(VM) As service ends, street children to send out 1,000 telegrams

A thousand telegrams will go out from street children to various authorities, including President Pranab Mukherjee, apprising them about the issues they face, a non-government organisation (NGO) said Thursday.

"Street children from Agra, Delhi, Gwalior, Jhansi and Mathura will be sending telegrams from today (Thursday) till 6 p.m. Monday to various authorities about the issues street children face," Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (CHETNA), an NGO working for street children said in a statement.

Around 1,000 children will be using the telegram service, for the first and last time, as the 163-year-old service ends July 15, as the Department of Posts and Telegraph closes down the service on account of huge losses.

According to CHETNA, the children have come out with various kinds of messages. "Honorable President, please give time to share children's issues and complaints", says one telegram; "Sector 104 Noida government school is not giving us admission, kindly help", pleads another. "Gambling and substance abuse is rampant in our park, stop it", says a telegram, while another seeks spaces to play in: "There are no rides and swings in our park, we want them".

"Making use of telegrams, children want to commemorate India Post for its achievement and emphasise the importance of messages that convey their problems and concerns," Sanjay Gupta, director of CHETNA, said.