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Sraboni is a motherless, 13-year-old girl with two older siblings. Her father works in a flower shop of Sealdah Station in Kolkata and until recently, Sraboni also used to spend her days and nights there - sleeping on the hard concrete floor near the stand.
She initially made contact with the staff at CINI’s Night Shelter three years ago. Arrangements were made for her to go into an education programme, but her father forbade it.
By mid 2006, Sraboni became addicted to heroin. Her personality changed dramatically – from a pleasant girl eager to progress in life to a defiant, angry and indifferent person.
After considerable counselling, it became evident that she came from an abusive, dysfunctional home which made her feel both angry and helpless. She wanted to give up drugs, but she was unable to do so. She received considerable emotional support and assurance from the staff of CINI as well as information about substance abuse.
After a lengthy period of support in terms of care and support from the staff, Sraboni is now a regular at CINI's night shelter programme. She participates enthusiastically in all the activities of the centre. Her father has also received counselling and has now given consent to let her move to a permanent educational programme.
Sraboni is now a confident and self-assured young girl with a much brighter future.
(Please note that names have been changed to protect the identify of the child.)
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