I Suffered Through Verbal Abuses And Dog Bites As A Rag Picker, But I Wasn’t One To Give Up

“I was only 5 when I started working. I would perform street magic shows with my father all day and sometimes even at night. It was our only means of survival and this is the reality for most children living in the slums — they have no option but to work to make it to the next day. However, one day, my father passed away suddenly. I didn’t know how we were going to earn money, so at the age of 7, I started working as a rag picker. At a time when I should have been learning and studying, the responsibility to take care of my family fell on my shoulders.

Those were very difficult times. I suffered through verbal abuses, dog bites, and was even sent to police custody because I was falsely accused of stealing. But I had no other option, I had to continue working as a rag picker. Once again, life had something else in store for me — and this time, it was a silver lining. While I was working one day, I met a few volunteers who were teaching children from the slums. It was an NGO called Badhte Kadam, and because of their educational program, I finally started studying. I was 10 years old and didn’t know how to even hold a pencil, but I wasn’t one to give up. I started engaging in different activities they had, and before I knew it, I was the National Secretary of Badhte Kadam. Little did I know that it was only the beginning of my journey.

Having seen so many hardships myself, I wanted to ensure that no other child from the slums suffers so much. I always knew I wanted to make a difference. And then I met Dev. We soon realised how similar our journeys have been and much our goals aligned. Thus, Voice of Slum was born — with an aim to give these children access to healthcare, education and shelter. Whether it’s feeding them nutritious meals or teaching them skill development, we want to help slum children break barriers and ensure they reach their full potential.

It’s been over 5 years since we started and there has been no looking back! I’m so grateful to be able to reach out to so many children. Today, all I want is to see them thrive and have the best life possible. And they will always have my support along the way.”

- Chandni Khan, Co-founder, Voice of Slum