New Delhi:
A biblical proverb says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” For centuries, people followed this for better upbringing of their children but one might have rarely thought about those less fortunate children, who have no one to look after and for whom life becomes an unwanted adventure.
13-year-old Guddu (name changed) has been living on railway platform in Bhopal and works as a garbage collector. He picks empty water bottles and used aluminium foils to earn his bread. Guddu ran away from home after his step father beat him badly. Now, he resides on the railway platform and sleeps under the foot-over bridge. He has never gone to school but he wants to read books like other children do.
This painful story fits perfectly to hundreds of children living like Guddu. These children fall prey to criminals and become victims of sexual harassment. These crimes permanently affect the innocent mind and soul of children and they hardly overcome the trauma.
A comprehensive report by Vikas Samvad, an NGO working for social advocacy says, “High levels of anxiety resulting through these traumas can even result in self-destructive behaviours. Children and adolescents who have been sexually abused can suffer a range of psychological and behavioural problems, from mild to severe, in both the short and long term.”
Besides recorded crimes, children living with families are also suffering. A large number of children face sexual abuse and torture even by their near ones. These cases are often not reported and children suffer in silence.
Situation is alarming in the central region in India as Madhya Pradesh comes in first place in crimes against children in the country as per the National Crime Records Bureau Report. Madhya Pradesh contributes 18.4 per cent of total crime against children to the national average. Growing number of crime against children clearly shows that tall claims of the government could not improve child safety in the state.
Even the report of state planning commission, a government run body, has exposed the dual face of the government. The report clearly says that there are no concrete arrangements to stop major crimes like rape, murder, sexual abuse, child labour and child marriage.
Trafficking of children, especially girl child trafficking is more prevalent in various parts of the state and nearly 4000 girls are still missing in the state. The commission has also expressed concern on unavailability of women police and a special cell to deal with such sensitive issues.
Apart from crime, poverty is also a major challenge for a dignified life to Children in Madhya Pradesh. Thousands of children have been working as child labourers and the number of such labour is almost the same despite all government schemes. As per NCRB report, 10.65 lakh children in 2001, compared to the 13.52 lakh in 1991, are still working as child labourers in the state which indicates reduction of mere 2.87 lakh in 10 years’ time. Reports further indicate that children belonging to scheduled tribe and scheduled caste, the health, education and other related Human Development Indicators show that their situation is extremely poor.
Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Madhya Pradesh has been dealing with such incidents regularly. Besides incidents of reporter crimes, the commission entertains social issues like domestic abuse and alcoholism in the family. Member of the commission, Vibhanshu Joshi says, studying the impact of alcoholism on families, and how it is breaking families is very important as it is badly affecting children in the modern society. He further says that the state has many schemes but real challenges lies in implementation.
The picture depicted above shows the pathetic condition of child security in the state and if the statistics regarding programme implementation is any indication, then the fate of children in Madhya Pradesh seems to be grim. Guddu is still residing on railway platform with no hopes for future. Our children are in danger and much needs to be done!
