വേറിട്ട കാഴ്ചകള്‍

veritta kazhchakal  jeevitham pookkunna chilla by kuriappy

KAIRALI TV - "വേറിട്ട കാഴ്ചകള്‍ "

This episode of Veeritta Kazchakal was about Chilla. It was streamed yesterday ( Wednesday - 25/5/2011) 5.30 pm.

The Introduction by Sri. V. K. Sreeraman was very nice.It was directed by Sri V. K. Sreeraman himself and Sri Pradeep Narayanan was the Asst. Director.

Camera was excellently handled by Sri Deepu of Pedestrian Pictures.

It was a pains-taken effort by Sri Pradeep in bringing up the message of Chilla to the limelight.

Those who have missed the streaming can view the repeated telecast on :

KAIRALI TV Veeritta Kazhchakal

Programme about Our Chilla

Friday - 11.30 PM
Saturday - 9.30 AM
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IISE

International Institute of Social Entrepreneurship , Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram will be deputing three of their students to help Chilla in Documentation, Fund Raising and communiation with agencies like NID for setting up a production cum training centre for Eco friendly products.

LEND A HAND TO OWN A LAND

Chilla, the roosting place for sex worker’s children, is at the crossroads.
The Government’s decision asking all the organizations, which act as a shelter for children, to have land and house of their own, brought it to this crossroad. Either it has to wind up its activity by the end of this year or to have a home of its own for the survival.

Chilla has completed ten ‘successful’ years. This year three of our children passed SSLC with 70% and above marks. This success has an added sweetness when we consider the fact that they didn’t even know how to spell their names when they came into our hands.

Even though the above order came into existence a year back the authorities gave Chilla, a special exemption, for one more year, because of it’s creditable performance.So, the order to wind up gave us impetus to survive and survive successfully. Instead of dispersing and disappearing, Chilla decided to go forward. It has found a land of 37 cents not too far away from the town, with a price tag of 50,000 per cent.
The money raised from the cycling (Cycling With a Mission) from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram, rupees1.25 lakhs and rupees 75,000 from well-wishers has been paid as the advance money.

Mr.G. Shankar, the renowned architect, has promised to help us build an eco-friendly house on the plot. The envisaged house will be a qualitative home for 15 children to build their future.

So, we appeal to all our friends and well-wishers to extend a helping hand in this venture for survival.

We will need 18.5 lakhs rupees within the next three months to own the land. Then another 15 lakhs rupees for making the home.

We are sure that you will do the needful to the best of your ability.

With gratitude

For the Friends of Chilla

G.Sankar,
Surya Krishanmurthy,
Dr.Venu,
Gouridasan Nair,
A.S. Joby,
D. Raghothaman.

Bank Details :
Anannia Chilla ,
Current A/C No:67037783424
Branch code : 70022
IFSC Code:SBTR0000022
State Bank Of Travancore,Thirumala Branch.

CHILLA'S ADDRESS:

CHILLA,
House.No.16/233,
Mundakkal, Karakulam P.O,
Thiruvananthapuram; Kerala, India.
Cell:09387224468
Email: chillaindia@yahoo.com
Web: www.anannia.org
com
...............................Contributions
Sl.No...... Name ................../////...................Ammount

1. ........J. Devika..................................56 gms of gold.....
2. ........Jayaprathibha Santhosh.......Rs. 20,000
3. ........Rejil Krishnan ........................Rs.1,000
4. ........Arun.........................................Rs 10 ,000
5. ........Nanda kumar Rlys..................Rs 1,000
6. ........Prakash P.Gopinath...............Rs 6,000
7. ........Sajith C.,Rlys...........................Rs. 6,000
8. ........Manoj MP, ...............................Rs. 1,oo,ooo
9. ........A Wellwisher ..........................Rs.3,00,000
10. .......Shiney & Boby Joseph.............Rs.1,50,000
11. .......Santhosh Nisha........................Rs. 2,500

.............

On 20th of December 2009,Cycling With A Mission (CWAM) is launching its first endeavor by organizing an 8 day, all Kerala cycling campaign from Kasergode to Trivandrum covering 625 kms.

Through this campaign, we plan to

raise funds for Chilla
uphold the right to live for all sections of the society
be a part of World Peace March
Cycling With A Mission is a dream project:


Campaigning for a social cause
Raising funds for alternative groups whose effective working is hindered due to just lack of economic support
Asserting the right to live for each and every individual in the society with dignity and equality and
Feeling and being together for creating a better world with social equity by the tiny efforts of a large number of common people

“Together we can make a Change in this tiny World”

YouTube - keralapartnership

YouTube - keralapartnership

changathikkuri

ABOUT

Chilla is a roosting place for sex workers’ children.

WE DO NOT TAKE THE CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE SEX WORKERS; INSTEAD WE HELP THEM NURTURE THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS THEIR BASIC RIGHT TO HAVE AND LOVE THEM.

