NT NETWORK
The Pitch Black project that witnessed an overwhelming response in the year 2008 has once again left an impression on people’s minds. This year, the Pitch black project II organised by the CreatiWitty works in association with Jan Ugahi Trust (NGO), Margao

was held at the Dinanath Mangueshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy. This event began with an impressive dance, where dancers showed their creativity with abundance. Later the children performed on the song ‘Lakdi Ki Kathi’ which depicted the suffering, poverty and struggle of street children.
The Jan Ugahi Trust brought out the truth in front of the spellbound audience through their fact finding research. The presentation revealed statistics of an increase in street children. The sufferings and miseries faced by these children were also shown during the performance. A dance where the children where blind-folded was also performed on the song ‘Aa maine chukar dekha hai’ from the movie ‘Black’ which highlighted the profound beauty that we often overlook.
The children who were given shelter at the Jan Ugahi Trust came up on the stage and shared their life stories. A victim of domestic violence, Clavina, a ten-year-old revealed how her father who was a drunkard used to beat her. One day, he even threw her into the fire with the help of her brother. The father also attempted to murder the girl’s mother but in order to save her life sought shelter elsewhere. It was only a neighbour who saved the girl by sending her to Jan Ugahi, public charitable trust.
Another rescued child was a victim of the Gujarat earthquake of 2001. Tara after the earthquake was sent to a boarding school of the same trust. Till now, she has not seen her parents. Her mother was in a state of shock after the earthquake. Her father had a hard life and migrated to Hyderabad and then to Goa. Since then, they have not visited their daughter.
Moved by the whole scenario, installation artist, Subodh Kerkar remarked “very rarely we see reality. This presentation showed me reality and not drama,” said Subodh. He quoted Rabindranath Tagore from one of his poems ‘what is this unseen flame of darkness whose sparks are the stars?’ “I see here the unseen flame of darkness,” said Subodh.
The Chief Guest for the function, Ms Valenca Alemao offered her support and guidance to such needy children, adding “Together we can all make a difference and bring a smile on their face.” 
After the performances of children who were glowing in their apparel, they danced together in their imitable style to the song ‘Taare Zameen Par’.
The carefree innocence of children had nothing much in possession but definitely had a lot to give that day. Children dressed in white attire expressed themselves through the song ‘Dreams of Fire’. 
The Jan Ugahi through power point presentation spoke of their activities that had now become a beacon of life of these street children.
A play performed explained how children were abused by drug users and paedophiles.
They informed that by dialling the child rights number 1098 one can actually help rescue children from any harm being done to them. The co-founder of Jan Ugahi, Ms Bernette D’souza explained that the abundant use of black colour in costumes was chosen to symbolise the dreaded darkness that was there in the children’s life and the darkness they fear in each moment.