How can parents abandon their newborn children? What thoughts cross their minds when they leave a helpless baby on the streets, in a dustbin, or elsewhere? This heartbreaking reality raises many questions about humanity and the circumstances to do such work. The increasing number of street children in our country and around the world is a critical issue. Knowing the cause and researching the solution is a way to solve the raising problem.
According to the Child Protection Centers and Services (CPCS) report, there are about 5,000 street children across Nepal, with around 1,500 of them living in the streets of capital city “Kathmandu”. These children live, work, and play under the open sky, exposed to the severe realities of life. Most of the children work as ragpickers, bus helpers, while others depend upon peers on the streets to survive. Statistics reveal that 86% of these children work as ragpickers during the day, while the rest work at night. Alarmingly, 15% of street children have never attended school, and only 9% have completed primary education. Despite these harsh realities, about 89% of people believe that various organizations are working to uplift street children by enhancing their knowledge and improving their economic conditions.
Family issues remain the most significant factor, with 71% of children leaves their homes due to violence, neglect, or other domestic problems. Peer influence accounts for 27.1%, while 19.6% migrate due to severe economic condition. Unfortunately, many of these children face sexual abuse after moving to the streets, with perpetrators including foreigners (10.7%), Nepali males (8.3%), Nepali females (3.6%), and third-gender individuals (2.7%). Despite increasing literacy rates, family violence continues to be a leading cause of children migrating to the streets. This raises critical questions: Why is family violence still so prevalent? Is our education system failing to address these issues effectively? Why hasn’t the government implemented more robust measures to protect these children?
Life on the streets is very difficult with different challenges. Children living on the streets do not get basic needs like shelter, food and clothes. The are harassed by different criminal gangs, police, street dogs and even public. Moreover, many of the children are attracted to different harmful substances like drug, alcohol and tobacco, which further make their challenging life stressful. The lack of a structured and supportive environment deteriorates physical and mental health of children.
The Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens had introduced a model procedure titled “Procedure on Expenditure for Management of Street Children.” This title aims to operate programmes for rescue, protection, family and social rehabilitation, reunion, reintegration, psycho-social counselling and socialization, among others. It objects to create an environment where no child is forced to live a neglected life on the streets. While this initiative holds promise, its implementation is hindered by bureaucratic disputes and a lack of collaboration among the three levels of government. Much of the work is still dependent on international organizations, leaving critical gaps in local efforts to control and educate people about the difficulty of street children and their effects on society.
To tackle this growing issue, in-depth approach is necessary. It can be solved by addressing family violence and offering financial aid to struggling families. Adding skills and emotional learning in school curriculums can empower children to deal with challenges easily. Moreover, awareness campaigns can educate society about the causes and consequences of street migration and community-based programs, including shelters, food banks, and skill development initiatives, can help to reinstall street children into society. Ultimately, enforcing laws against child labor, abuse, and exploitations play crucial role to protect these children from further harm.
Every child deserves a safe and supportive environment. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child is left to protect for themselves on the streets. Together, we can build a society where children are given the opportunity to grow and free from the harsh realities of street life.
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