street children....dont they deserve the best too???

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street children....dont they deserve the best too???

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Street children refers to children for whom the street

more than their family has become their real home. It includes children who

might not necessarily be homeless or without families, but who live in

situations where there is no protection, supervision, or direction from

responsible adults.

Street children throughout the world are subjected to

physical abuse by police or have been murdered outright, as governments treat

them as a blight to be eradicated-rather than as children to be nurtured and

protected. They are frequently detained arbitrarily by police simply because

they are homeless, or criminally charged with vague offenses such as loitering,

vagrancy, or petty theft. They are tortured or beaten by police and often held

for long periods in poor conditions. Girls are sometimes sexually abused,

coerced into sexual acts, or raped by police. Street children also make up a

large proportion of the children who enter criminal justice systems and are

committed finally to correctional institutions (prisons) that are

euphemistically called schools, often without due process.

In India, 90% of

street children are working children with regular family ties who live with

their families, but are on the streets due to poverty and their parents'

unemployment. The remaining 10% are either working children with few family

ties who view the streets as their homes or abandoned and neglected children

with no family ties. The National Policy for Children established in 1974

emphasizes the provision of equal opportunities for the development to all

children during their growing years. Policy stresses programs to maintain,

educate, and train destitute children and orphans. Policy is also to protect

children against neglect, cruelty, and exploitation, but this is only on paper.

An UNICEF study found that almost 40,000 children die every day in developing

countries, 25% of whom are in India. Studies in

some major cities indicate that the street children in India are of

moderate health status, suffering from various chronic diseases and

undernourishment. They are deprived of all health programs, but seem to prefer

government hospitals in case of dire need. Street children often have to pay

for water. Almost 97% in Calcutta, 99% in Bangalore, and 90% in Madras reported

having no access to toilet and bathing facilities; 83% in Kanpur, however,

had access to such facilities. Nothing has been heard in recent years of the

National Children's Board established in 1975. Apparently the board has

gradually waned. Various schemes were planned in 1992 by the Union Welfare

Ministry in association with UNICEF. Extending extra health facilities,

establishing nutrition programs, providing vocational training, protecting

children from abuse, distributing dry-food polypacks, providing night shelters,

providing ration cards, and creating bathing and toilet facilities would go far

in improving the quality of life and the future of street children in India.

Instead on waiting for these organizations to wake up

and take some action to help these beautiful children. We should try and make a

difference to at least the ones around us. Five families can get together and contribute

money for education and support for at least two street children. It won’t cost

you much. Very little and am sure cheaper than your weekend dinner bill or even

shopping bill.

Please be a part of a new revolution and remember that

when you can start it, then why wait for someone else. Please don’t take their

smiles away from them.................