New Delhi: Prayas, an Indian NGO that works for street children and marginalised youth, is all set to launch two international chapters in the US and Britain to gather support from Indians settled there.

"We will be starting two international chapters of Prayas Children International at Manchester and Washington. There is a huge Indian community in both these countries, which wants to do a lot for India," Amod K. Kanth, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and founder secretary of Prayas, said in a statement here Wednesday.

"We will be reaching out to not only to NRI's (non-resident Indians) but to people from all walks of life for advocating for less privileged population," he added.

Actor Shatrughan Sinha, president of Prayas, and Kanth would be visiting several cities across Britain and the US to meet parliamentarians, social activists and NRIs to garner support for the organisation.

During their visit, a special event called 'Cruise for a Cause' would be held near the Thames river in London June 21 in aid of India's marginalized children.

"Amod Kanth will visit the White House June 30 for a discussion with officials and is likely to meet US first lady (Laura Bush)," said Rajib K. Haldar, executive director and joint secretary of Prayas Institute of Juvenile Justice.

Laura Bush had in March 2006 visited Prayas and appreciated its model of alternative education and counter-trafficking.

Established in 1988, Prayas has 227 community-based centres across India that work for neglected and disadvantaged street children, besides for the economic empowerment of marginalised youth and women.

It also runs integrated programmes of alternative education, vocational training, health, shelter and interventions against abuse and exploitation of children.

 

Source : IANS