Hope on Wheels! Mumbai's ‘Mobile Squad’ to rehabilitate & educate street children

The Maharashtra government has approved a new plan to support street children across the state, helping them transition into mainstream society through access to health and education. The initiative will be implemented via specially-equipped 'Mobile Squads' in Mumbai and 26 other cities. It would target children who are orphaned, abandoned, destitute, or come from underprivileged backgrounds.

'Mobile Squads' are child-friendly vans managed by NGOs. Each van will include a counsellor, teacher, caretaker, and driver, and accommodate up to 25 children. These vans will travel through urban areas to identify children in need. This includes beggars, child labourers, children living in slums or working at traffic junctions, and those requiring rehabilitation.

Children will be approached with sensitivity, and after obtaining parental consent. Those requiring medical help will be referred to nearby hospitals. Further, the children will be introduced to books, songs, theatre, arts, poetry, and sports to cultivate interest in learning.

The initiative also focuses on basic hygiene education, including daily bathing, hand washing, and nail trimming. Once they adapt to a routine, children and their parents will be encouraged to enrol in Anganwadis, Balwadis, or government schools.

To ensure child safety, all mobile vans will:

• Inform local police ahead of scheduled rounds

• Include at least two female staff members

• Be fitted with GPS tracking and CCTV cameras

These guidelines are outlined in a government resolution issued by the Women and Child Development Department.

As per report, the scheme began as a pilot in six districts, including Mumbai. In one year, 3,813 out of 70,000 children were successfully counselled and admitted to schools. Following this success, the project is now being expanded to 26 cities in Maharashtra. A total of ₹8.06 crore has been sanctioned to deploy 31 mobile vans across 29 municipal corporations. Mumbai will receive 3 vans, one each for the city, eastern suburbs, and western suburbs.