HOMELESSNESS ABOUT BUTTERFLIES Children in News Homelessness

VOL. XXIV, 2015

HIS NAME IS TODAY

Years V

1989 -2014 OL. XXIV , 2015

U-4, Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016 CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 1 Tel.: 26163935, 26191063 E-mail: [email protected] Delhi Child Rights Club

The Delhi Child Rights Club (DCRC) was launched by BUTTERFLIES in 1998. There was a need to have a children's forum in Delhi where children could articulate their issues and collectively take action to get their entitlements which is rightfully theirs.

BUTTERFLIES invited children of NGOs working with children based in Delhi to be part of this forum. The response to this invitation was encouraging. Today there are children from 15 NGOs who are members In the little world in which and in recent times children from various neighbourhoods have attended DCRC meetings. The primary objective of DCRC is to have children's voices heard by civil society and policy makers, their views on issues children have their existence pertaining to their lives be taken seriously, and to consult them on all issues related to their welfare, development and protection. DCRC is open to all children of Delhi under 18 years of age whether from working whosoever brings them up,there is class, middle class or upper class background or a child living in an institution. A city-wide Child Rights Club is one mechanism where by children can work together towards the creation of a child safe and nothing so finely perceived and so friendly city. The children envisage a city where children's rights to respect, dignity, opportunities, growth, development and protection are ensured. DCRC enables ongoing opportunities for all children in Delhi to finely felt as injustice meet together to find ways to increase awareness and action about their rights. Moreover, DCRC seeks recognition as forum of children who should be consulted whenever city policies or decisions are being made that affect them.

Child representatives from a number of NGOs currently meet together Charles Dickens for regular monthly sometimes bi-monthly meetings. Through discussions, research, their own newspaper “Delhi Children's Times” and street theater they have continued to share their experiences, plan and undertake actions which promote their rights. DCRC members have given their suggestion on various government policies and very recently on National Policy for Children.

"We discuss all problems that children face and the points that come up are shared with officers of the government and also with municipal councillors”.

The Delhi Child Rights Club welcomes all children to join them. If you are interested in knowing more about DCRC please contact :

Delhi Child Rights Club C/O Butterflies, U-4, Green Park Ext., New Delhi-110016

2 BUTTERFLIES Tel : 011-26163935, 26191063 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Children in News Prof. Imtiaz Ahmad A Selection of Articles and News Clippings on Children Sociologist Former Faculty of JNU, Dept. of Sociology, Delhi Vol. XXIV, 2015 This isssue is supported by Misereor, Germany Dr. Nasreen Fazalbhoy Mumbai University, Former Faculty, Dept. of Sociology Mr. Colin Gonsalves CONTENTS Director, HRLN

Justice R.S. Narula Former Chief Justice Editorial 4 Punjab and Haryana High Court About the issue 6 Dr. Vasanthi Raman Sociologist and Activist Special Feature : Homelessness 7

Ms. Vidya Ben Shah Theme Articles 8 Former Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board Statistics on Homelessness Population 41 Editor-in-Chief Newspapers & Magazines Covered 42 Ms. Rita Panicker Director, Butterfiles Children and Society 43 Editorial Collective & Documentation Shinu, Diptimayee Sahoo, Rajeesh Child Abuse and Neglect 50

Assistance: Children and Law 56 Ritu, Nirmala, Dilip Children and Economy 63 Compiled & Published by: Advocacy and Research Centre Children in Conflict with Law 69 Butterflies Protecting & Empowering Children Since 1989 Education 76 U-4, Second Floor, Green Park Extn., New Delhi - 110016 Girl Child 90 Tel.: 26163935, 26191063 Fax: 26196117 E-mail: [email protected] Children and Media 102

