Maharashtra's Mobile Squad: Transforming Lives of Street Children

The Maharashtra government is set to launch mobile vans equipped with social worker teams aimed at rehabilitating street children. The initiative will provide essential services such as medical check-ups, counseling, and educational support, significantly enhancing street children's quality of life.

This statewide implementation comes after a successful pilot in cities including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur. The Women and Child Development Minister, Aditi Tatkare, emphasized the importance of granting street children their basic rights, describing the Mobile Squad initiative as a means to ensure access to education, medical care, and social security.

The scheme, backed by a budget of Rs 8.06 crore, will deploy 31 mobile vans across municipal corporations, with plans to extend the initiative further. By partnering with NGOs and professionals, the program aims to address issues like malnutrition and provide vocational and therapeutic services, striving toward the holistic development of over 70,000 street children across Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies.)