CRY supports the rights of socially and economically deprived children through two central means: the provision of direct assistance to grassroots initiatives through its Development Support Unit, and advocacy and awareness-raising projects conducted for the public through its Communications and Youth Wing division. Specifically, in terms of the former, CRY has provided various kinds of support (including funding and material support) to organisations who engage in direct action with children, who are committed to community mobilisation toward the achievement of children's rights, and who are motivated to pursue advocacy efforts with government bodies to influence policy framing and implementation. CRY also conducts training programmes for these organisations in education, health, and project and financial management. CRY maintains a close relationship with these organisations and the projects they develop through field visits and quarterly reports submitted by project partners.

CRY's Documentation Center offers national and international resource and training materials, periodicals, bulletins, and updates to the public, as well as to individuals and organisations who would like to receive the same for a nominal fee. CRY publications for sale include "The Indian Child" (1999 and 2001 editions) - an information base on child rights for use by academicians, media professionals, development workers, policy makers, and the public) and "Childhood Matters Series" - a series exploring CRY-partnered initiatives.

A second important focus of CRY is on building awareness and inspiring action among the general public. In addition to the materials available in the Documentation Center, CRY reaches out to young people through its Youth Wing. This initiative is designed to sensitise privileged children and youth to the situation of underprivileged Indian children. Visits to schools and colleges that feature creative and interactive modules are conducted.

Children, Child Rights.

Founder of CRY Rippan Kapur (1954-1994) explains that CRY was established "in response to the unjust situation of children that we see every day. Children living in the most inhuman conditions, deprived of the most basic means of sustenance. Children living unsheltered on our city streets, or working 10 hours a day as the bonded property of money lending landowners. Children who do not know what it means to have a childhood."

The two main sources of funding for CRY are donations and proceeds from sales of its products, which include greeting cards, stationery, and calendars. In addition, products are created by NGOs working primarily with underprivileged women and children. These products are sold in The CRY Shop in Mumbai.

CRY has partnered over 100,000 individuals and organisations whose resources have enabled more than 300 child-development initiatives across the country, and impacted over a million underprivileged children.