Suggested Contribution-Per Copy Health 106 Rs. 100/- (INDIA) US $10 or equivalent (SAARC Countries) Demography 113 US $35 (Developed Countries) US $20 (Other Developing Countries) Differently Abled Children 120 Design Concept: Himalini Verma Design Assistance: Sujay Joseph Children of the Disadvantaged Group 126 Cover Photo: Kishan, Okhla Mandi CDC Child Labour 130 Disclaimer: The views expressed by the authors are their own and not that of the Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances 140 Editorial Board. Street Children 147 Designing and Printing: R K Advertising Welfare Programmes and Policies 152 +91-7503000790, 9313741097 [email protected] Index 159

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 3 Editorial

Dear Readers, According to the Census of 2011, in India, total homeless persons are 1.77million. 9, 38,348 homeless persons are living in urban areas of the country including 46,724 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is estimated that one in every 100 people in India’s cities is homeless. There are an array of factors that contribute to homelessness. No one wants to be homeless by choice. It is a situation where people are forced into. Major factors of homelessness are loss of work, depressed wages, forced migration from rural areas due to distress conditions, lack of affordable housing, slum demolitions and evictions without rehabilitation, domestic violence, breakdown of family and partnership/marriage, inadequate planning and land use and inadequacy of the law. Women and children without housing and living on the streets suffer the most severe kinds of abuse and violence. It is tragic and unacceptable in a society that a large chunk of our population are homeless. Our social policies require strategic planning and a sound investment plan to cater the needs of homeless people. It is also important to note that the Government of India has adopted number of policies for providing Affordable Housing for all. In the beginning of the planning period, social housing schemes were devised for economically weaker section, low income group and middle income group. Later programs however have been directed towards the poor only. These included Integrated Subsidized Housing Scheme for Industrial workers and economically weaker sections (1952); Low Income Group Housing Scheme (1956); Slum Improvement/Clearance Scheme (initiated in 1956 and discontinued in 1972 at national level). Environmental Improvement of Urban Slums (1972); National Slum Development Program (1996), Scheme for Housing and Shelter Upgradation (SHASHU as part of Nehru Rozgar Yojna, introduced in 1989 and discontinued in 1997); the Shelter Upgradation Scheme under PMIUPEP (Prime Minister’s Urban Poverty and Employment Program had even a shorter life span 1996-97); Night shelter (1988-89). Two Million Housing Programs, VAMBAY (Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (launched in 2001-02), RAY, JNNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission) and Sardar Patel National Urban Housing Mission (Housing for All by 2022). According to census there is a shortage of 2 crore houses and it is hoped that by 2022 every citizen in this country will live in a house. Marking a major initiative for urban development in the country, Government of India has recently launched the Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and Housing for All. The main objective of the three ambitious schemes is to develop Indian cities and towns as new engines of growth. The three big ticket projects – Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and the Housing for All, now named as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), are worth Rs. four hundred crores. While AMRUT seeks to ensure basic infrastructure and sanitation, PMAY enables the urban poor to own decent and affordable houses. Launching these three schemes, the Government of India said under Smart Cities Mission, quality of life will be enhanced in 100 identified cities and towns by ensuring quality infrastructure, improving services through application of smart solutions and enabling a clean and sustainable environment. Smart cities are considered as engine of growth and also center for foreign investment. However, the fear is that it may displace more people than they will actually employ.The big challenge of the project is to create self-sustaining cities, which create jobs, use resources wisely and also train people.

4 BUTTERFLIES Apart from the above centrally sponsored programs, state governments have their own state-level programs. All policies and schemes must strengthen in a transparent manner to gain results. It is also a matter of concern that with more than 90 percentof work force in the informal sector, majority of them being migrant labourers it is imperative that labour laws should address issues of minimum wages based on the cost of living, housing for the workers, schooling and health care facilities. In the case of housing we could look at affordable rental housing for migrant workers, so that they need not sleep in the open, at construction sites or in night shelters. Night shelters should be a very temporary arrangement and not a long term solution to homelessness. Our experiences of working with the shelter less adults we have found a significant number of them are daily wage earners. Their wages are so depressed that they cannot afford a room in a slum. Therefore the necessity to look at long term solutions of having affordable rental housing estates in a city. It is a tragedy that the capital city of our Country has third generation families living on the streets. This issue of Children in News is focused on the theme of ‘Homelessness’. It is an attempt to highlight the causes and characteristics of homelessness.

