August 2008 - Investigation by Arts and Crafts on situation at Ladli.

From Birgit Løitegaard (Arts & Crafts AS) to agent in Arts and Crafts agent in Dheli to investigate Ladli, one of I-Indias vocational centers.
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I want you to look out for the following:

1. Do the children work long hours ? How long ?
2. Can this be described as exploitation in any way ?
3. What is the childrens idea regarding payment ?
4. Talk to Tulsi, and find abouther situation.
5. Do they use physical punishment at the orphanages
6. What is the staffs attitude to violence
7. Are the children afraid.
8. Do the children really have bankaccounts, can this be verified ?
9. Are the girls in Sodala paid in cash ?
10. What is the attitude towards marriage for the girls ?
11. Do you sence anything critical at all ?

I will need a thorough written report, as I may have to email it to others. If everything is fine, we will share alle the information with the Goswamis and simply strengthen the conficence towards the organisiation. It is always usefull with a second opinion, and one can simply not be carefull enough !Birgit


Sendt: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 3:57 AMTil: Birgit Løitegaard (Arts & Crafts AS)Emne: RE: SV: Room Reservation

Dear Birgit.

The detials of the trip are that I went to LAdli (Same place we visited to gether where the girls work and study) reached at 9am and was told by the supervisor the class and work begins at 10am so waited and chatted with her asked about the chlidren and the work they do etc.

To answer all your questions:

1. The children who dont go to regular school come at 10am (mostly street kids and some hostel kids) school kids come at 1 pm after school they are there till 5pm the street kids are transported back by van and 5.30 pm the hostel kids are transported by van 55 kids in all

2.No this is not exploitation at all but good social work the kids are happy to be there instead of roaming outside on the streets.

3.Kids are fine there are happy with whatever they get it is better than their previous lives..No question of unhappiness.

4. Met Tulsi she is 16 years old staying there with her sibllings (Lucky kid otherwise they would be all scattered) she studies in the 8th Class an average kid has no complains about anyone her sister are academically doing very well so is her brother who also lives in the boys hostel she is proud of them all and they are all hapyy together.She has been there for 6-7 years if she was unhappy she could have left but she is fine.She had no complains I was with her for 3 hours and did not seemd she was under any stress or compulsion she is a normal kid .

5..There has been no case of physical punishment maximum verbally scolded like we do to our kids.

6. No question of voilence I met the teacher the kids call her Maa (Mother) they dont punish only scold .

7. No the children are not afraid they were busy talking and smiling and chatting.

8. Yes the kids have bank accounts on Monday was a festival so everthing was closed after 1 pm but Abhas son was willing to take me for the verification he also told me 3 girls who collected their money released their land in the village and their family were thrilled.

9.The girls are paid 30/= in cash as pocket money yo buy personal things like hairpins etc there are the hostel kids the rest of the money in saved in the bank account the street children are paid daily wages depening on the work roughly 25/- Rs for a neclace if they make more then they are paid accordinly .(this is better than rag picking or begging on the streets.)

10. For marrige the Ladli group cannot do marriage by law the Govt has to decide alot of paper work and then only can it be done no girl is yet of marriage age so this question does not rise of marriage maybe 2or 3 years later but Govt has to intervene Ladli has no authourity on their own by law.

11. No I dont sense any critical problam at all.

RegardsNeema