We at Chilla help the children to become productive and responsible citizens who can function as active partners in the social development-process.We at Chilla make the children to realize their real identity (as sex worker’s children) and overcome the stigma and fight against the discrimination.We at Chilla help to equip them with jobs in job market by providing proper training in English and computer knowledge.We at Chilla help the younger generation (sex worker’s children) by arranging training programmes (in human rights, women’s right, child rights and campaigns against domestic violence, police violence etc.) even to lead the older generation to fight for their rights.To achieve our dream we have plans to purchase land and set up a building to run our home.

HISTORY

OUR STORY / THE BEGINNING

The sex workers are no lesser citizens. It is very rare that a woman, a girl or an under aged child becomes a sex worker voluntarily. Divorce, poverty, domestic violence and torture, failure in love affairs, kidnapping are some of the causes that drive women and girls into prostitution.The condition of sex workers in Kerala is appalling. They are caught in the chain of pimps, gundas and other antisocial elements in the society and the police on the other side. Classified under criminals, these women find it difficult to raise their voice against basic human rights violation. Moreover, the absence of brothels, which invariably provides shelter, increases the gravity of sufferings of sex workers in Kerala. Many of these sex workers and their children are on the street. Thus these children too undergo all the brutalities suffered by their mothers.‘Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health’ (FIRM), an organization formed by a team of medical doctors, held the first state level meeting of the Sex Workers of Kerala on February 20 and 21 of 1999 at Hassan Marakkar Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. Around 350 sex workers and people from different walks of life like poets, journalists, lawyers, doctors, social activists, cultural and political activists were a part of this meeting. Issues and problems of sex workers were the focal point of this discussion. It turned out that one of the major concerns of the sex workers was regarding their children.As a result, on March 4, 1999 a meeting of a nascent ‘support team’ was held at ‘Anasooya’, Perumthanni, Thiruvananthapuram. The objective of this meeting was to understand and tackle the problems of sex workers. Ten supporting teams were formed in the meeting. They are (1) Legal Aid (2) Media (3) Network (4) Employment (5) Child Care (6) Night Shelter (7) Housing (8) Publication (9) Souvenir (10) Drop-in-Center.

WHO WE ARE

CHILLA is a project of ANANNIA.

ANANNIA (An Invitation for New Initiatives) is an NGO of Professionals, Artists, Social workers and Activists who are committed themselves for the promotion of new initiatives for social change. We are in pursuit of quality of life. We solicit your generous support to run this home.

WHY CHILLA

All the existing centers for children in Kerala are orphanages. The children staying in these centers are considered as the center’s children and are orphans. But sex workers’ children are not orphans. They have their own mothers but sex workers. Most of the time, the mothers are in the streets for livelihood. They have no home or even shelter. So their children are also in the streets with them.The orphanages are not ready to admit these children as sex workers’ children. Even when they are admitted their mothers cannot visit them and they can’t get back their children when they are in need. In other words admitting a sex worker’s child in an orphanage simply means losing their motherhood.Chilla attempts to fill this gap. Chilla is a place for sex workers’ children where they can live together as sex worker’s children. Unlike other centers, there is no restriction for the mothers in accessing their children in our centre.More over Chilla was started as a part of a movement for the dignity of sex workers in the society, which enables the children not to feel stigmatized. They also don’t develop hatred towards their mothers or feel shame being a child of a sex worker.

GET INVOLVED

MAKE A DONATION OR VOLUNTEER!!!!
Please email or call us with the following information.
You can copy and print the following form to make a donation.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL HELP OUR CHILDREN ENVISION A BRIGHTER FUTURE

DONATE
Amount in Rs. ___________________________________________________________

Amount in foreign currency _________________________________________________

Please make crossed Cheque/DD in favour of CHILLA

Cheque No. / Draft No__________________________ Date____________________

Bank/Branch: ____________________________________________________________

Our Bank- State Bank Of Travancore, Thirumala Branch, Kerala
A/C 67037783424

CONTACT DETAILS:

Name: Mr. /Ms.__________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________Pin___________

Telephone: ______________________________ Mobile: ________________________

E mail: _________________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: (optional) ___________________________________________________________

Qualification: (optional)___________________________________________________________

Occupation: (optional) _____________________________________________________________

Interests/Hobbies: (optional) ________________________________________________________

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________


Please complete the form and send Cheque/D.D/M.O. to:
Chilla, House No.A-37, Vidhyadhi Raja Nagar, Poojappura P.O
Thiruvananthapuram, PIN 695012.

VOLUNTEER
Please help us to determine how to make the best use of your skills as a volunteer by filling out the questions below:

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

First Name: _________________________ Last Name: __________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________ State:________________ Postal Code: ___________

Home #: (_____)______________________ Business #:______________ext._________

Cell#: (_____) __________________ Email: ___________________________________

Thank you for your interest in supporting CHILLA’s children! We are happy and moved by the response. Thank you for your enthusiasm and generosity.

