Leaving no child behind

(Published in The Hans India on April 26, 2015)

“Social service runs in the family,” says Suman Malladi, social entrepreneur and the founder-President of CHORD, a Hyderabad-based NGO that works to protect child rights. Both his parents served in remote missionary hospitals in Coastal Andhra for several decades. But, in 1986, Malladi was still not sure what he wanted to be. So like most others, he pursued his MBA and prepared to leave for the US.

Fate had other plans for him. “I received my I-20 very late, so when I went for my visa, they sent me back.”  He walked out of the Consulate “distraught”. He went home to Akividu to intern with doctors-cum-mentors like Dr. Janaki, renowned for her selfless service. That experience sowed the seed for a lifelong career in community development. “The best thing that happened to me,” Malladi says..

The defining moment came when he filmed a documentary on children toiling in limestone quarries that takes a toll on their health and well-being. “The children are not only subjected to permanent physical injuries, but are left emotionally battered”.  Malladi had found his calling and founded CHORD, in 1998, in Hyderabad. US did not happen until much later in 2013, when Malladi visited Columbia University as a Ford Fellow.

Why is there a need for intervention? “India has 13 million child workers, and the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are home to 1 million.” The harsh reality is that these hapless workers even forget that they are children. They need much help and counselling to “get used to childhood itself”. Child labor elimination works in two ways. “One, we identify pockets where it is a serious problem and hand over a list to the government officials, who then raid the areas and release the children. Or two, our own volunteers venture into slums and bring child workers to rehab centers.”

Malladi’s motto – leave no child behind – speaks volumes of his determination. CHORD began with sixty rescued children and one rehabilitation center. “Today, we have rescued, rehabilitated and reintegrated over 14,000 children in the last 14 years.” These children are joined in a bridge school for two years to bring them on par with their contemporaries. Later, they are enrolled in a regular school.

Not always is this transition smooth. “We found that children once mainstreamed were unable to cope with the many pressures of schooling. They would drop out.” Reforms in school curriculum could go a long way in achieving retention. “Curriculum must be more child-friendly,” he adds.

“From our experience we have conceived a three-pronged strategy to eradicate child labor. We educate the child, engage the parents and sensitize the community. Family poverty is only one of the causes that drive a mainstreamed child back to work or drop out of school. The society also must be more willing to accept these children as one among them.” Furthermore, restoring the child’s dignity is an uncompromising priority. “The thrust is on dignity.”

Malladi’s credibility and professionalism earned him the goodwill of many corporate associates  – SuperGas, Microsoft, UBS, Qualcomm, Accenture, and Oracle to name a few. Over the years, they have been a compelling force and filled the gaps where government funding dwindled.

At the turn of the millennium, “Hyderabad joined the bandwagon of economic reforms in a big way. The city welcomed the IT boom. People’s mindset began to reflect the structural changes that the city underwent. A rise in incomes together with an expansion of the middle class saw a commensurate rise in social consciousness. There was an exponential increase in middle to high income earners eager to give back to the society by funding developmental activities. “Motorola was one of the first companies to have worked with us. Many others followed.” CHORD struck the right note with its outcomes, output and social impact.

The Acess English Micro Scholarship Program is very dear to Malladi. This program is funded by the US Department of State. It is being implemented in 85 countries across the world, and in 20 cities within India. In Hyderabad, CHORD is the chosen program coordinator. Ms. April Wells, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad, notes that, “the U.S. Consulate is proud to partner with the CHORD School to make English language instruction available for their students through the English Access Micro scholarship Program. ‎We believe CHORD students are among the future leaders of their communities, and proof of the strong value India and the U.S. both ascribe to educational opportunities." Over a span of 24 months, students from disadvantaged communities are exposed to English language, American culture, and personality development. “The children enjoy learning and use the language more confidently,” says Malladi, on the sidelines of the program’s Mid-Term Intensive Program.

While, language is one skill we cannot do without, skill development has itself taken center stage in the country’s economic discourse. CHORD contributes in its own way. “We have an ongoing project – Skill Bharath – wherein we train school dropouts, women and other vulnerable groups in short term employable skills. Tailoring, for instance. And driving is another.” Recently, five women from a CHORD-adopted slum went ahead to train as drivers under the GHMC’s She Taxi project.

With as many as 23 projects in various stages, Malladi’s plate is full. And, he has set himself ambitious targets. “By 2018, we hope to rescue, educate and empower another 7000 working children and train 3000 youth in skills through initiatives that are child-centric.” That is not all. “We want to make three mandals – Qutbhullapur, Balanagar, Serilingampally – entirely child labor free,” adds Suman Malladi.