Editor-in-Chief Rita Panicker

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 5 The theme for this issue is Homelessness

6 BUTTERFLIES SPECIAL FEATURE

HOMELESSNESS

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 7 68 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE & STILL INDIA IS HOME OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

Accommodation Times News Services Nikita Parekh

On 15th August 2014, India celebrated its Territory of Delhi. People living in open areas 68th Independence Day completing 67 years like pavements, railway platforms, hume pipes, of freedom, but have we actually got freedom? under flyovers and open spaces near temples are After completing 67 years of Independence still described as homeless. It is estimated that one many Indians are homeless in the country, lakhs in every 100 people in India’s cities is homeless. of people are still deprived of the most and much Total urban and rural population is still 1.77 basic need that is shelter. This raises many million people living without houses in India in questions like, have we really achieved freedom? 2011. However, the number of homeless people Has the country progressed in this many years? in India declined in 2011 even as families with no What has government done for poor homeless homes saw a rise in numbers. people in so many years? However, there was a pick up in the number of homeless households as 0.449 million families What is Homelessness? in 2011 were without any shelter compared to According to Census definition, houseless 0.447 million households in 2001. But the share households are those which do not live in of such families compared to total families in the buildings but stay in open or roadside, railway country declined from 0.23% in 2001 to 0.18% in platforms, under flyovers, etc. Homelessness is 2011. the condition and social category of people who In absolute terms, urban population saw a rise lack housing, because they cannot afford, or are in homeless population from 7.78 lakh people in otherwise unable to maintain, a regular, safe, and 2001 to 9.38 lakh people in 2011, but rural ares adequate shelter. A homeless person is defined witnessed a decline from 11.6 lakh people to into three categories. In general it is said about 8.34 lakh people. However, Uttar Pradesh had an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and the highest proportion of homeless people in adequate nighttime residence; and an individual the country. Of the total homeless, 18.56% was who has a primary nighttime residence. in UP, followed by Maharashtra (11.9%) and Homelessness in India Rajasthan (10.24%). Homelessness in rural areas is mirrored by an As per the census of 2011, in India, 9,38,348 almost equal rise in urban areas. As the homeless homeless people are living in urban areas of the declined by about 66000 households in rural country including 46,724 in the National Capital areas, it went up by about 69000 households in

8 BUTTERFLIES urban areas, recording a growth rate of 20.5% as 3. War- It causes unexpected homelessness. against a decline of 28.4% in rural areas. People who are in a good position suddenly loose their home due to battle among countries. Factors Contributing to Homelessness 4. Overcrowding and harassment by A wide array of factors contribute to landlords. homelessness, but they can be thought of as 5. Unhealthy relationships between young falling into one of two categories: structural people and their parents or guardians. problems and individual factors that increase 6. Unemployment. vulnerability. 7. Divorce Anyone in a family whether Structural problems mother, father or child can become homelessness due to separation Single parents with dependent 1. Lack of affordable housing children are mostly at risk of homelessness. 2. Changes in the industrial economy leading to unemployment 8. Natural disaster Cyclone, Tsunami and 3. Inadequate income supports the de- other calamities totally destroy the region. The institutionalization of patients with mental homes are destroyed and families gets dislocated. health problems and the erosion of family and social support. Factors that increase an Government’s Initiatives individual’s vulnerability 4. Physical or mental illness To eradicate the homelessness government 5. Disability has initiated many schemes and are working 6. Substance abuse on new concepts like, the Technical Group 7. Domestic violence constituted by Ministry of Housing & Urban 8. Job loss Poverty Alleviation in 2006 to assess the housing Reducing homelessness will mean shortage in the country, had estimated that at the addressing issues such as these. beginning of 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), the Since homelessness is a phrase in which housing shortage in the county was 24.71 million. a broad range of people and circumstances The Technical Group on Urban Housing are concerned. Factors that contribute to Shortage for the 12th Plan (TG-12) in the context homelessness are also broad . They include of the strategy of inclusive development in the 1. Poverty Homelessness and poverty Twelfth Plan, addressing the problem of mismatch are attached together. Poor people are not in between suppliers of housing and those needing a position to pay for housing, food, child care, them and bringing down the housing shortage health care, and education. has estimatetd the urban housing shortage as 2. Drug Addiction Data indicate that alcohol 18.75 million at the beginning of the 12th Plan and drug abuse are excessively high among Period i.e. 2012. the homeless inhabitants. People who are poor The Minister further ‘Land’ and ‘Colonization’ and addicted are obviously at augmented risk of are State subjects; therefore it is the primary homelessness. responsibility of state Governments to provide affordable houses to all citizens. However, in order

