Vicky Roy has taken his street dreams to their pinnacle from the trials and tribulations of being a dhaba-boy and fighting against the pain and pathos of grinding poverty, literally with no possessions other than irresistible aspiration, relentless hard work and a determination to live a better life.

Despite being born to appallingly poor parents in Purulia district of West Bengal, Vicky dreamed of a better life. At the tender age of 11, Vicky ran away from home and set off to Delhi with the 800 rupees that his mother had given him to buy cement for the ongoing construction work in the house. Reality was far cruel and tougher than his previous life in the claustrophobic town and he found himself in the midst of nowhere. He started his life as a rag picker, rummaging through mountains of garbage and dragging out damaged plastic products. But very soon he faced trouble from local ruffians who started harassing him and snatching his earnings. Frustrated, he took up a job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant where he worked through the day for Rs 50 and spent days either without food or having guests’ leftovers. It continued until a lady took pity on him and gave him the address of a children’s NGO — Salam Baalak Trust (SBT). With the help of SBT, he started attending school; he would take care of the NGO’s young boys and help them with their homework.

After Class 10, he joined the National Institute of Open Schooling where he developed an aptitude for photography. It was here that he met a British filmmaker who was making a documentary on SBT. Vicky began to serve as his assistant documenting the atrocious lives of Delhi’s street kids. He learnt several tricks of fine photography besides fixing the tripod for the photographer, loading camera rolls, and arranging boisterous street kids together in a pose.

When Vicky turned 18, he had to leave SBT, but was soon hired as assistant to a well-known photographer who became his mentor, teaching Vicky about lighting and other photography concepts.

Photography was now Vicky’s profession. Street life and street kids were his favourite themes. In 2007, his 25-odd photographs were selected by The India Habitat Gallery in New Delhi. The exhibition titled ‘Street Dreams’ was sponsored by the British High Commission and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). He sold seven photos, each for Rs 10,000.

In 2008, he was chosen for a six-month residency at the International Centre for Photography, New York, and given access to the World Trade Centre (WTC) site. His work was exhibited at WTC 7, and won the Duke of Edinburgh Award; he was invited to lunch with Prince Edward at Buckingham Palace. This was the first time that he had heard of the palace.

Vicky began to give back to society. He started a photo library, Rang, that organizes photography workshops for children in schools and shelters. Located at Ojas Art Gallery in Mehrauli, it has high-quality books on photography accessible to everyone.

In 2013, Vicky took part in a National Geographic Channel (NGC) organized reality show. Somebody spotted him on TV from his village Purulia, and he was soon reunited with his mother and siblings.

Today, the 30-year-old is an acclaimed freelance photographer in India and around the world. His photographs have now travelled across several countries. His book Home Street Home showcases the best of his work. He says: “If you want to do something in your life then you will always have to work hard; there is no shortcut to success. If you want to make your dreams come true, keep an eye on them. By fleeing the fears of obstacles, you will never succeed.”

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Balaknama is a newspaper for and by street and working children and is an outcome of neglect and injustice to street and working children across the world. When children did not find space among adults, they decided to pen down their issues and glories, an attempt to change people’s perception and ensuring identity, dignity, and participation of street children.

Their journey began on 9 July 2002, when Balaknama was born to ensure voice of street children in society and the system. It was published in September 2003 in Hindi on a quarterly basis, and an English (translated) version was initiated from 2014. It received a mention in the Limca Book of Records in December 2015. Since January 2016, it is being published on a monthly basis, the original in Hindi, translated in English.

The story

In May 2002, something happened at a residential workshop in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, that changed the lives of thousands of street and working children in North India. A leadership-building workshop was organized by Delhi-based NGO, Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (CHETNA). It was attended by 35 street and working children from different parts of Delhi who decided that they had to join together to empower other street children around for their well-being. The attempt resulted in the formation of a federation of street and working children called Badthe Kadam (Stepping Forward).

During the meeting, the children realized that people in general know very less about issues of street and working children. The issues that attract media attention are those of a child on the street committing a crime or doing something that is not considered ‘social’, whereas it never gives attention to when a street child saves someone’s life or does a good deed. With this an idea clicked — they could have their own space, their own newsletter. So, Balaknama (Voice of the Children), the world’s first newspaper by street and working children in the world, came into existence.

The functioning

They collect stories: They collect a range of stories from case studies to social and legal developments concerning the lives of street children. Constant interaction with around 10,000 members of Badhte Kadam helped them gather stories from the streets of seven districts in North India, as seen through the eyes of the children themselves. These stories are validated through field visits.

They write: The team comprises of children who are/have been on the streets. Each story involves extensive brainstorming and team work for which editorial meetings are held regularly. A storyboard is then prepared for the final production.

They distribute: Balaknama is distributed amongst dedicated clients, children living on the streets, admirers, common people, in markets, at NGOs, civil societies and government authorities. All events/opportunities that carry the scope of developing interest amongst different stakeholders concerning the well-being of street and working children are also used for the distribution of Balaknama.

The team

The Balaknama team consists of young children who either lived or are presently living life under difficult circumstances. These children have witnessed hardships in life, but their courage has converted them into reporters who are hungry for change. The team consists of an advisor, an editor, a sub-editor, seven reporters and thirty Batuni reporters (who give the lead for the story but can’t read or write). The team is spread into seven districts of northern India and meets weekly for editorial meeting.

Balaknama, the newspaper

Balaknama is printed each month — 5000 copies in Hindi and 3000 in English. Team members are encouraged and are given a stipend to pursue their formal education. Balaknama is gaining popularity nationally and internationally and has been covered more than 150 times by various media sources. It has become a means of empowerment for more than 400 street and working children who have given their time since its inception. Its readers are street children, parents, police, duty-bearers, authorities, NGOs, INGOs, common people, etc.

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