By Author: Ujjwal Verma, 2nd year student at BR Ambedkar University, Delhi.
Abstract
This paper aims to highlight the “hidden truths” about the life of street children. We all think in a similar manner in the context of these children, like they are suffering, sad, not happy, etc. but the reason and reality is completely different. Similarly, they are easily influenced to work in a factories which led to forced labor and sexual abuse. Mostly, they are neglected which makes it challenging to protect them and to provide essential services like education and healthcare. In the contemperary era, homelessness particularly in children promote a kind of slavery i.e forced labour and sexual abuse because they easily get influenced. As estimated by the last census of the government of India, street children were 1.8 million.[1]
Introduction
child labour and forced labour majorly seen as social evil. It creates a vicious circle of poverty. It is prevalent in under-developed and developed countries. In India this problem is alarming, it is estimated that roughly five out of every one child below the age of 14 years are laborers[2]. Social and economic conditions of family is the foundational step impacting the life of children. The constitutional framers were aware of socio-economic conditions prevalent in india. They added provision for protection of child labour in Part 3, Article 24 of indian constitution says: “No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed in work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous places. Similarly Article 23, prohibits trafficking in human beings, including forced labor and slavery. However with the advent of neoliberalism, the conditions of nations revolved around market fundamentalism rather than a welfare state. This is also one of the reasons for this problem because it fulfills the needs of the market. In India, this is majorly categorized in the fields of industrial, domestic and bonded labor. The causes behind this inhumane practises includes factors like poverty, homelessness, illiteracy, debt trap, economic pressure on family, lack of quality education and child labour awareness, weak and poorly enforced legislation, etc[3]. Consequently this problem has a far reaching impact in the life of children including, Health risk, Education deprivation, Stunted development, Loss of Human Capital and Social Disintegration.
The Hidden Lives of Street Children
Street children, as defined by the United Nations (UN), who are either working or living on the streets, children whose families are homeless, or children who have fled their homes and are now homeless. All around the world, street children live on city streets and public squares. Because they are in the open, they are among the most noticeable. Yet, ironically, they are also among the most “invisible”, which makes it challenging to protect them and to provide essential services like education and healthcare. These groups of children are “hidden”and not placed in national census, education, or health data, mostly because they don’t have a permanent address. They are more likely to indulge in activities which stunted the growth of children, impose liability on nation (if not taken care of and developing capacity of that childrens) and creating immoral tasks like crime, sexual abuse, drug trafficking, and theft, etc[4].
However , they go through various challenges in their day to day activities like selling goods on traffic signals, begging, car washing and Rag picking, etc. These create a threat to their livelihood and sometimes accidents.
Forced Labor among street children: A Nuanced Approach
The Author conducted a survey near Netaji Subhash Place flyover. And found astonishing answers from all the street children covered under the survey. Roshan, Shivam and Sandeep are living under the shelter of a flyover. Where they work as street vendors, rag pickers, etc. They left school in 5th class due to the economic conditions of their families. My personal observation is that the psychological condition of these children is not their own rather it has been constructed through birth. They don’t even know about basic necessities, they are afraid to talk to other people, they live in unhygienic and unhealthy conditions. Although the government and various NGOs are working in that direction, the ground implementation and awareness is very minimal. I raised a simple question i.e “ क्या तुम अपनी ज़िंदगी में खुश हो” ? And the answer I received from all these children, destroyed my prejudices i.e they are not happy and need change,etc. On the contrary, they answered that they are happy in their life and didn’t want to change their lives. This may be because they are habitual of the task they are doing since childhood and also the role of parenting determines the direction of the future of children. The personal observation of their parents was focused on earning to live their life. This is the reason they forced their children to earn. Another important point which I want to highlight is, the force which is used to compel these children for work sometimes is not visible or we can call it internal force which is guided by external factors. This is the reason for their vulnerability and is easily influenced by factory owners. Need to Broaden the understanding of forced labor so that it not only includes external force by some individual but also includes internal forces. which manufactured the consent of individual children. So ultimately what children answer in this survey, actually that is not their answer. It is a construct of their society.