SUCCESS STORIES

ACHIEVEMENTS

We have initiated some housing programmes with the help of Habitat for Humanity India, Habitat Technology Group (Non Governmental Organizations) and housing programmes for the poor by Government of Kerala.
For Sudha* (25 years, Vattappara, Thiruvananthapuram) we built a two bedroom house. After her studies she got a job in a N.G.O. Now she is living in her own house with her grand mother.
After the studies Aswathy*(20 years, Vattappara, Thiruvananthapuram) got a job in an apparel park. We helped her to build a two bedroom house. Now she is living in her own house with her husband and infant.
We helped a sex worker (Gomathy*40 years, Vattappara, Thiruvananthapuram) to build a two bedroom house. Now she is living in her own house with her two children.
We helped Urvasi*(38 years, Adoor, Pathanamthitta) to build a three bedroom house and to start a business. Now she is running the scrap shop and living in her own house with her three children.
We helped Fathima* (37 years, Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram) to build a two bedroom house and the building work is in progress. We hope that she can live in her own house with her children in the coming academic year.

* Name is changed

CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS

The children of sex workers face a number of problems due to the negative attitude of society. Some of the children are denied school admission because of their background. The children are discriminated and ostracized in schools, which affects them tremendously.

Some of the children are admitted in private boarding schools paying exorbitant fees by their mothers. But when these women are sick or arrested and put in the jail, they will not be able to pay for the children.

There are no facilities to look after small babies. For the same reason, some among them sell their babies just after delivery. Some of the women keep their children with other women during work, for which they will have to pay exorbitantly. Some women keep their children with close relatives. But the relatives usually do not allow the women to stay with them. This separates the child from mother. Some women take the children also along with them during work. This may give some protection to women, but the hostile street is so unhealthy for the children.

There are very few residential centers, which admit the children of sex workers. In these centers, they do not allow the women to take back the children during vacation period, and in effect the women lose the child forever.

The children undergo shame and psychological trauma during police arrests and are subjected to verbal abuse and social ostracism.

The children are vulnerable and can be subjected to physical and sexual abuse. But most of the sex workers try to protect them, but it is a Herculean task given the situation.

The health care facilities can never be properly utilized by the sexworkers because of the social exclusion.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Sex workers are isolated from society on the basis of their mode of living. It is often believed that sex workers should be educated about the need for protecting their own children as if they are not aware of it. But this is not the case. They are as much aware as any other mother about the care of their children. It is the double standard of the society, which makes it impossible for them. In fact many of the sex workers are on the street working to fend for their children and other family members.

In the past there have been many attempts to rehabilitate the children of sex workers by different organizations. But most of the times it will not give the expected result because when these children are admitted in other institutions, they will be discriminated by staff and inmates. Some sex workers do admit their children in boarding schools without revealing their identity. The result is the starting of a saga of hide and seek and a plethora of lies, which create so much tension for the mothers and the children.

Small babies and pre-school children are often looked after by beggars in the street, or by some former sex workers who are friends or by relatives. They will have to pay exorbitant amounts to make this happen and when the mothers are arrested and imprisoned, the children are left to the mercy of these caretakers. Actually the neglect of the children starts when the mothers are arrested and imprisoned for there is none to provide for their expense. The mothers, after their term in the prison, have to take the child away and find a new place. Repeated placements and displacements do affect the well being of children.

Usually, in the name of rehabilitation, the children of sex workers are removed and isolated from their mothers, which means the women losing the right over their children and the children losing the affection of their mothers. Then the stigma of being a child of sex worker hangs as a Damocles’ sword over their head for the rest of their lives. The stigma and hate is reinforced between the child and mother by the supposed rehabilitation by separation.

PRIMARY INITIATIVES

We conducted a need Assessment study in Thiruvananthapuram to identify the most needy children. Out of the 187 children identified, 37 children who required immediate assistance were selected. Among the 37, those who had their own houses and those who were staying with relatives and friends were given only educational grants. The remaining 17 children were admitted in orphanages. Out of the 12 orphanages identified, only five were willing to take these children.

Initially the decision was to admit the children only in centers which allow their mothers to be present at the time of admission. This was not allowed due to stigma of mothers being sexworkers. But another difficulty also arose. These children, though under our guardianship were taken away by their mothers without our knowledge. The center will inform us that the child is lost. A search will follow, locate and place the child back in the orphanage. But after three or four such incidents, the centers refused to take the children back.

The mothers have nothing but the child. They are struggling every moment with police, gundas, auto drivers and the public to exist on the street. Their difficulties are countless and the stress unbearable. When they earn money, their only source of enjoyment is with their children. When they are beaten up, they want their children to share their sorrow. They can’t obey the rules and restrictions of the orphanages because they cannot meet the children when they are in need. At the same time the people in the orphanage will do their best to de-link the child from the mother in order to provide a ‘respectable’ identity for the children. Unintentionally they will turn the child against the mother by portraying her as a corrupting element in society. The existing morality and life style will justify it. In other words admitting a sex worker’s child in an orphanage simply means sex workers losing the right to be a mother.

CONTACT

CHILLA
House.No.16/233,
Mundakkal, Karakulam P.O,
Thiruvananthapuram; Kerala, India.

Cell: 9387224468
Email: chillaindia@yahoo.com
Web: http://www.anannia.org/