Annual Report 2012-2013

Thanks to Red FM for creating 'Chandni ka dabba'

On behalf of Pardarshita, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who have contributed towards making the life of three-year-old Chandni more dignified and comfortable. Chandni's story has been repeatedly telecast on 93.5 Red FM since last Friday attracting a lot of moral and financial support for the girl who lives in Delhi's poverty-stricken Sunder Nagri area.

This 'story' started days before it was carried by The Times of India on 8th May 2014. We went to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of our district so that they could give orders to the concerned government departments to help Chandni and many other malnourished children like her. In our view, and also if you use your common sense, these children do fall in the category of 'children in need of care and protection' and therefore their cases should be rightfully heard by the Bench. Unfortunately, the Chairperson told us verbally and also gave in writing that this case is not within their purview; that within the framework of Juvenile Justice Act, a child in need of care and protection is broadly someone who doesn't have parents to look after him or her. Therefore, we were forced to conclude that malnourished children do not fall under the category of children who can be cared for by the Bench since technically, they do have parents, however pathetic and challenged their situation might be.

Feeling somewhat dejected by CWC's response, we felt grateful when The Times of India found it a worthy theme to be written about in their paper. Red FM spotted that story and began the 'Chandni ka dabba' campaign last Friday, asking for donations for helping Chandni. In just two days flat, we have collected roughly more than Rs. 30,000 for the cause, which is not a small amount. Not only that, many people have messaged us and promised to donate more money for her in the coming days. Celebrities like Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha have also added their star power to this campaign by urging people to donate generously for this cause.

We from Pardarshita thank you all for saving Chandni's life by your timely contribution!

IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO 'CHANDNI KA DABBA', KINDLY CONTACT US AT 09999311044 OR E-MAIL US AT pardarshita_india@yahoo.com. 

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIRECT DONATION, KINDLY NOTE THE FOLLOWING BANK DETAILS:

Bank Name: Punjab National Bank;Name of Account: Pardarshita;Bank Account No.: 3927000100225889 (Saving Account);Branch Name and Address: Delhi, Dilshad Garden, KK-9, B-Block Shopping Complex, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110095;IFSC Code: PUNB0392700

Chandni is 3, weighs just 3.7kg

Shreya Roy Chowdhury,TNN | May 8, 2014, 02.43 AM IST

E Delhi Survey Finds 1 In 5 Kids Under 6 Yrs Malnourished

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Delhi/Chandni-is-3-weighs-just-3-7kg/articleshow/34799238.cms

NEW DELHI: Chandni is over three but isn't much bigger than a new-born. When she was weighed for a survey in end-2013, she was two-years, eleven months old and her weight was 3.7kgs. It should have been 10.7kgs as per the World Health Organization's standards. An east Delhi NGO, conducting a survey to map malnutrition in children under six in Sunder Nagri, found that one in every five kids who had their heights and weights measured was malnourished and one in nine had "severe acute malnourishment." Of these, six children were in such a condition that NGO workers took them to a hospital. Chandni is one of them.

The survey, conducted by Pardarshita, covers 580 children belonging to a single block, E-57, of Sunder Nagri. "Many of the children found to be malnourished are enrolled with aanganwadis," says Pardarshita co-founder Rajiv Kumar, "Their growth should have been monitored and they should have got some nutrition from there." Aanganwadis are responsible for the delivery of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)-the only one reaching out to children under six years of age. Chandni's father, Pramod, a security guard, says none of his five children have ever been weighed at the aanganwadi they go to and they "sometimes get some khichdi." He is keen on getting a disability certificate for Chandni who can't sit up. Chandni's twin Roshni is faring slightly better and has already been sent home. "We were told she's weak when she was born. But private doctors couldn't help her," says Pramod.

On Tuesday, Kumar wanted the six children at GTB Hospital to be moved to a nutrition rehabilitation centre' at Bada Hindu Rao Hospital. However, the parents flatly refused. Their kids' being in hospital means foregoing a day's wages for some and being thin and small for their age is clearly not seen as a crisis meriting hospital stay. "Her father is a rickshaw-puller and he can't be here. I can't be here all day either as this is affecting my other daughter's studies," says Geeta, whose daughter Jyoti is at the hospital. Pramod has already sent his other daughter, Roshni, home and is keen on getting a disability certificate for Chandni who can't sit up.

The poor functioning of aanganwadis, however, can't be held entirely responsible and one should be cautious about dismissing ICDS as ineffective. Currently, it is the only system reaching out to children of that age.

"To combat malnutrition you need, apart from food, good drinking water, sanitation and care. The growth monitoring ICDS does is just one in a gamut of things," observes Sudeshna Sengupta of Mobile Creches, "Is the family food secure? Is the food basket diverse enough? How many times is the child fed?" The parents of the children in hospital are just about making do. Pramod makes Rs 6,000 per month of which Rs 2,000 goes toward rent.

He has five children.