Rinkey Chowdhuri was born in 1999, and she is one of a family of
3 children. Her family is Muslim and they speak Bengali. She lives in central Kolkata (previously called Calcutta) and is one of thousands of slum and street dwellers. Children like Rinkey live in slum buildings or on pavements and canal sides. Rinkey doesn't have a home, but lives outdoors on the pavement with no shelter.
Their diet consists of pulses, rice and occasionally potatoes. Drinking water is sometimes available from road side taps but washing and toilet facilities have to be paid for - up to Rs3 (£0.36)/person, which they struggle to afford. Common illnesses are malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis and diarrhoea. With very little access to healthcare, the health clinics available are inadequate and run by unqualified staff. 95% of adults are illiterate and 90% of children have no access to formal
education. She goes to the local non-formal education centre while at the same time helping to support her family.
Extreme poverty means that sometimes children aged 7 and above have to work to support their family. Boys work as casual labourers, rag pickers and shoe keepers (keeping shoes of the pilgrims who visit temples and charge money for that). Girls work as domestic labourers, rag pickers and street sellers. Even children as young as three accompany parents while begging. Family incomes are very low, less than Rs 500 (£6) a month, and begging is common. Women and girls are vulnerable to abuse, violence and trafficking both in the workplace and their dwellings.
ActionAid is working with partner organisation The Calcutta Samaritans (TCS) to improve the lives of children like Rinkey Chowdhuri and their families. Together we will help them fight
for their right to shelter, healthcare, secure livelihoods and
education. With your support we can give children like Rinkey a better future. |
