Street Children in Delhi Reclaim Their Narrative Through Art and Performance
"The story of slums is not just about poverty—it is also about courage, struggle, and pushing back against societal attitudes." These powerful words echoed through the Aiwan-e-Ghalib auditorium in Central Delhi, setting the tone for a transformative morning where street children took center stage to share their experiences and shape their own stories.
Children Step into the Spotlight
One after another, children who navigate traffic signals, construction sites, and narrow bylanes daily stepped onto the stage as dancers, actors, and storytellers. For many, this marked their first performance before an audience, the result of weeks of rehearsals held not in studios but in neighborhood parks and streets near their homes.
The event was organized by the NGO CHETNA (Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action) on the eve of International Day for Street Children, observed on Saturday. It brought together more than 450 children from Delhi-NCR and nearby regions.
Diverse Backgrounds and Shared Identities
"These are children of labourers, domestic workers, ragpickers, drivers, and street vendors," said director Sanjay Gupta, noting that many are first-generation learners, with some recently enrolled in school through intervention programs. Across dance routines, songs, and street plays, a recurring theme emerged: "Compulsion tied us to the streets… we may be different, but we share one identity—a life connected to the streets."
Performances Highlighting Real-Life Struggles
A street play opened with an invitation—"Come, come, watch the play"—before unfolding scenes depicting children being denied school admission due to lack of an Aadhaar card, struggling to open bank accounts, being pushed into labour, or losing access to playgrounds.
Another segment used music to explain child protection laws, featuring a Pocso awareness song that aimed to familiarize children with their legal rights through performance. This was followed by a self-defence demonstration and a multicultural dance performance, both drawing enthusiastic responses from the audience.
Personal Testimonies and Aspirations
Interspersed between performances were "Street Talk" sessions, modeled on TED-style talks, where children shared personal testimonies. Juli, who moved to Delhi from Bihar, spoke about negotiating with her family to attend school. "There was no money at home… my father did not agree," she said. Starting her education late, she is now in Class X and hopes to become a teacher.
Another participant, who once sold scrap alongside her 90-year-old grandmother, broke down while recalling her first experience on stage. "I had never seen a stage before," she said. She now aspires to pursue modeling and is set to be enrolled in school this April.
Collective Hopes and Official Presence
A song titled Badhte Kadam, launched during the event, underscored collective aspirations, while a dance drama portrayed children's hopes for dignity and equal opportunities despite being bound to the streets by circumstance. Representatives from the women and child development department, the International Labour Organisation, and police authorities were present at the event.
Annual Platform for Visibility and Voice
Held annually, this program offers street children a platform to articulate their experiences—not just through performance but through conversations—reclaiming space, voice, and visibility in a city that often overlooks them. It serves as a poignant reminder of their resilience and the ongoing need for societal support and recognition.
