Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Responsible members of civil society give importance to the sustainability of development and the maintaining of the environment. This aspect is woven into Deepalaya’s philosophy and its approach to rehabilitation of the children. Thus it was in the fitness of things when thirty children from Deepalaya Gram, Gusbethi were invited to participate in the World Environment Day celebrations organised by ITC Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on the 5th June 2008. The highlight of the programme was the planting of 500 saplings by the children in the ridge area in the heart of the city. Mr. Yashpal Yadav, Regional Horticulturist, Maurya Sheraton, talked on the benefits of tree planting. Mr. Ramamurthy, Chief Engineer, Maurya Sheraton, spoke on how we can save water and electricity. The basic focus of the entire programme was on inculcating the values relating to environmental protection in children. It needs to be noted that Deepalaya was the only organization that was chosen to participate during this programme.

What follows are quotes of children after participating in the World Environment Day celebrations. Krishan of Class VIII said, “We have to clean the environment from time to time by planting trees! If you cut one tree, plant 5 trees in its place”. Rahul Kumar of Class IX expressed himself thus: “This is the first time I have ever participated in the Environment Day celebration. I really enjoyed myself. I felt so happy while planting trees in the ridge”. Kamal Khan of Class IX vowed “I will never cut a tree in my life’.

The children who participated in the event were all children from difficult backgrounds. A major thrust area where Deepalaya is active is the rehabilitation of such street and working children who are vulnerable. Deepalaya reaches out to these children through its programme of Institutional Care which rehabilitates them at Deepalaya Gram in Gusbethi village of Mewat District. In this campus, there are about 100 children who are either runaways or are from broken homes or are children of sex workers/ HIV Positive parents/ Alcoholic or drug addicts. The children are provided with education, vocational training, health checkup, recreation, training in sports and games, entertainment, latent talent development, cultural creativity, lessons on life skills and values as well as counseling. Deepalaya also does its best to put these children in formal schools and ultimately get them some productive employment.