Monthly Archives: March 2018

Little Humans Of Bombay – Cataloguing The Beat Of The City And Their Childhoods, One Story At A Time

When in 2010 the twenty-six-year-old New Yorker, Brandon Stanton began an ambitious photography project to create “an exhaustive catalogue of the city’s inhabitants” called the “Humans of New York” (HONY) he had no idea that he was creating a social media revolution. His photography project that uses social media to bring out the extraordinary stories of ordinary people has grown into a cause for humanity. His journey has inspired several young people to follow in his footsteps, of stepping out there, and bringing stories of hope, love, fear, sadness, joy, – just the whole palette of emotions humans are capable of feeling. Karishma Mehta, founder of the “Humans of Bombay” is one them. In a short span of time, her photo project documenting the lives of the people in the “city of dreams”, has grown to become immensely popular. Her aim is to catalogue the “beat of the city, one story at a time.”

In a society of growing isolation, where we are increasingly spending more time in the virtual world, these stories act as invisible connectors. They bring us closer to each other and serve as reminders for reality checks. They inspire us and prove to us that indeed, not all heroes wear capes. But more than anything else, they rekindle our faith in humanity. They remind us that the people around us may be strangers, but they too are human. Because somewhere in their stories we find our own.

What resonated with us the most were the stories of Little Humans… representing the lives of children in Mumbai in a very raw and real manner. Because, sometimes the littlest people have the biggest stories to tell.

“I have the best parents in the world — baba is a repair man and my aai teaches tailoring and mehendi creation to children in our colony. They work extra hard to put us in English Medium schools — everyday when I go home, I tell my mother everything I learnt in class and it’s as if she’s in school with me…she’s so excited! One of my favourite things to do is watch YouTube videos and make things — my aai and baba brought me a hot glue gun that’s my favourite toy! Just last week, I made an ATM machine for home using my ID card and a few spare coins — my whole family was thrilled! Last year, I got a few pale patches on my back, but my parents thought it was because I fell off my cycle and applied an ointment — but they didn’t go away. In fact, they increased and I got a very high fever — the tests revealed that I actually have severe Aplastic Anaemia. I’ve read about it on the internet, and everyday I try to give Doctor uncle some new treatment options — he’s always smiling at me. To be honest, I miss being in school and creating. I love studying and making things — just yesterday I made a small toy car using some spare parts and bolts — all the didis here were so impressed that they clapped for me! I also ordered a thermometer online, so I can check my own temperature — anytime it rises above 98 degrees, I myself call my nurse didi — I can’t wait to get better! I’m very happy, but I know I am in danger … I don’t know how aai and baba will do my treatment — I know it’s expensive, so the least I can do is put on a big smile! I hope I can go back to school and become a scientist…I pray to God everyday to help us and I believe he will listen!” — Shamail needs an URGENT bone marrow transplant. His parents have already exhausted all their savings on tests and medicines so far and have absolutely no way of gathering more. Shamail is so positive about his life, but he’s critical — he cannot survive this without our help. Please consider donating and tagging someone who can. Link in bio!

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#WorldWaterDay: India’s Children In Search Of Water

Cape Town in South Africa will be the world’s first major city to run out of water, as the “Zero Hour” on 15th July 2018, looms closer. India, amongst several other countries, is in tow to follow suit. As climate change makes its impact felt across India and the world, water scarcity – a direct result, continues to spread like an epidemic. Children face some of the fiercest risks arising from these conditions. Especially vulnerable are the children on the fringes of the society – further marginalized by having no access to safe, hygienic and potable water.

What does this mean?

It means that their little feet will have to bear the heat of the scorching earth as they traverse farther in search of drinking water.

It means that they will have no sanitation facilities and will have to make their way to river banks, fields, train tracks and dingy alleyways to use as make-shift toilets; making themselves prone to several risks such as harassment, diseases, and accidents.

It means that water borne diseases such as diarrhoea will continue to claim their lives.

It means that food production will suffer, rendering those at the grass roots as the worst victims.

It means that their every day existence will continue to be an embittered battle for survival.

