A group of parents living in different slums in the city are silently working to prevent underage marriages, domestic violence and children taking to substance abuse.
A city NGO has selected 25 parents from 12 slums and formed a council that helps the NGO with information for timely intervention.
The council alerts the teachers or members of Calcutta Rescue, the NGO, whenever they spot something unusual in the behaviour of the children in the locality or their family members.
Recently, a member of the council found out that a 13-year-old girl from her locality had taken to substance abuse. She alerted the counsellor at the NGO. The girl had developed the habit while being in a relationship with a boy much older than her.
“The girl lives close to my house. I noticed that she would often talk over the phone for long durations. I tried to find out more about her from my daughter who is as old as her. I got some idea of what she was up to,” said Rinku Das, who works as domestic help.
Often underage girls get in trouble because of the company they keep, said a member of the NGO. The parents who are part of the council are the more aware and informed adults and are seen as “agents of change,” in their community.
Though the group was formed sometime back, but in the last six months it has been further strengthened and the NGO feels there is a need to consolidate it all the more.
“The information we get from the parents helps us in many ways. We speak to the girls and boys or their parents as the need may be,” said Ananya Chatterjee, the school administrator at Calcutta Rescue. Chatterjee said there have been occasions when they got information that a family is getting ready to get their minor daughter married.
“Maybe the date has not been fixed but shopping and other arrangements are being done. When we speak to the parents they usually deny of any such arrangements,” said Chatterjee.
But the information at least helps the NGO to try and counsel the parents and make them aware of the demerits of early marriage.
The initiative has also created a set of proactive parents who keep their eyes and ears open.
“I have a daughter who is in Class XI and I want her to study further. While I am liberal in some matters, I also keep a tab on where she is going and who she is interacting with. If she comes home late from her tuition classes or school, I try to find out the exact reason behind the delay,” said Mohammad Shabir, who lives in Mechua.
The flower seller could study only till Class VII but he has dreams for his daughter and son.
The council members also help the NGO spread awareness in the neighbourhoods where they work.
“When we visit the neighbourhoods to speak to the residents or for any awareness campaign, these parents who are members of the council get other parents to attend our workshops or street plays,” said a teacher.