Street Children - Whose Responsibility?

Street Children – whose responsibility?

The street children syndrome is one of the most traumatic social maladies affecting many countries across the globe and is on the rise. They are the unfortunate ones who have been rendered homeless to face their own destiny with nobody to look after them. It is by and large seen that street children emanate from the lower strata of society where the families are afflicted by poverty and struggle for survival. In other cases they are the offshoots of the changes that are taking place in urban and semi urban societies, on account of the rapid rate of development and growth. Street children are present not only in developing countries such as India, China, Indonesia, Fiji, South Africa and so on but also in developed countries like Russia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan etc. As per the reports of UNICEF published in 2009, there were 150 million street children across the globe in the age group of three to eighteen, of which 40% were homeless and 60% work on streets owing to poverty.

The problems surrounding this issue are far deep rooted than what one can possibly comprehend. To address this and to determine the responsibility factor, one has to look at the basic causes. Many a time children are abandoned by their own parents. This could be the result of teenage or unwanted pregnancies; or sheer monetary crunch for livelihood which has forced them to show the streets to their kids. In some cases they are victims of child abuse, whilst in others they may have run away from home as a means of escapism from domestic violence. Family upheavals resulting out of alcohol abuse, conflicts between parents is another major cause. In many other cases they are AIDS orphans.

These children are denied their basic human right to sustenance, education, and nurture. They are illiterate, ignorant and bewildered as to how to earn their livelihood. Hence they resort to begging to earn a few cents. They are forced to seek menial jobs in other informal sectors of the society. Sometimes they are lured into prostitution and pornography. Street children thus bear the brunt of acute social abuse and exploitation. They take to drugs, alcohol and violence. They are denied basic medical care and from a humanitarian angle, this is not at all a healthy sign for any country. Some of these children could be talented but may not realize their own potential. Hence, from an economic point of view too, these children are a gross waste and neglect of productive human resources.

This social concern needs to be addressed at an early stage itself, assuming that it is not too late already. Otherwise it can perpetrate more social evils such as crime, violence, petty thefts, vandalism etc.

Let’s ask ourselves the million dollar question - ‘Whose responsibility are they?’ Well, the primary responsibility vests with the parents and each and every law abiding citizen. Starting from there and moving upwards they are the joint responsibility of the governing bodies, the local council, district, suburb, town and city ending with the government. The government through NGO’s could identify smart street kids and help them to learn a skill and develop a vocation. In fact, an NGO in India has helped a group of enthusiastic children and trained them in traffic control procedures. Today one can find them as traffic assistants trying to control the congestion. In a country like Fiji, which thrives on tourism these children can be trained to operate as tour guides. This will help them earn a decent livelihood. Rehabilitation and trauma centers should counsel such children and show them the path for a secure future. Community support groups should volunteer in this mission. Most importantly parents and families have to be counseled and trained about their role and responsibilities. Training centers attached to NGO’s should take up this cause and spread awareness of AIDS and other communicable diseases affecting the younger generation in the country.

In a remote village of Chibombo district in Zambia, the Development Aid from people to people {DAPP}, a local NGO, recognised the problem of street kids and helped a number of children lead normal lives. They went to the extent of providing a thatched hut for these children initially and then established a settlement for them, coined as the Children’s Town. When all are under one roof, it becomes much easier to implement programs for their benefit.
We need to understand that street children differ from orphans with a normal family background. Due to their unhealthy habits and alcohol/drug addiction and other psychological problems they need specific attention and help. It is vital to create establishments where such children can be housed, a place where their physical, mental, social and spiritual treatment can be initiated. Help activities by non-governmental organizations do get complicated when the children’s parents are living. In such cases these children cannot be taken under government custody unless and until their background and parental rights are clarified, so as to avoid any complications. This is when the Government has to step in with regulatory measures to ease the reform process. Sadly nothing seems to be happening and it is appalling to note that the Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 prevalent in India remains in books and those who are supposed to enforce it have not even heard about it.
Media is the best forum to open people’s eyes and mind to such issues. However we find that the Indian media is busy sensationalizing and making sure nobody forgets the minute details of the never ending scams and scandals but how many of us can think of local news channel that constantly reminds its citizens of humanitarian issues and make the people think as to what can be done as a collective body?
NGOs and individuals are putting in their might to ensure that the rights of these children are not suppressed. However the problem of street kids is growing so fast that those involved in getting children out of the streets certainly deserve a pat on the back.
Readers – it is for you to make a choice and work towards making a difference in their lives. Each one of us can do it and we have to wake up to this cause, if we still have not 