Here are some telling photographs from across the country that capture the battle for survival, of India’s children in search of water.

A village boy bathes in the remaining water of a dried pond to beat the heat in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar (Photo: Biswaranjan Rout/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
A village boy bathes in the remaining water of a dried pond to beat the heat in the outskirts of Bhubaneswar (Photo: Biswaranjan Rout/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

 

A little girl carries a metal pitcher filled with water through a field in drought-hit Latur n iMaharashtra (Photo: Danish Siddiqui/ Reuters)
A little girl carries a metal pitcher filled with water through a field in drought-hit Latur n iMaharashtra (Photo: Danish Siddiqui/ Reuters)
In a drought-affected village in Dindhori, Madhya Pradesh, children can be seen climbing down the walls of an almost dried-up well to fetch the remaining water. (Photo: Divyakant Solanki / EPA/Corbis Images)
In a drought-affected village in Dindhori, Madhya Pradesh, children can be seen climbing down the walls of an almost dried-up well to fetch the remaining water. (Photo: Divyakant Solanki / EPA/Corbis Images)

 

Catching the last fish in a lake gone dry for the first time in a decade in Maharashtra (Photo: Aditya Waikul)
Catching the last fish in a lake gone dry for the first time in a decade in Maharashtra (Photo: Aditya Waikul)

 

A girl carries a pitcher after filling it with drinking water from a “virda”, a small opening made by villagers manually to collect water, from the dried-up Banas river at Sukhpur village, north of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. At least 30 virdas have been dug up by villagers in the river. Villagers walk two and a half kilometres to draw drinking water from them, and they say it takes 30-40 minutes to fill a five-litre jar. Occasionally the villagers get their supply of drinking water from municipal tankers but most of the time they depend on the virdas before the monsoon arrives in the region. (Photo: Amit Dave/ Reuters)
A girl carries a pitcher after filling it with drinking water from a “virda”, a small opening made by villagers manually to collect water, from the dried-up Banas river at Sukhpur village, north of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. At least 30 virdas have been dug up by villagers in the river. Villagers walk two and a half kilometres to draw drinking water from them, and they say it takes 30-40 minutes to fill a five-litre jar. Occasionally the villagers get their supply of drinking water from municipal tankers but most of the time they depend on the virdas before the monsoon arrives in the region. (Photo: Amit Dave/ Reuters)
A boy who migrated from drought hit areas of Maharashtra carries water to his family's makeshift hut in Kukse Borivali, 85 kilometres (53 miles) north-east of Mumbai. Decades of groundwater abuse, populist water policies and poor monsoons have turned vast swaths of central and western India into a dust bowl, driving distressed farmers to suicide or menial day labor in the cities. (Rafiq Maqbool/ AP Photo)
A boy who migrated from drought hit areas of Maharashtra carries water to his family’s makeshift hut in Kukse Borivali, 85 kilometres (53 miles) north-east of Mumbai. Decades of groundwater abuse, populist water policies and poor monsoons have turned vast swaths of central and western India into a dust bowl, driving distressed farmers to suicide or menial day labor in the cities. (Photo: Rafiq Maqbool/ AP)
Piryanka fetches water in Malegaon village, Parbhani district in Maharashtra. (Photo: Amit Haralkar)
Piryanka fetches water in Malegaon village, Parbhani district in Maharashtra. (Photo: Amit Haralkar)
Children from the village of Kankroli look for shells in the dried out bed of the Rajsamand lake near Udaipur in India’s drought-hit state of Rajasthan. The lake has dried up for the first time in living memory. Thousands of villages in Rajasthan are facing an acute shortage of water and animal feed with most sources of water having dried out in what is seen to be the worst drought in 100 years. (Photo: Unknown)
Children from the village of Kankroli look for shells in the dried out bed of the Rajsamand lake near Udaipur in India’s drought-hit state of Rajasthan. The lake has dried up for the first time in living memory. Thousands of villages in Rajasthan are facing an acute shortage of water and animal feed with most sources of water having dried out in what is seen to be the worst drought in 100 years. (Photo: Unknown)

 

