Balaknama
| Type | Monthly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Founder(s) |
|
| Founded | September 2003 |
| Language | Hindi,English |
| Circulation | 8,000 (as of May 2023)[1] |
| Website | balaknama |
Balaknama(Hindi:बालकनामा,romanized:Bālakanāmā,lit. 'The voice of the children') is an Indian newspaper which is run by children living in the slums ofDelhi.It reports on issues such assexual abuse,child labourandpolice brutality.
History
[edit]Balaknamawas launched in September 2003[2]by Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action (Chetna), an Indian charity, with the organisation Badhte Kadam (Hindi for "Stepping Forward" ) to report on the estimated 80,000 street children living inDelhi.[1]It launched with just 35 reporters,[3]and initially published as a quarterly newspaper.[4]
In October 2013,Balaknamahad only four pages, with plans to increase the page count to eight. The paper published a 10th anniversary edition in colour for the first time.[5]That November, its story was made into a TV documentary titled "Slumkid Reporters". The documentary aired onChannel 4.[6]
In November 2014, the paper published its first English edition. Its lead story on child beggars being forced to drag dead bodies garnered significant attention in Delhi.[7]Its circulation was 4,000 in that year.[8]
In 2015, the paper's circulation increased to 5,500. By that point, its page count had increased to eight.[8]
By December 2015, the paper's network had expanded to seven cities across India, with over 10,000 children working for the paper. It was covering events in a wide range of cities, includingAgra,Delhi,Gwalior,Jhansi,MathuraandNoida,and its readership was believed to be in the tens of thousands.[3]The paper had 14 regular reporters inDelhiitself and many others inUttar Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh,andHaryana,with illiterate children contributing by dictating their stories to other reporters.[9]In the same month,India TodaycalledBalaknamathe "world's unique newspaper for and by street and working children".[10]
In January 2016, the number of regular reporters fell to five due to a lack of funds for the paper. In response, it started relying on the concept of abatoonireporter, who narrates their stories for a writer to write down.[11]In April,Balaknama's team consisted of about 60 reporters. By that point, it had shifted to publishing monthly editions.[12]
In March 2022, it published its 100th edition.[4]As of February 2023, the paper's circulation consists of over 5,000 Hindi and 3,000 English copies per month.[2]
Coverage
[edit]Balaknamareports on the lives of street children, exploring issues likesexual abuse,child labourandpolice brutality,[3][1]and highlighting stories of hope and positive change.[2]The paper has also campaigned to provide street children with identity cards for proof of residence.[1]
In June 2015, the paper reported on achild marriage.In response, local activists held protests, forcing the police to intervene to prevent the marriage from taking place.[12]
In November 2015, the paper's reporters conducted a survey of children living on Delhi's streets, finding that as many as 1,320 children were living on the streets. A reporter for the paper said, "We wanted to tell the police and the government that a proper count of street children was possible. If we can do it with limited resources, so can they when they have all the manpower and resources available to them."[8]
In 2016, the paper reported that street children were being enlisted by police to remove dead bodies from railway tracks in Agra. Mainstream coverage of the report led to a public outcry, with the National Committee for Protection of Child Rights taking action against the police.[13][2]
Operation
[edit]Balaknamais completely staffed by children who live and work on the streets,[3]and is edited by Chetna volunteers.[9]The children receive training as reporters and editors.[8]About 90 reporters gather and send news stories to four writers and editors, who then verify and write the stories. Editorial meetings are held every month.[1]
Balaknamapublishes in eight-pagetabloidformat.[1]The copy is first written in Hindi and then translated to English.[12]Funding is provided by Chetna, and through private donations and advertising.[1]
In 2017, the children running the paper started publishing articles to over 5,000 readers usingWhatsAppand email.[14]In October 2022, the paper announced that it would be launching aYouTubechannel in 2023.[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefgSunder, Kalpana (12 May 2023)."Streets ahead: a landmark for the Delhi newspaper run by homeless children".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on 28 May 2023.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^abcd"'Balaknama', a newspaper run by street children ".The Hindu.17 February 2023.ISSN0971-751X.Archivedfrom the original on 19 March 2023.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^abcdSultan, Zainab (27 December 2015)."India's slum kid reporters tell stories of street life".Al Jazeera.Archivedfrom the original on 9 August 2020.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^abAgarwal, Priyangi (5 March 2022)."Balaknama, for and by streetkids: Tabloid depicting struggles brings out 100th edition".The Times of India.ISSN0971-8257.Archivedfrom the original on 25 April 2022.Retrieved29 May2023.
- ^Sharma, Neha (7 October 2013)."Street kid reporters document perils of life in Delhi's slums".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2013.Retrieved29 May2023.
- ^Greenslade, Roy (31 October 2013)."The 'slumkid reporters' telling of children's street life in India".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 15 December 2016.Retrieved14 December2016.
- ^Ganguly, Nivedita (17 January 2015)."'Badhte Kadam'... there's no looking back ".The Hindu.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved31 May2023.
- ^abcdBasu, Anasuya (29 December 2015)."The street children who run a newspaper in India".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 22 June 2021.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^abSharma, Manoj."Balaknama: Making headlines that matter".Hindustan Times.Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2016.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^"These children run Balaknama, a newspaper of their own. What's your excuse?".India Today.30 December 2015.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^Trivedi, Divya (20 January 2016)."Notes from the street".Frontline.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2021.Retrieved30 May2023.
- ^abcVenkatraman, Shai (14 April 2016)."Meet the street children making their own newspaper in India".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archivedfrom the original on 17 May 2023.Retrieved29 May2023.
- ^Qadri, Haziq (25 October 2022)."India's street kids rarely make headlines – so they write their own".The Christian Science Monitor.ISSN0882-7729.Archivedfrom the original on 25 May 2023.Retrieved28 May2023.
- ^Suri, Manveena; Khan, Omar (1 May 2017)."The Indian newspaper giving street children a voice".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on 4 October 2022.Retrieved29 May2023.
- ^"Street children's newspaper Balaknama going digital; plans to launch YouTube channel next year".The Times of India.23 October 2022.ISSN0971-8257.Retrieved28 May2023.