|
 |
| |
|
| |
Help
For Street Children
Karachi: Highlighting the travails
of Karachi’s street children, a report pointed
out the absence of government support for this
vulnerable group of youngsters that consists mostly
of runaways. It is estimated that there are 12,000
to 15,000 children who roam the city’s streets,
having fled their homes for reasons of violence
and poverty. While some return to their families
at the end of the day, life for most is harsh
as their age exposes them to physical and mental
abuse at the hands of their daytime employers
and the police who regularly detain them on charges
of petty offences. Their trauma is such that many
turn to glue addiction and to harming themselves
with razors. Unfortunately, government help has
been minimal and although some shelters and services
providing succor to the youngsters do exist, these
are mostly run by independent organizations.
In tackling the problems of a growing number
of children on the streets of large cities, it
is obvious that the root causes of their homelessness
have to be addressed. Poverty alleviation, greater
support for families and stress on values that
shun violence can reduce the number of children
running away from home. But this can only be achieved
over the long term. Much can be done in the interim
to reduce the trauma and suffering of runaway
children by opening more shelters that offer food,
bathing and sleeping facilities, medical aid and
education. The tragedy is that although there
is no lack of philanthropists in the country,
there is too much stress on giving for religious
purposes. As organizations catering to a wider
set of social problems make their presence felt,
public awareness is indeed growing. But this needs
to be channeled so that priority is given to the
welfare of children and others who constitute
the most vulnerable section of society.
|
| |
|
| |
Home |
|
 |
|
|