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 9 to complement and supplement the indicatives III. Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the of State Governments and to incentivize and Urban Poor (ISHUP); promote the construction of houses, the Ministry IV. Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP); of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has been and implementing various housing schemes like: These schemes coupled with other macro I. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal economic policies and with the involvement of Mission JNNURM with its two sub-mission State Governments, Banks and other Primary viz., Basic Services to the Urban Poor Lending Institutins (PLIs) have resulted in (BSUP) and Integrated Housing & Slum reduction of housing shortage in the country. Development Programme (IHSDP); But thus schemes can be proven effective, II. Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY); are they showing the desired outcome?

10 BUTTERFLIES HOMELESS WOMEN AND VIOLENCE Shivani Chaudhry, Amita Joseph, Indu prakash singh

Introduction hoped that this paper will draw attention to the plight of one of our society’s most marginalized The phenomenon of homelessness is one constituencies and urge the government to take of the worst forms of urban poverty and social urgent action to protect their human rights and vulnerability, a glaring indicator of the failure of prevent their further abuse and marginalization. governance and the state’s commitment to a welfare state. It is tragic and unacceptable in a Definition of Homelessness civilized society and independent India that a The Census of India defines ‘houseless large percentage of our poor are homeless. No people’ – as persons who are not living in ‘census one wants to be homeless by choice – it is a houses.’ The latter refers to ‘a structure with situation people are forced into – like endemic roof.’ Homelessness thus refers to those who are poverty.1 inadequately housed –without even basic shelter Women constitute one of the groups over their head, not even a “kuccha” (unfinished) worst affected by homelessness. While the slum or shanty house. The United Nations in phenomenon of homelessness violates the most 1999 interpreted homeless as including “those basic of human rights for all populations, women sleeping without shelter, in constructions not without housing and living on the streets suffer the meant for habitation and in welfare institutions.” most severe kinds of abuse and violence. State The majority of homeless in India are found response to the needs of homeless women is living in places such as roadsides, pavements, grossly inadequate and the majority of homeless drainage pipes, under staircases, or in the open, women are left to fend for themselves. temple-mandaps, platforms and the like’ (Census This paper attempts to highlight the causes of India, 1991: 64). Besides, in 2001 we were and characteristics of homelessness, the nature witness to how the homeless were underreported. of violence faced by homeless women, and makes Hundreds and thousands of homeless citizens recommendations to address the crisis at various were left unenumerated.2 levels. While the problems faced by homeless A more encompassing definition of women living on the streets are ubiquitous across homelessness has been provided in Australian the country, the paper uses empirical data and law,3 which states that a person is homeless if, case studies from Delhi and Bangalore. It is

