Bal Ashram (Children’s Sanctuary)
Background and Achievements
Bal Ashram is the first rehabilitation cum training education center for the freed
bonded/child labourers, the objective was not only the aforesaid, it goes much beyond
that. The dream was to prove that the children suffered in most miserable conditions
have all the talent and potential to lead in schooling as well as in society, if they are
given proper training. BBA found the most suitable project to build the former victims of
servitude as their own leaders and emancipators rather than depending upon other
affluent advocates on behalf of them. These young trainees turned child right advocates
further multiply the message of social justice and their overall development in the
villages they come from as well as the surrounding villages where the Bal Ashram is
situated.

It is a unique experiment in the emancipation and holistic development of the victims
of child servitude.

So far more than a 1000 children, who were either bonded or child labourers, have
been rehabilitated by the Ashram. These children were mostly bonded labourers
working in brick kilns, carpet weaving, stone quarries, agriculture etc, coming from
the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Most of
them belong to the minority section of the society, and come from the rural areas.
Children in rural areas not only work in agriculture but also remain as a reservoir of
cheap source of labour supply to the urban informal sector, leading to large-scale
migration and trafficking.

The rehabilitation centre specifically addresses the mental trauma, hardship and the
deep agony that the rescued children have gone through and helps to develop their
self-confidence and courage through basic education, social education, cultural and
vocational training. Our efforts have been to integrate these children back into
mainstream society and empower them to fight for their own rights.

The Ashram provides rehabilitation to two batches of 60 children each in a year, with
each batch of 6 months duration. Some of the children who have no homes and have
no option except for going back to work to sustain themselves, have been allowed to
stay on in the Ashram and enrolled in the local schools for their education.

The ashram has been responsible for training and making children fit to receive
formal education in local schools and for imparting vocational training to make them
self-supportive. Majority of them now are either studying in formal schools or in the
case of children above 16, earning their livelihoods with dignity through the
vocational training they have received at the Ashram.

The children aged 13 and above are also given vocational training in a trade of their
choice such as Carpentry, Tailoring, Welding, Motor Winding, Screen Printing,
Painting, Organic Farming and kitchen gardening. The vocation is chosen keeping in
mind their interest in a particular trade and the locally available possibilities of
generating incomes for their sustenance.

The ashram has also been a centre for cadre building, emancipation of child labour
through the medium of children themselves. Many of these children have returned to
their native villages and become change makers by raising their voices against child
labour, illiteracy and other social evils in their respective provinces.

The children are taught to be nature friendly and preserve its sanctity. The culture of
living with different religions and different castes, without bias and prejudices is
inculcated in them during their stay at the ashram. Children are also imparted
physical education and first aid training to deal with exigencies. Apart from this,
children also undergo some edification regarding our cultural traditions and
contentious social and environmental issues.

Children are encouraged to participate in demonstrations, rallies and marches
highlighting social problems prevailing in the local area. The children are given
adequate information and support to design campaigns. The purpose is to make
them able citizens to fight for their rights as well as for others who are in bondage
and exploitation.

The institution has also been a venue for capacity building and empowerment of
local women, with women joining the elected village board of panchayats (local selfgovernance). It has also organised various workshops/orientation programmes on
the issue of gender and women’s rights to make them stand up against exploitation
and social evils.

Bal Ashram is also exerting tremendous influence on the neighbouring villages
through the implementation of model child friendly villages in the vicinity, which aims
at the elimination of child labour, their enrolment into schools through active
community participation and the establishment of Children’s parliaments.

The ashram also regularly organises programmes in schools and villages to build
awareness on child labour. It has provided a platform to sensitise the local
community especially the women to raise social issues. Children from the Bal
Ashram have been part of the activities of BMG and interacting with villagers and
children in the surrounding villages to advocate for a child friendly society.

Children passing out from the Bal Ashram have also been taking part in the activities
of ‘Mukti Caravan’ or ‘Caravan on Wheels’, in which children travel from village to
village in a caravan, spreading awareness on the issues of child labour and
education through street plays, songs, meetings etc.

