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Prayaas, an NGO, conducted a yearlong study, with support from UNICEF and the Department of Women and Child Development.

They interviewed 17,000 children and accounted that over 50% children interviewed reported some form of physical, sexual or economic abuse.

Significantly, the study also notes that by the government’s own admission, 35 million homeless children in India need protection. But only an abysmally low 35,000 are actually placed in shelters provided by the government and non-government organizations.

Facts & figures:

1. Every second child has suffered some form of abuse.

2. The Indian government estimates that 12 million children under the age of 14 are employed. Children’s advocates say the figure could be closer to 60 million.

3. 60 % are economically abused.

4. 50 % are emotionally abused.

5. 30 % are sexually abused by relatives or known persons.

Needs a re-think

Occurrence or recurrence of incidents of child abuse shatters the semblance of well-being of the adult world.

Parents blame the authorities they in turn vent their anger on neglectful parents and then they all heave sighs lamenting the degradation of basic social values. In the bargain, the child and his/her trauma are forgotten. Hardly any one seems concerned to question: What would be the extent of damage to the psyche of the little one and how should he or she be treated to rehabilitate him or her and make him or her, a healthy future citizen.

I think the government must re-locate the investment from spending on the shelters, to the protection of these children, from where they frequently escape to return to the very world from which they were rescued.

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