Water levels in wells is so low that one cant get enough water from a pail. A girl got into the well to fetch water at a remote village about 180 km from Mumbai. (Photo: Aditya Waikul)
Water levels in wells is so low that one cant get enough water from a pail. A girl got into the well to fetch water at a remote village about 180 km from Mumbai. (Photo: Aditya Waikul)

Capital Punishment For The Rape Of Minors Against Survivor’s Interests

Rape culture should be addressed more holistically

The death penalty for perpetrators in case of rape of girls below the age of 12 years, is going to neither be a deterrent against such offences nor will it address the more urgent need of prevention of sexual abuse of children, including rape. The decisions by the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan to give death penalty for the rape of children below 12 years of age is a distraction rooted neither in constitutional and legal prudence, nor in scientific evidence.

We believe that the death penalty is counter-productive and will entail more harm to child survivors and we, therefore, oppose it. We, however, appreciate the stand taken by the Central Government before the Supreme Court against death penalty for the rape of minors and hope that it will guide further decision making on the subject.

The culture of rape and sexual crimes needs to be addressed more holistically. To deter rapes, we require both swift investigation and conviction among other interventions. According to data published by the National Crime Record Bureau, the conviction rate under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) was approximately 30 per cent in 2016. The trauma of abuse faced by child survivors continues in the absence of sensitive and competent systems to support the children, and aid family, community and society to help them heal and cope psycho-socially.

Justice vis-a-vis Retribution

Survivors must experience justice in real terms – condemning the culprits to death while presently a populist idea, cannot and should not substitute for sensitive and timely medical attention, child – sensitive and efficient legal procedure, witness/survivor protection, adequate financial compensation and quality rehabilitation assistance. Working closely with survivors of rape and sexual violence shows that the sense of justice derives strongly from effective implementation of the measures mentioned above. Harsher punishment is not the solution.

More than 90% of the perpetrators of child sexual assault and rape are known to their victims (NCRB 2016). Studies on the implementation of the POCSO Act also show that conviction rates are much lower in such cases. Child survivors often turn hostile due to family pressure, coercion, and family stigma. Introduction of the death penalty will invariably have the effect of silencing and further traumatizing child survivors who will be burdened with the guilt of sending someone they are related to or know well, to the gallows.

Instead, to keep children safe from violent crimes, the State should invest in the implementation of the provisions of the POCSO Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act). The State must ensure adequate resources to develop the system: services, skilled and adequate human resources, and infrastructure, to be able to prevent child sexual abuse, detect signs of trauma in the child and provide psycho-social support to affected children.

Currently, the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), the flagship scheme for the safety and protection of children, is the only funding source for the implementation of the POCSO and the JJ Acts. Further, while the ICPS is certainly well intentioned and could affect change, it currently has no specific funding or programmatic provisions for any of the support mechanisms ensured to child victims under the POCSO Act. ICPS has a budget of approximately Rs.1000 Crores for 2018-2019, not nearly enough for a nation with 380 million children, who need to be safe in order to grow and develop in a healthy manner. It is essential that funds are allocated effectively,and spent wisely so they do not remain symbolic measures, with which little is done. For instance, reports indicate that less than a tenth of the Nirbhaya fund has been utilized since it was instituted in 2014. Into the fourth year, little has been done to examine whether the fund has been effective in rehabilitating victims of sexual crimes.

In addition to these programmatic methods, there are systemic changes, which are needed to dismantle patriarchy and discrimination (sometimes in the name of ‘protection’) against women, children and other marginalized groups in society. Governments and individuals need to converge their efforts and meaningfully collaborate to ensure that all forms of sexual violence against children, including rape, are prevented.

Instead of a reactive measure like the death penalty which burden child survivors, states must bring education and awareness on safety and protection of children to families, communities, children schools, and other spaces meant to be safe for children, thereby creating an environment of trust and support around children and their families. Through the introduction of life skills curriculum in all schools, there is a need to equip children with the ability to comprehend sexuality, responsible and healthy sex practices decision making, and develop in them the ability to assert themselves against violence, speak up and seek help.

