CRY – Child Rights and You

Way back in the 1970s, Rippan Kapur, a young airline purser, was driven by the extraordinary dream to see a day when no Indian child would be deprived of rights as basic as survival, participation, protection and development.

In 1979 Rippan and 6 friends started CRY with Rs 50 around his mother’s dining table. They felt that something needed to be done to improve the situation of the underprivileged Indian child. Uncharacteristically, given their backgrounds and motivations, they chose not to start a grassroots-level implementing organization working directly with and for underprivileged children. They opted instead to make CRY a link between the millions of Indians who could provide resources and thousands of dedicated people and organizations at the grassroots-level who are struggling to function for lack of them.

Although Rippan passed away in 1994, his vision for underprivileged children ensures that CRY continues to grow.

At CRY, we are committed to our vision for a happy, healthy and creative childhood for every child. Over the course of the next 10 years, and to continue to make children and their rights a priority, we have reiterated goals that CRY as an organization is committed to strive for. These include ensuring children in CRY-supported projects have access to free and quality education, primary healthcare and are safe from violence, abuse and exploitation. We will also work towards reducing the rate of child malnutrition and make sure children’s voices are recognized in issues that affect them Along with our project partners, CRY ensures that the government fulfills their duty by providing the necessary infrastructure and services as per the needs of the people and at the best quality possible. We believe that the best interest of the child needs to be put at the center of all policy, legislation and practices affecting their lives.