumbai. These groups are to lobby with the administration to make services available to all. “We must achieve a critical mass of educated citizens to make ourselves truly free and independent. And we citizens must be from the lowest economic sections too! Empowering each of our municipal schools to function efficiently through CRY seems the logical way ahead to me” says Vidya Vaidya, CRY volunteer member of M4CR.

The task of bringing the urban people together is not easy. Yet, when ones sees ten men and women, 35 to 65 years old, gear up for municipal school visits to make observations so that they can later lobby with the education department for positive changes, it is very encouraging. “The concept of understanding issues related to child rights, creating an awareness, identifying like minded citizens and sensitising them into joining a group which will focus on child rights issues is itself very satisfying and motivating. This seems to be the only sustainable activity to improve the quality of life for underprivileged children” echoes Nitin Wadhwani, founder member of M4CR.

Similar initiation of M4CR is being executed in M ward covering Chembur, Mankhurd and Ghatkopar, H East ward covering Bandra east, Khar east and Santa Cruz East and K West ward in Andheri west. The group hopes to expand to all 24 wards in Mumbai and build a movement for child rights that echoes the demands of all children and is symbolic of a larger change.

For more information write to Lara Shankar at M4CR@crymail.org