The trend towards more stringent laws and punishment post December 2012, has not made women any safer, and will not make children safe. It is a mere distraction which takes our attention away from real issues at hand. We urgently need real investments in prevention of violence, survivor-friendly response, services and legal systems, victim and witness protection schemes, counselling and rehabilitation services for survivors and their families.

We believe that long-term solutions and sustained efforts to prevent child sexual abuse and adequate investments in child protection are necessary to keep children safe and protected. The death penalty will not protect children.

((***The authors are part of the ProChild Coalition. Views expressed by them are personal.))

This article was first published on Citizens for Justice and Peace on March 9, 2018 and has been republished with due permission.

Through Her Lens: 5 Female Photographers To Follow This Women’s Day, Capturing The Plight Of Girls In India

Photo- Deepti Asthana

On Women’s day and in the current political and social climate in India and world over, it’s never been more critical for us to have a woman’s visual perspective.

While photojournalists world over have done pathbreaking work to raise the profile of social issues, here’s a handful of remarkable girls turned women using their visual might to shine light on injustices faced by millions of girls.

Meet the fearless, talented and soulful women whose visual narratives echo the voice of girls world over.

1. Poulomi Basu

Known for her series ‘Ritual Of Exiles’, a project that portrays the discrimination faced by menstruating women and girls in villages and the plight of child widows, Poulomi Basu is a storyteller, artist and activist whose keen eye, insight and soul reflect in every frame she captures. Co-Founder of Just Another Photo Festival, member of the VII Photo Mentor Program and incubator of The Rape In India Project, Basu’s work expresses a bent towards ordinary people who quietly challenge the prevailing orthodoxies of the world in which they live: from rural women in armed conflict, a mother’s pain for a son lost to ISIS, to the wonder of a near blind child reaching for the light.

I want to bring home the idea of how women are silenced and made subservient all around the world using religion, traditions and customs,” said Basu in an article by the New York Times. Poulomi prefers the path less trodden, seeking to explore the lives of ordinary women and girls who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. And to bring violence against women and girls out into the light, exposing the deep, insidious roots of the systems we all live by, in ways that last beyond a news cycle.

2. Smita Sharma 

Smita Sharma is an independent human rights photojournalist who focuses her lens on gender violence. Having been molested by her professor in school, she spoke out against it, only to be shamed and ostracised by her teachers and peers… a common experience across India and other countries. Ever since, Smita has dedicated countless hours and film rolls to chronicling the lives of rape victims in India – from spending hundreds of hours outside courtrooms and government hospitals, reading books while waiting for victims and their families to pass by, to disguising herself as a pregnant women to protect herself as she travels to remote villages to speak with survivors.

Sexism exists in every country, but the levels are different. If you want to make a change, you have to change the mindset of both men and women. Start by treating sons and daughters equally.” said Sharma, who portrays fellow survivors as heroes in her work. Collecting their horrifying stories, which include gang rapes of children and young teenagers, murder, police indifference and victims being forced to marry their attackers, Smita has begun work on human trafficking in South Asia where she is documenting flesh trade, domestic slavery and how it operates in the region. Her work reflects her grit to narrate real stories, her ability to pass on courage to those she encounters and finally draw honest experiences from rape survivors only to provide a window to break the silence that pervades their lives.

Smita’s long term project ‘It’s Not my Shame’ started in 2014 is an attempt to give expression to survivors of rape, who are often shamed and ostracised for the rest of their life, giving back dignity and respect to all those young girls and women who have been subject to a culture of victim-bashing.

Junaki, 13, was raped in a cow-shed by a 63-year-old retired school teacher in Uttar Pradesh, India in June 2016. The man is a habitual sexual offender and has committed many sexual offences but no one from the community has come forward to file any official reports against him. Power and money goes a long way in subjugating and oppressing people from receiving justice. Outtake from my project “It’s Not My Shame” which will be exhibited tomorrow at the United Nation’s CSW parallel event tomorrow with @sayfty from 4.30-6pm at the Chapel of the Community Church of New York. There will also be a panel discussion on “Survivor Rehabilitation and Empowement” moderated by @shruticlicks. Please do come if you are in New York. @unwomen #sexualviolenceawareness #vaw

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3. Saumya Khandelwal

Recipient of National Foundation of India Award 2017 and the Getty Images Instagram Grant 2017 for ‘Child Brides of Shravasti‘, Saumya Khandelwal has worked with VII Agency photographers, Stephanie Sinclair and Jessica Dimmock, and currently works with Thomson Reuters before her stint at Hindustan Times. Saumya spends her time on multimedia projects and indulges in story telling, while juggling between photography, video making and writing.