Prevalence and impact of sexual abuse on street children
Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of Children) Act, 2015 identifies street children as “childrens in need of care and protection”. Street Children who get sexually abused have no sense of what has happened to them is wrong and that they can also raise their voice against it, since they have never been provided with the sense of security. Living in an open unprotected environment they’re most vulnerable to sexual and substance abuse. Having no awareness of their rights leaves them at misery and at the mercy of strangers. They become an easy target for perpetrators to exploit as they wish and take advantage of these children on streets.
Mission Vatsalya Scheme an initiative launched by the Ministry of Women and Child protection in 2009 to protect the child in difficult situations. Their motto is “ Leave no child behind”. They provide institutionalized and non institutionalized care to the childrens in need and protection of childrens from sexual offenses.
But how far has this scheme been effectively working ?
Budget brief of the center for research policy presents the fund allocation by government of India to Mission Vatsalya in the financial year of 2023-24 is 1,472 cr. According to their report by the march of 2022 , 76,118 children of our country were provided with care and protection under this mission, 77,615 children in 2021 and 77,765 during year of 2019-20 the gradual decrease in number of children is a positive sign that there are less children on street and in danger.[5] Even after this much work done by the government for the street children, one question that still conflicts my mind is, ‘How many people are aware of these schemes presented by the government, why do these childrens feel satisfied with their conditions?’
Forced Labor Among Street Children: Case Study
Millions of children worldwide are impacted by the serious problem of child labor, which frequently robs them of their youth, potential, and education. These young childrens are compelled to labor in dangerous environments, which can be damaging to their bodily and mental health. A 10 year old girl was working at residence of an airline pilot and she was subjected to physical abuse by the employer and his wife, who later got arrested[6] and another example of 11 year old Ali whose father died in a road accident and now in order to make a living for himself and his mother he used to work at a factory from the age of 9.[7] Child labor has several underlying factors, such as socioeconomic inequality, poverty, and limited access to high-quality education. Enforcement of international rules and regulations intended to end this practice is still difficult in many places. A comprehensive strategy is needed to address child labor, one that includes strengthening family economic standing, providing accessible, high-quality education, and strictly enforcing child safety legislation.
Conclusion
Though organizations like the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, legal provisions and constitutional rights seek to safeguard vulnerable children, especially street children. But even with constitutional protections vulnerable children faced multiple challenges. The major reason for the exploitation of street children is lack of awareness of their rights. The development of a country is not only measured in terms of quantitative changes like infrastructure, dams, roads, etc. but capability and human development also play a pivotal role in holistic development of a country. Which is only possible through an inclusive developmental approach. If these children are neglected for long periods of time then it adversely affects the other because “criminals are not born, they are made”. There is a need to strengthen and advocate transparency and accountability in government policy for proper implementation.
[1] Srivastava, Mona shareef, Nasra, Plight of Street Children An Explorative Study from Varanasi, India, Indian Journal of Public Health,(2016), https://journals.lww.com/ijph/fulltext/2016/60040/plight_of_street_children__an_explorative_study.8.aspx#O5-8-3.
[2] O.P Maurya, CHILD LABOUR IN INDIA, 36, JSTOR. 493, 492-498, (2001).
[3] Understanding the Main Causes of Child Labour in India, CHILD RIGHT AND YOU, (Nov. 21, 2023), https://www.cry.org/blog/causes-of-child-labour-in-india/#:~:text=Poverty,a%20means%20of%20economic%20survival.
[4] Dr.Dharmendra Manderwal, et.al, An Overlooked Demography Of Street Children And Their Social Issues In Jaipur City: Observational Study, (2023), file:///C:/Users/pc/Downloads/JPNR+-+S02+,+2023+-+193.pdf.
[5] Mission vatsalya, 15, Centre for Policy Research 1, 1-8, (2024).
[6] Abhay Singh, Child Labour Cases Spike in Delhi, THE TIMES OF INDIA (Jul. 27, 2023), https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/child-labour-cases-spike-in-delhi/articleshow/102153564.cms.
[7] Alvi Khan, Child Labor Interview, Prezi (Oct. 24, 2013), https://prezi.com/vqdafbgipljf/child-labour-interview/.