PATNA: Over 25,000 children are living on streets in the state capital. Though boys continue to roam the city streets, over 95% girls vanish from the streets before they turn 12, experts at a seminar said here on Friday.
Sanat Kumar Sinha, chief coordinator, Balsakha, an NGO, said: "It has come to our notice that 95 out of 100 girls disappear from streets before they turn 12. They are probably forced into the flesh trade."
This revelation was made on the second-day of a three-day workshop and training programme on restoration and rehabilitation of street and runaway children in Patna. The programme has been jointly organized by World Vision India (Patna Child Restoration Project) and NGO Disha.
"Everyday 10 to 12 new vagabond children land in Patna. They mainly come from Nalanda, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Madhubani and other backward districts of Bihar. Some children also come from Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, UP and other adjoining states," Sinha added.
Experts working on street and runaway children were of the view that most of the children are either completely or partly cut off from their family.
Regular monitoring of street children in Patna has also thrown up startling facts.
"Both girls and boys are open to sexual abuse. Almost 100% girls and 90% boys are sexually abused. Slowly, it becomes a part of their lives. Even small children engage in homosexual and heterosexual activities," Sinha later told TOI.
Experts also said that 90% of all street and runaway children is drug addicted: "Mainly hard work is leading them to addiction. These children are not drug addicts, rather they are drug dependent."
Quoting a recent report of the ministry of women and child development, an official of the de-addiction centre, Disha, Kumar Deepak said: "Over 50% children in Bihar are being subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse. The higher percentage of physical abuse is reported among younger children between 5-12 years of age."
Deepak further said: "Family breakdowns and poverty are the main reasons which force the children on streets."
The workshop will conclude on Saturday.
Bella Das, faculty of social work, PU, elaborated on the role agencies working for the welfare of street children should undertake. "An abused child needs encouragement; such children should be handled with complete care so that they do not get upset. You should ignite hope in these children," Das said.
alokknmishra@gmail.com
Sanat Kumar Sinha, chief coordinator, Balsakha, an NGO, said: "It has come to our notice that 95 out of 100 girls disappear from streets before they turn 12. They are probably forced into the flesh trade."
This revelation was made on the second-day of a three-day workshop and training programme on restoration and rehabilitation of street and runaway children in Patna. The programme has been jointly organized by World Vision India (Patna Child Restoration Project) and NGO Disha.
"Everyday 10 to 12 new vagabond children land in Patna. They mainly come from Nalanda, Sitamarhi, Bhagalpur, Madhubani and other backward districts of Bihar. Some children also come from Nepal, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, UP and other adjoining states," Sinha added.
Experts working on street and runaway children were of the view that most of the children are either completely or partly cut off from their family.
Regular monitoring of street children in Patna has also thrown up startling facts.
"Both girls and boys are open to sexual abuse. Almost 100% girls and 90% boys are sexually abused. Slowly, it becomes a part of their lives. Even small children engage in homosexual and heterosexual activities," Sinha later told TOI.
Experts also said that 90% of all street and runaway children is drug addicted: "Mainly hard work is leading them to addiction. These children are not drug addicts, rather they are drug dependent."
Quoting a recent report of the ministry of women and child development, an official of the de-addiction centre, Disha, Kumar Deepak said: "Over 50% children in Bihar are being subjected to one or the other form of physical abuse. The higher percentage of physical abuse is reported among younger children between 5-12 years of age."
Deepak further said: "Family breakdowns and poverty are the main reasons which force the children on streets."
The workshop will conclude on Saturday.
Bella Das, faculty of social work, PU, elaborated on the role agencies working for the welfare of street children should undertake. "An abused child needs encouragement; such children should be handled with complete care so that they do not get upset. You should ignite hope in these children," Das said.
alokknmishra@gmail.com
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