According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children – that India ratified in 1992 – all children are born with fundamental rights.

• Right to Survival – to life, health, nutrition, name, nationality
• Right to Development – to education, care, leisure, recreation, cultural activities
• Right to Protection – from exploitation, abuse, neglect
• Right to Participation – to expression, information, thought, religion

And a right to achieve these dreams. Even though India’s children account for more than one-third of its population, their interests have never been given priority. And their rights have been violated every single day.

Sarji Foundation has compiled some statistics on the situation of children in India. This is based on our experience of working on a range of children’s issues across India. The statistics are grim. What is worse is that very little is known of what it means to be part of such horrific numbers. The task before us is huge and we at Sarji Foundation believe that for real change to happen, every member of our society should take responsibility to change the lives of these children permanently.