1An edited version of this article (written in 2011) has been published in, “The Fear that Stalks: Gender-based Violence in Public Spaces,” Zubaan, New Delhi, 2011). More information at: http://www.zubaanbooks.com/zubaan_books_details.asp?BookID=192.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 11 and only if, he or she has inadequate access to has the right to a standard of living adequate for safe and secure housing – which means if the the health and well being of himself and his family, only housing to which the person has access: including food, clothing, housing, medical care yy damages, or is likely to damage, the person’s and necessary social services, and the right to health; or security in the event of unemployment, sickness, yy threatens the person’s safety; or disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of yy marginalises the person through livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” failing to provide access to: On the basis of the provisions established -adequate personal amenities; or in the UDHR, the right to adequate housing -the economic and social supports that a was elaborated and reaffirmed in 1996 by the home normally affords; or International Covenant on Economic, Social and yy places the person in circumstances which Cultural Rights (ICESR), which in Article 11.1 threaten or adversely affect the adequacy, declares that, “The State Parties to the present safety, security and affordability of that Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an housing. adequate standard of living for himself and his The UN Special Rapporteur on adequate family, including adequate food, clothing and housing has reiterated that homelessness carries housing, and to the continuous improvement of implications of belonging nowhere rather than living conditions.” simply having nowhere to sleep.4 Other international treaties that provide legal protection for the right to adequate housing, The Human Right to Adequate Housing include, inter alia, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (art. 27, para. 3), and the It has been well established in international non-discrimination provisions found in article human rights law and its interpretation that 14, paragraph 2 (h), of the Convention on the housing is not just a physical structure of four Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against roofs and a wall. Instead it is a much broader Women and article 5 (e) of the International concept, which encompasses various material Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of and non-material elements of adequacy, which Racial Discrimination. are necessary to create a safe living space. In the Constitution of India, Article 21, the right Furthermore, adequate housing is not merely to life, has also been interpreted to recognize the a desired goal; it is a basic human right of all right to shelter while Article 14 guarantees equality human beings. This has been affirmed by the before the law. Article 15 prohibits discrimination; Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, Article 19 guarantees the right of all citizens to which recognizes the right to adequate housing freedom of movement and freedom to reside and as an integral component of the human right to an settle in any part of the territory of India. adequate standard of living.5 The UN Special Rapporteur on adequate The Universal Declaration of Human Rights housing defined the human right to adequate (UDHR) states under Article 25 (1) that, “Everyone

12 BUTTERFLIES housing, as: “The right of every woman, man, on Human Rights and the UN Human Rights youth and child to gain and sustain a safe and Council.7 The reports highlighted that the secure home and community in which to live in widespread prevalence of gender-based violence peace and dignity.”6 is a central thread in the fabric of human rights Women’s right to adequate housing, as violations faced by women, including in violations an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of of the right to adequate housing and land. all human rights, has also been recognized, Women also suffer more from forced evictions implicitly and explicitly in a range of international and homelessness as both situations subject and regional human rights instruments. The them to greater violence as well as violation of Istanbul Declaration and the Habitat Agenda (A/ personal dignity and health.8 They also asserted CONF.147/18), adopted at the second United that persistent poverty, where women and others Nations Conference on Human Settlements in are forced to live in inadequate and insecure 1996, commits Governments to providing legal housing and living conditions, also exposes security of tenure and equal access to land to women to forms of gender-based violence, and all people, including women and those living in arguably is itself a form of violence. 9 poverty (para. 40 (b)). Causes of Homelessness for Women It is thus the legal responsibility of the state to respect, promote and fulfil the human right Critical factors that result in homelessness, to adequate housing for all its citizens, as including of women, are: guaranteed in both national and international law. 1) Forced migration from rural areas due Though India has ratified several international to distress conditions: Women bear the worst human rights instruments and is also bound by brunt of disasters such as flood and drought, national case law, the human right to adequate rural indebtedness, agrarian crises, and large- housing still eludes a large number of Indians, scale industrialisation and infrastructure projects, especially the homeless. which displaces them from their habitats and forces them to move to cities with their families Homelessness and Violence against in search of employment and survival. Women 2) Lack of affordable housing: In the absence The interlinkage between violence against of public housing and low-cost housing schemes women and women’s right to adequate housing in cities and towns, the poorest of the poor are is well established around the world. Lack of forced to live on the streets, as even ‘slums’ are adequate housing can make women more beyond their economic means. Accessing housing vulnerable to various forms of violence and, is even more difficult for women, especially single conversely, violence against women can lead women. At the end of the Tenth Five Year Plan, to the violation of women’s rights to adequate the urban housing shortage in India was 24.7 housing. The former Special Rapporteur on million dwelling units, of which 99% pertained adequate housing presented a series of reports to the Economically Weaker Sections and Low on women and housing to the UN Commission Income Groups. In Delhi, the housing shortage

