MelJol aims at developing responsible citizenship amongst children through Child Rights Education. According to MelJol, good citizenship involves a commitment to democratic values and responsible partnership in the process of change, understanding existing diversity and believing in equal rights for all. MelJol believes that children have rights and linked to these rights have responsibilities which they need to be made aware of. It is only when children are aware of their rights that they can respect the rights of everything in the environment (living and non living). MelJol therefore seeks to develop children’s citizenship skills by focusing on their rights and responsibilities and providing them opportunities to contribute positively to their environment.Thus, ‘Equal Rights, Opportunities and Respect for all,’ forms the basis of MelJol’s philosophy. MelJol was initiated in 1991, as a field action project of the Department of Family and Child Welfare, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). MelJol is registered under the Societies Registration Act (1860) and Bombay Public Trust Act (1950).

The Aflatoun Child Savings Programme, implemented by MelJol in India provides children with the building blocks of life, encouraging them to save their resources and start social and financial micro enterprises.