The most visible results are, however, that each and every child applies something
or the other that they have learned at the Ashram. Follow-up cases show that most
of the children have been successful in stopping their fathers and other close
relatives from alcohol abuse. A number of them have insisted that their sisters attend
school too. Domestic violence and the abuse of women in the family have also
substantially reduced. The children progressively imbibe all these lessons at the
Ashram. They had been seeing all these ills from the time they were born, not
deeming them to be wayward in any manner. Exposure to the Ashram allows its
values gradually to penetrate them, making them into changed human beings once
they go back. It has been seen that each and every boy becomes sufficiently
empowered to effect some change or the other, in their families, their village or in the
community.
Bal Ashram Activities
Formal and Non-Formal Education: The Ashram has been rendering facilities for nonformal education to children in the Ashram premises. Since most of these children have
never been to school, education is provided to them with the objective of equipping the
children with some reading and writing skills, so as to generate their interest towards
education, with the ultimate goal of strengthening their skills of understanding and
aptitude.
Vocational Training: The children aged 13 and above are also given vocational training
in a trade of their choice such as Carpentry, Tailoring, Welding, Motor Winding, Screen
Printing, Painting, Organic Farming and kitchen gardening. The vocation is chosen
keeping in mind their interest in a particular trade and the locally available possibilities of
generating incomes for their sustenance.
Social Education: To build social awareness in the children, training is imparted to
them to fight against social evils like illiteracy, child labour, dowry, corruption, child
marriage etc. Efforts are also made to make the children introspect on social issues with
a view to moulding them into responsible and self-reliant citizens. The Ashram also
encourages them to look after the running of the institution to teach them the basics of
management.
Cultural Education: Various programmes are also organised from time to time in order
to infuse a sense of pride and cultural awareness amongst the children. They are also
encouraged to participate in folk songs, patriotic songs, slogan making, theatre, plays
etc
Physical Education & Sports: Equal focus is also given to improve the physical as well
as mental health of the children by regular practice of yoga, meditation, sports etc. They
are also given training in personal hygiene and etiquette.
Group Discussion: The children are encouraged to debate and discuss on aspects of
child labour and other social issues. By using cards and booklets on Panchayati Raj
Institution - PRI (local governance), efforts are made to impart a basic training on their
role in the society.
Awareness on Environment: A lot of thrust is given to make the children environmentfriendly by educating them on the environment and nature. Plantation camps are
organized, where the children plant saplings along the sides of roads, in Ashram
premises etc.
Excursions: Children are also taken on outings / excursion tours to wild life sanctuaries
and other historic and important sites, to give them exposure and knowledge on various
issues.
Campaigns: Children are encouraged to participate in demonstrations, rallies and
marches highlighting social problems prevailing in the local area. The children are given
adequate information and support to design campaigns. The purpose is to make them
confident and able citizens to fight for their rights as well as for others who are in
bondage and exploitation.
Management Training & Leadership Development Initiative: During their training
period the children/youth are encouraged to learn some managerial skills. Bal Ashram
facilitates a Bal panchayat of children in the Ashram itself through proper elections. The
children also elect various committees like watch and ward, sports and games, social
and cultural, campus management and discipline, and kitchen store purchase. The
leaders of these committees closely work with the teachers and other staff, learn and
advice.
Follow up Activities: BBA staff keeps track of children leaving the ashram for their
homes after the rehabilitation process is over. Children are persuaded to communicate
regularly with the Bal Ashram staff as well as the local volunteers in their area and with
other children. It is encouraging to learn that many ex- trainees have become
economically independent in their villages. Some have joined schools and others have
become active social workers, helping parents in their area get admissions into schools
for their children, pressurising the local administration to appoint teachers (where
required) etc.
Convocation: a farewell cum gathering would be organised for the children graduating
from the Ashram twice a year. Media, villagers, senior leaders of the organisation and
other stakeholders would be invited to attend the programme. The idea is to disseminate
the successful rehabilitation of the bonded/child labourers, through a model transit
rehabilitation center.
Other Activities: The Ashram also ensures that its children are taken care of in every
way, by taking necessary actions. For instance, one of the children at the Bal Ashram,
who had bent legs, was operated on and surgery done on his legs. The operation was
very successful and the child is now recovering from surgery.
PROJECT BUDGET
Organization: Bal Ashram Trust
Project Title: Education Center For Released Child Labourers
Budget Date:22nd August 2006
Exchange Rate: Rate of Conversion: 1 USD = 46 INR
Activity 1: Education and Vocational Training
N
o
.
Item
Unit
cost per
child
per
month(l
ocal
currenc
y)
Unit
cost per
child
per
month(
USD)
Quantity
Co
mm
unit
y/
Request
ed
amount
(USD)
org.
con
trib
utio
n
(US
D)
1
Education
350
7.60
60 children
per
batch(6mont
hs) for 4
batches
10956.5
2
Vocational training
175
3.80
60 children
per
batch(6mont
hs) for 4
batches
5478.3
3
Administrative and
technical support,
including salaries,
communication
300
6.52
60 children
per
batch(6mont
hs) for 4
batches
9391.3
4
Recreational, Social and
Cultural Activities
110
2.39
60 children
per
batch(6mont
hs) for 4
batches
3443.5
5
Play Material
50
1.08
60 children
per
batch(6mont
hs) for 4
batches
1565.2
I
Activity 1 total
30834.8
Activity 2: Residential Facilities
N
o
.
Item
Unit
Cost
per
month
per
child
(local
currenc
y)
Unit
Cost
per
month
per
child
(USD)
Quantity
Com
munit
y/
org.
contri
butio
n
(USD)
Request
ed
amount
(USD)
6
Food
700
15.21
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
21913.0
7
Clothes
150
3.26
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
4695.7
8
Residential , including
lodging etc
220
4.78
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
6887
9
Child Care including
counseling, health care,
protection
200
4.34
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
6260.8
1
0
Contingency
100
2.17
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
3130.4
I
I
Activity 3 total
42886.9
Activity 3: Travel of released children
N
o
.
Item
Unit
Cost pr
month
per
child
(local
currenc
Unit
Cost
(USD)
Quantity
Com
munit
y/
org.
contri
butio
Request
ed
amount
(USD)
y)
1
1
Travel of released
children ( Home- (Bal
Ashram and From Bal
ashram to Home)
170
n
(USD)
3.69
60 children
per
batch(6mo
nths) for 4
batches
5321.7
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
I
I
I
Activity 3 total
5321.7
Final Project Request from GlobalGiving:
N
o
.
Communit
y/
org.
contributio
n (USD)
Requ
este
d
amo
unt
(USD
)
I
Activity 1 total : Education and Vocational Training
3083
4.8
I
I
Activity 2 total: Residential Facilities
4288
6.9
I
I
I
Activity 3 total: Travel of released children
5321.
7
Sub-total
7904
3.4
Final Total (includes 10% GlobalGiving Fee)
8782
6