Interview with Sr Clara Animoottil SJC (Sisters of St Jospeh of Chambery) who looks after homeless children at Itarsi railway station
Before we come to the interview, a few questions to our readers:
What would YOU do if you came across any of the following situations?
The stories are all true. The names have been channged.
Pramod, a seven-year-old boy, is so frustrated and hopeless that he has cut his hand with a blade.
Fourteen-year-old Deva brought his two younger siblings, aged 9 and 7, to Itarsi, where they stay under the railway bridge. Their mother had died. Their father sent them to the forest to look after goats. When one one goat was missing, the father chased the boys from the house. Now, Deva is weeping bitterly, because his seven-year-old younger brother is shivering with fever.
A boy is fainting after sniffing chemicals.
Ten-year-old Sneha screams and throws stones if a man approaches her. She refuses to eat or drink. Reason: She was sexually abused when still younger, and is terrified of men.
Two children, aged five and eight, are cleaning the floor of the train, one with a broom the other with his shirt. A passenger kicks them and chases them away.
Twelve-year-old Remya was trafficked from a mela, and is now with a sadhu at the railway station.
Ten-year-old Salman sleeps under the water tank. One leg is full of sores, and his body crawling with lice.
These are some of the children Sr Clara has befriended and helped. Here are her replies to our questions.
WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT MINISTRY?
Rescue and rehabilitation of children found at railway stations and on the streets.
Some twenty-five to thirty children come to Itarsi railway station every month, mostly from other districts of Madhya Pradesh. They do any work they can get. Some are also taught to sell drugs.
What we are trying to do is to provide a safe home for them that provides food, clothing, shelter and some basic training. We teach them life skills, and try to get them reunited with their families.
We have 35 boys and 30 girls in our homes today.
WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF THESE CHILDREN WHEN YOU MEET THEM?
Children never took bath for months, since the station has no facility to change clothes. So, body lice make holes on their legs, head, behind the ear. These become festering wounds. Several have scabies. When deeply frustrated, some of them cut themselves with blades. Since the first one to enter a train can grab the empty water bottles for resale, they rush in, and some of them fall down and get seriously injured. Almost every child is sexually abused. They are afraid to go for treatment, since doctors will ask them questions which they do not know how to answer. Some get beaten up by the police. If there is any theft at the station, these children are often blamed. Their own gangs often force them to drink alcohol, or take drugs.
DO THEIR FAMILIES TAKE THEM BACK?
Yes, in most cases. When a child disappears from home, some parents search frantically, and ask God’s help. When we trace the family, and go there with their child, they tell us: “You are God to us. We had been praying to get our child back.”
In some cases, the child recognizes the parents, but the parents do not recognize their son or daughter, since they have grown up and changed. Then the child “proves” the truth, by telling them the names of the school, of teachers, landmarks, etc. If the child’s family does not take back their child, we keep them in our home.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS? WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
My love for Jesus and to serve Him as a missionary motivated me to be a religious. The example of our founder, Fr. John Peter Medaille, challenged me deeply to reach out to the marginalized.
One day, when I was on Itarsi railway platform, I was moved with the miserable plight of children. Back in the convent, I came across the following Scripture verses: “When Jesus saw this large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” These quotes touched me.
Other experiences that influenced me: A paper I wrote for my MSW on the psycho-social development of railway platform children; the year I spent at the shelter home run by the Salesians at Wadala, Mumbai; the motivation provided by Fr Xavier Devdass SDB, who took me to Dadar Station and gave me valuable guidance; the month I spent with Fr Anthony SDB in Uttam Nagar, Delhi. He had started in a small rented room, and his passionate love for the poor inspired me. These persons were my spiritual guides in his ministry.
WHAT MINISTRIES DID YOU DO BEFORE THIS?
Mission experiences in Bihar, teaching deaf and dumb children in Bhopal, mission work with Koruku tribal people in Khandwa, teaching in a school, two years of village work in Jhabua, one year as assistant director of the Indore Diocesan Social Service Society.
HOW IS YOUR EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RAILWAYS?
In 1999 I started working at Itarsi Railway station, just sitting at different platforms and surroundings, moving along with children for a month or so. The work started at the platform without money, without space, but trust and confidence in God, the creator of these children.
