RITIKA BANERJEE
Mr. Hitesh Chaurasia
ritika_b@nid.edu
Project Title: ‘?? ????? ?? ???? ??’ / ‘We Have Always Been Here’
According to the 2011 Census, children constitute nearly 40% of India’s population, with an estimated 35 million identified as being in need of care and protection (CNCP). Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, such children reside in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), yet their lived realities, both within these institutions and after leaving them, remain largely undocumented. This documentary seeks to address this invisibility by examining one of India’s most significant child welfare legislations and its on-ground impact. Through the filmmaker’s personal journey of understanding child rights, the film foregrounds critical questions: who these children are, the circumstances they come from, the opportunities available to them, and the systemic gaps that persist. By engaging multiple societal perspectives, the project reflects on institutionalization and explores how care leavers are supported beyond CCIs, advocating for safer, more equitable, and sustainable life trajectories.
According to the 2011 Census, children constitute nearly 40% of India’s population, with an estimated 35 million identified as being in need of care and protection (CNCP). Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, such children reside in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), yet their lived realities, both within these institutions and after leaving them, remain largely undocumented. This documentary seeks to address this invisibility by examining one of India’s most significant child welfare legislations and its on-ground impact. Through the filmmaker’s personal journey of understanding child rights, the film foregrounds critical questions: who these children are, the circumstances they come from, the opportunities available to them, and the systemic gaps that persist. By engaging multiple societal perspectives, the project reflects on institutionalization and explores how care leavers are supported beyond CCIs, advocating for safer, more equitable, and sustainable life trajectories.