It almost feels like a girl is born to be married here. They don’t know that there is an alternative way of life. I think, primarily, what they need to know is that they have options in life. They should have the ability to dream.” While Saumya documents the vivacious, jubilant and colourful scenes in celebration of marriage, her images are reflective of the daily lives of young girls in a part of Uttar Pradesh, India who are forced into early marriages. Illustrating their harsh realities, Saumya uses Instagram to depict how the lives of these young girls dramatically change after marriage.

This young photographer brings human centric stories to the spotlight using new age media like instagram, inspiring others like herself to use their lenses just as boldly as she does. Her acclaimed work for Child Brides of Sarasvati brought to life the realities and repercussions of early marriage, and the deprived childhoods and dreams of many adolescent girls in India.

Nirma at 16 years of age is a child bride. A student of class 11th, she has been married to Rakesh who studies in 12th grade in another village. The news of her marriage, which she wasn’t consulted for, made Nirma very nervous. She knew one has to work a lot after marriage and she did not think she would be able to do it. But ever since she has learnt how to take care of the house. Her Gauna is yet to happen so she still stays with her parents, but talks to Rakesh on phone. Rakesh has also been nice and he lets her study. Nirma wants to be a doctor but did not know that one needs science in order to pursue it. But hopes to also work after marriage. ‘Child Brides of Shravasti’ looks at how the life of girls changes after child marriage. This project is supported by National Foundation of India. #childbrides #childmarriage #reportagespotlight #opensocietyfoundations #natgeo #girlsnotbrides #instagram #photojournalism #uttarpradesh #shravasti #saumyakhandelwalphotos

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4. Deepti Asthana

Deepti Asthana is a documentary photographer who has been covering gender issues in rural India under her umbrella project ‘Women of India.’ Deepti brings to the fore, not just her story, but the story of many young girls and women like herself. She seeks to find and tell those stories that have been overshadowed for too long, bringing attention to stories of women and girls in rural India. Her stories reflect not only the constant struggle for girls to survive but also their celebration of life and culture, despite everyday adversities and their strength to persevere in the most dire circumstances.

While documenting stories of women across India, I saw the dichotomy of these two Indias. The contrast is astonishing. While baby girls are given away, sold, or even killed in parts of rural India, urban women are gradually seizing power and asking for their rights. While things are changing in bigger cities, rural India is still far behind, where discrimination against women is largely whitewashed using the label of ‘Indian culture’. When it comes to modernization of thought and freedom of choice and speech, there is little progress,” she says.

Deepti believes that photography can impact social change, building her faith in humanity as she encounters different girls and women through her numerous journeys into their lives. She shares these stories to build understanding and empathy for those less privileged than herself in an attempt to bridge the gender gap that is so intrinsic in the lives of girls in India.

5. Ruhani Kaur

16 years as a photojournalist, Ruhani Kaur has drawn attention to pressing issues like sex selection in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan, gang rape survivors of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, child victims of Extra Judicial Killings in Manipur, school drop outs and child labour in Garol village, and menstrual hygiene in a tribal hamlet in Kherwada, amongst others.

Co-Founder at the Far Valley, a collective of Photojournalists, Writers, Filmmakers and digital artists bringing together years of field reportage experience in the narrative non-fiction genre, Ruhani’s work on India’s Invisible Women illustrates the lives of 350 million women and girls in India, many of whom are killed in the womb, others acting as fertility machines, and others filling the deficit of the skewed sex ratio by being trafficked or married off.

Ruhani’s work continues to be used for awareness and advocacy initiatives, adding a layer to the strong voices that are needed to push the agenda for adolescent girls and young women.