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Delhi Street Children Guide Tourists Through Paharganj
The Salaam Baalak Trust in New Delhi runs a programme that trains street‑children to act as tour guides in the bustling Paharganj neighbourhood. Participants such as 18‑year‑old Shivani and 24‑year‑old Jafar lead visitors through narrow lanes, describing the area's markets, hostels and historic sites.
The Trust aims to give these youths an alternative to common street work – collecting rags, cleaning shoes, washing car windows or working in small eateries – and to protect them from gangs that prey on children at the New Delhi Train Station and nearby bus stops. Estimates of India’s street‑child population vary, with a government commission citing roughly 1.5‑2 million children living on the streets. Many families depend on the earnings of these children, making the Trust’s intervention a crucial source of income and safety.
By integrating the children into tourism, the programme provides them with a steady livelihood, reduces their exposure to exploitation, and offers visitors a unique perspective on the city’s hidden corners.
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What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] India’s street‑child population is estimated at 1.5 to 2 million by a government commission. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Gangs at the New Delhi Train Station and bus stops target street children. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Street children in Delhi commonly work collecting rags, cleaning shoes, washing car windows, or in small restaurants. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Salaam Baalak Trust runs a programme that trains street children in Delhi to act as tour guides in Paharganj. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Participants in the programme include 18‑year‑old Shivani and 24‑year‑old Jafar. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] Parents often rely on the earnings of street‑working children as an important source of family income. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The programme provides street children with a safer livelihood and reduces their exposure to exploitation. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de
- [● 3 SOURCES] The New Delhi Train Station is a major railway hub where many street children first arrive in Delhi. www.nordbayern.de · www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de