New Delhi: "I want to go school," says 10-year-old homeless Rakhi (name changed), with a smile on her face. Her dream will turn into a reality, as she will be enrolled in school.
Like Rakhi, eight-year-old Aaliyah's face too is vibrant, along with 49 other homeless children, who on Friday were given an identity, after being given Aadhaar card.
All these children have been living with their families at a shelter home near Gurudwara Bangla Sahib for several years, without an identity.
Raj Kumari, who works as a construction labourer, was a happy mother, as she can now enroll both her children in school.
"We did not have any identity. I want my children to study and live a better life than me. After Aadhaar enrollment, I will directly go to the school for my children's admission," says Raj Kumari.
Salma, Aaliyah's mother, lives in the same shelter home with her family. "We will try to shift from the shelter home to some rented accommodation, so that my daughter, after getting admission in a school, can study," said Salma.
Several child welfare bodies – including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Delhi State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Child Welfare Committee – and NGOs like Save the Children and Salaam Baalak Trust, worked with Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to organise a camp on Friday, to provide these children with Aadhaar.
Rupa Kapoor, member, NCPCR said that Aadhaar is the best mechanism to link children living in streets and other vulnerable situations with existing government schemes and to ensure and identity for them.
"This provision will ensure children are under a protective mechanism of services and no longer victims of violence in any form," she said.
Aadhaar for homeless children also ensures that they are easily traced, in case they go missing.