Ms. Madhuri Shinde joined Prerana in 2013 and has been a part of our team for over 7 years now. She is the Superintendent at Naunihal, Prerana’s Children’s Home for girls and closely works with children in need of care and protection.  She coordinates with various stakeholders, prepares social investigation reports and facilitates activities that ensure the holistic development of the children and smooth functioning of Naunihal. 

Goal 4 focuses towards ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. In what ways does Prerana’s Naunihal Girls Shelter Home strive towards ensuring inclusivity?

Every child has different capabilities and belongs to a different socio-economic and cultural background; they are as unique as their thumbprint. Access to quality education and inclusive learning environment is an integral part of Naunihal. Depending upon the needs, liking and aspirations of the children, they are linked to educational institutions, vocational and livelihood trainings and internships. Most of the children residing at Naunihal have experienced trauma at some point, and it is imperative for us to help them heal, which also means we match their pace. We don’t emphasize on ‘good scores’ in academics, so that children don’t feel burdened with expectations. Rather, we focus on ensuring that children receive social, emotional and cognitive stimulation and helping them understand the idea of being self-reliant and independent. That becomes the first step towards encouraging equitable and quality education. Various Life Skill Sessions, career counselling sessions are conducted to help build confidence in them. The sessions highlight organizational, decision-making skills, importance of personal hygiene, pros and cons of social media, financial planning, personal safety, etc. While working with children with special needs, we ensure their needs are addressed too and they are encouraged and included in all the activities at Naunihal. Girls are supported with their educational needs even after they are restored to their family or move into Aftercare program.

What systems are in place at Naunihal to ensure a non-violent and safe atmosphere for children and promote conflict resolution?

Every child is given an orientation to the services, rules and routine, introduced to the other residents and are provided a welcome kit that includes essentials for their daily usage. A mentor and a case worker is assigned to them. This is our beginning of ensuring that the child feels welcomed, accepted and safe. Through these years, we have observed that early intervention and empathic communication is the key to conflict resolution. At Naunihal, we have set up platforms like Chinta Peti (grievance box), suggestion box, individual and group meetings, and professional counselling services. Safe spaces are created for children where children can express their concerns or share suggestions, without worrying about the consequences. The children understand that violence in any form is non-negotiable and rules about the same are discussed, and shared with them at regular intervals. In case an act of violence is committed, it is shared with the child protection authority for their guidance, as the law suggests. In some cases, the team requests for their intervention and the child is informed of the process. The Child Protection Policy is discussed on a monthly basis among the staff and children, and is smoothly implemented. Timely discussions are held with the staff highlighting sensitive communication with children, and complete restriction on corporal punishment, irrespective of the situation.

Initiatives focused towards ensuring gender sensitivity and equality are imperative for the overall development of a child. As a Children’s Home for girls, how does Naunihal contribute towards these?

Naunihal focuses on empowerment to sustain with dignity. We hold gender sensitivity and equality in the highest regard, and address it through various sessions, screening of meaningful short films, documentaries, and videos. Discussions on the difference between sex and gender, boundaries and consent, sexuality and the gender identities apart from the ones assigned at birth are facilitated and encouraged. We ensure that no child is stigmatized or labelled because of his/her/their “inappropriate or objectionable” behavior. It is addressed by the case workers with the help of counsellors and other stakeholders through participatory discussions. Informative sessions on understanding their legal entitlements, laws like POCSO Act, JJ Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Me Too Campaign and its significance are conducted for the girls. At any place and stage if a girl experiences any discomfort, such as an inappropriate touch, someone questioning her background or clicking photographs without consent, she feels confident to report. The girls share their experience with whosoever they feel comfortable around, such as the counsellor, caseworker, CWC members or members of Prerana’s Management. We ensure that strict action is taken, and the child is actively involved in the process.

During the current lockdown situation, children have been attending online classes. How has their idea of learning changed amidst such circumstances? Also, how do the caretakers at Naunihal ensure that the girls are able to cope with the changing dynamics and are provided with a healthy learning environment?

When the lockdown was announced, neither we nor the children were expecting it to extend for over a year. Initially, children were unable to cope with the sudden change that required them to stay indoors. The restrictions on movement and physical meetings also halted restoration process for some girls. Our foremost priority became to talk with children about the COVID situation, normalize our routine in Naunihal and address the mental health needs of the girls. We started orienting children about the concept of virtual classes and sessions. If a child required daily assistance, we assigned a professional mentor who had completed the MS-CIT curriculum of computer basics, acknowledged by the state government. We established a ‘peace room’, where children can spend their “me time”, cherish their personal space and address their emotions. As a team, we practically applied the famous saying, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. For example, we take the girls to the terrace every morning for a sunbath and every evening so they can lie down under the moonlit sky. This exposure to the freshness of nature reduces stress and ensures good health. The girls watched videos that enhanced their independent living skills such as, repairing a broken tap, using Microsoft Excel, cooking variety of dishes etc. The lockdown has been a difficult phase, but we believe planned approach, empathy and individualization made it manageable.

It is of equal importance to provide positive and participatory spaces to the residents at a Children’s Home. How does the team at Naunihal ensure that the girls feel valued, heard, and emotionally independent to voice their opinions?

Child participation has always been a priority in Naunihal and we ensure its implementation while working with children. For instance, activities to be conducted are always decided after learning the requirements and interests of the children and the food menu is quarterly reviewed and changed based on their suggestions. Clothes are purchased after discussing the same with children and they take turns to be a part of shopping, permission for which is sought from the Child Welfare Committee. We have formed various committees of children, such as health, child protection, library, environment, cultural, nutrition and sports. Each committee has evolved their roles and responsibilities, such as the child protection committee addresses issues such as bullying and ensures that discrimination during the serving of food or other items does not take place. There is a rotation in the membership every four months so every child gets an opportunity to understand the functioning of all committees. The staff members who support each team are also shuffled. These activities provide them an opportunity to practice leadership, teamwork, problem solving, and also feel valued. Every Individual Care Plan is developed with the involvement of children and their suggestions and aspirations are prioritized. We believe child participation is the foremost step towards ensuring and safeguarding child rights.

This is the second interview in the ten-month long series on Prerana’s commitment to sustainable development goals. Watch this space for more.