The Railway Mazdoor Union Officer gave me their room to be used free of cost during the day. Thereafter the Railway was a great support and was very appreciative of the work with the children. The General Manager and the Divisional Railway Manager found it a very good welfare activity and even promoted the same to Jabalpur and Katni stations with our help.
The Nagarpalika Collector, the SDM and the Education Department also cooperated in getting admission for the children in school.
After the Implementation of Juvenile Justice Act in Madhya Pradesh 2012, the government approach changed. They offered us the Government grant to run the homes but when applied they asked for 20% as commission, which we were not able to give them without a receipt. They filed an FIR against me. This case has now been dismissed.
TELL US SOME TOUCHING EXPERIENCES IN THIS MINISTRY
God is infinitely good; is very much concerned about me. God’s providence and co-incidences are my touching experiences round the clock. The Railway Mazdoor Union, Itarsi, gave their office to be utilised as a day care centre. About 80 to 90 children visited this centre and availed the facilities of food, shelter, recreation, medical care etc.
Some experiences may sound strange to you.
A small boy wanted to save ten Rupees. He dug a pit in the ground and hid it. The next morning he went to take this money and got only a small piece of it. Rats had eaten the rest.
Now, children have their bank accounts. Some have savings of over Rs. 20,000/-.
I have experienced the love and support of good people—Sisters who help in this work, couples that have got involved, our Mother General who visited us, and told me she sees our charism being lived here.
WHAT HELPS YOU TO KEEP UP YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND TO GO ON?
I begin the day with the Eucharist. Jesus made Himself the bread of life to give us life. end the day with the examination of consciousness. All the children too evaluate the whole day. I don’t think that I could do this work if I didn’t have God-experience and union with Him.
Jesus has very clearly said in the gospel. “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.” Again, Jesus has said “Come, blessed of my Father, take the seat in the kingdom prepared for you, because I was hungry you gave me food, I was thirsty you have me drink, I was naked you clothed me, I was homeless you took me home and I was sick you visited me.”
And I am just doing that. I do it for Jesus and Jesus alone. When you do that, there is joy, unity and love.
Secondly, the children have taught me to be more patient, kind, forgiving and loving. Their joy gives me energy to go head.
WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED IN THIS, WITH YOU?
Two Junior Sisters (Sr. Carmela and Sr. Anima) and a team of 20 to 25 committed lay workers. Six religious brothers from KPRP Seminary, Bhopal come on Saturday and Sunday as volunteers. The Railway Police, GRP, Ticket Examiners, porters, vendors—so many collaborate so actively. We partner with Railway Children, Miracle Foundation and Butterfield.
WHAT PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE?
In doing the will of God, there is no disappointment as such. Nevertheless, sustainability of the organisation is quite a concern. As a contemplative in action I trust that He will sustain us all through. I have entrusted my life to Jesus. The work I do is important, but what matters is not the person doing that job. I do this through Jesus and for Jesus and that is why I love it. I am not able to do everything. I always pray for all who are in need and miserable. I count on the Providence of God and somehow during difficult times He takes care.
TELL US ONE OR TWO “SUCCESS STORIES.”
Here is just one.
As a small boy, Raj loved to go to school, but his mother forced him to beg in the temples. One day Raj and his younger brother ran away from home. They were 10 and 8 at that time. He got into a train, and, before he could find out where the train was going, it started.
The train reached Itarsi station. Someone made him sell tobacco at the station. A good man who knew Jeevodaya, met the boys and took them there. They thrived. Raj later completed his ITI, got a job as a mechanic, and married. Today, he is a responsible married man and father.
YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO RELIGIOUS, PRIESTS, SEMINARIANS AND COMMITTED LAY PERSONS
- Be happy in whatever you do. Suffering and difficulties well accepted will produce fruit.
- Take calculated risks, trusting in the Lord.
- The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.
- A simple word of love, a warm hug, a beautiful smile can bring a difference in a person’s life.
- Do not be afraid to walk alone.
- Get out of the charity mode and empower the poor through education and life skills.
- Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly (Micah 6:8)
- Let us get out of our comfort zone of four walls and reach out to the poor and the needy on the streets and in the slums.
– Sr Clara Animoottil SJC works for the distitute children she befriends at Itarsi Railway Station
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