Monday Musings: ‘Prayas’ Rose Like a Phoenix from the Ashes
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By Amitabh Srivastava Editor-in-Chief, The India Observer (TIO): The recent devastating fire at a New Delhi guest house, which claimed 21 lives — including eight members of a single family — appears to have exposed much more than systemic failures.
While the media routinely raises questions about lapses in licensing procedures and fire safety systems in the capital, for some, including me, the tragedy also challenges the deeply ingrained belief that a higher power invariably protects good people.
The eight members of the Aggarwal family had gathered at the guest house to remain close to their family patriarch, who was admitted to the ICU of a nearby hospital. While the family head appears to have survived, the relatives who had come to support him — including his wife, daughters, and granddaughter — perished in the blaze.
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Is there a larger design behind such events? Frankly, I am at a loss to solve this puzzle.
Yet, on reflection, I realized this is only half the truth.
History offers several examples where great tragedies have given rise to extraordinary movements of hope and compassion. Unfortunately, in moments of mourning, we often fail to remember them.
The story of the NGO Prayas, founded in June 1988, is one such example.
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The summer of 1988 witnessed several devastating fires in Delhi. One of the most destructive occurred in Jahangirpuri, one of Asia’s largest slum settlements, where hundreds of jhuggis were reduced to ashes.
By evening, several senior Delhi officials had arrived at the site to assess the damage and provide relief. For most, it was another official visit. Among them, however, was Amod K. Kanth, then a young IPS officer serving with the Delhi Police.
What he witnessed left him deeply disturbed.
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The next day, he began thinking about the many children left homeless by the disaster. As part of his duties, Kanth had already been dealing with cases involving missing children and vulnerable youth across Delhi.
With the support of dedicated personnel from the Delhi Police, the Department of Social Work at Delhi University, and the Shramik Vidyapeeth, he established a modest one-room facility to provide food and shelter to affected children. The initiative was named the Prayas Juvenile Aid Society.
These committed volunteers, supported by officials of the Delhi Government, managed to care for the children’s basic needs for nearly three years without even having a bank account, let alone salaries.
As time passed, however, they realized that children required much more than food and shelter to become productive citizens.
Since Delhi University had been part of the original initiative, education became a natural next step. Similarly, the Shramik Vidyapeeth — the vocational training wing of the Ministry of Human Resource Development — began providing skills training to help the children secure meaningful employment after completing their education.
Today, nearly four decades later, Prayas has truly risen from the ashes like a phoenix and continues to expand its reach.
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Having established branches in 12 Indian states and Union Territories, it recently launched a Friends of Prayas group in New Jersey to spread its message of compassion and social responsibility across the globe.
From addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, education, and vocational training, Prayas has evolved into one of India’s most respected advocates for child rights. Through active intervention on the ground and contributions to legislative reforms, the organization has played a significant role in transforming the child rights landscape in the country.
Its work has attracted international attention. Heads of State and delegations from around the world have visited Prayas to understand how India addresses sensitive legal and social issues affecting children.
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Since India endorsed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, Amod K. Kanth has played a pivotal role in promoting its implementation. His expertise in law and child welfare was instrumental during his tenure as the first Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The challenges facing children are far too vast for any single organization to tackle alone. In recent years, Prayas has joined hands with several other groups, including Just Rights, to combat pressing issues such as child marriage and other forms of exploitation.
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The tragic fire in Jahangirpuri destroyed countless homes, but from its ashes emerged an organization that has transformed the lives of thousands of children. In that sense, Prayas remains a powerful reminder that even in humanity’s darkest moments, hope can still find a way to rise.
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