Due to the normalcy created around children roaming aimlessly on the streets and living without any guardians, it has become a norm to see street and working children without any alarms going off. Unfortunately, India still has millions of children roaming the streets, where most do not receive any intervention from government bodies or adults around them. Rescue of street children is yet to be more organized and effectual, in order to rescue millions of street children in India. Sadly, despite the fact that UNICEF has declared that children living on the streets constitute of the most vulnerable group of children in the country, the situation hasn’t gotten much better.
Street Life
There are innumerable children who live on the streets as a life choice that is surely misguided. Children barely understand the repercussions of fending for themselves, sans guardianship or protection of any other kind. Children live from meal to meal where they earn daily wages and often practise job-hopping due to lack of skills and most importantly, being illegally employed due to their underage status. From begging on the streets to working at dhabas, from becoming household help to assisting the street vendors, street children take on any/all odd jobs that pay them a living.
Harsh Realities
Children often end up becoming ill due to hazardous environments that act as their make-do shelters. From living near landfills to dried up lakes, from dingy areas under flyovers to filth-ridden city streets, disadvantaged children end up living with invisible identities that get lost in the hustle bustle of the city.
The underprivileged children need privileged folks to stand up for them, and speak up for those who do not have a voice in the society. If you’re one of the good samaritans who wants to donate for the education of children or any other basic necessities that they are deprived of, get in touch with Salaam Baalak Trust. The non profit organisation has empowered thousands of street children, and continues to provide them with safe and loving shelter homes. Take the plunge to help uplift the disadvantaged children of India.