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 13 was estimated at 1.13 million dwelling units. even raped the girls. Sairya is insecure about the 3) Slum demolitions and evictions without future of her daughters. (source: study on Delhi’s rehabilitation: Forced evictions, accompanied by homeless, IGSSS, 2008) violence is one of the violence, are increasing across India. Women and reasons for homelessness of women. On the children are the worst affected. In the absence of other hand, the associated fear of homelessness adequate rehabilitation, thousands are rendered can lead some women to stay in abusive and homeless and forced to eke out an existence on dangerous situations, or return to them if they the streets. Even in the approximately 20% of have attempted to leave.11 cases where rehabilitation is provided, conditions 5) Breakdown of Family and Partnership/ in resettlement sites are abysmal. Most of the Marriage: Abandonment by husbands, eviction resettlement sites are located on the peripheries from homes after the death of the husband, of the city making it impossible for families to fear, desertion, husbands or fathers remarrying, continue with their livelihoods. Studies in the and mental illness also result in women being resettlement site of Bawana, Delhi, highlight that thrown out of their homes and onto the streets.12 women and their livelihoods suffer the most due In settings where there is stigma associated to failed resettlement.10 with the perceived “breakdown” of marriage or 4) Domestic Violence: Domestic violence domestic partnership, informal networks of care can greatly increase women’s vulnerability to and support may disintegrate and further expose homelessness, especially when there is a lack women to the risk of homelessness. of protection by law enforcement officials, or 6) Inequitable Planning and Land Use: Across by the legal system itself. Many women who urban India, land use planning is extremely do manage to leave home become vulnerable inequitable and favours a development paradigm to homelessness and consequently may suffer aimed at benefiting the upper classes and elite. A further violence. Across the world, a large United Nations Development Programme concept proportion of homeless women are those who note prepared in 2003, stated that 95 per cent have escaped domestic violence. In Indian cities of legal urban space was used and kept for the too, domestic Sairya, 42 years old, lives in Meena benefit of the most privileged five per cent of the Bazar area in Delhi with her family. Her husband city population. Separate spaces for women are is a rickshaw puller while she and her daughters not factored into planning processes, neither are are rag pickers in the Jama Masjid area. The girls women consulted in the development of city and are 17, 13 and 10 years old and this is another master plans. Housing and settlement planning worry of Saira apart from being homeless. She is not gendered and city spaces are increasingly is unable to sleep at night, as she fears the local becoming more and more unsafe for women. The goons from nearby areas who molest the women failure to reserve land for low-cost housing and and girls who are sleeping there. Generally they the increasing speculation of land and property use blades/razors and threaten the girls and makes housing more and more unaffordable, family and abuse them. Many a times they have contributing to homelessness.

14 BUTTERFLIES 7) Inadequacy of the Law: The existence of shelter or temporarily relocated. This makes the discriminatory laws and anti-poor legislation number of homeless citizens in Delhi around such as the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 150,000 of which at least 10,000 are women, 1959 (adopted in Delhi in 1961) coupled with the even by conservative estimates. The IGSSS absence of strong legal protection for housing study found that women formed 4.7% of the total rights and women’s rights, results in women number of homeless counted. The number may finding themselves increasingly vulnerable to be more because many sleep with their faces homelessness and violence in urban areas. covered, making it difficult for the enumerators to Though the Protection of Women from Domestic categorise them correctly. Violence Act 2005 contains a provision securing Indian city streets are extremely unsafe for women’s rights to remain in their place of domicile, women, with rape, theft, murder, kidnapping, improper implementation of the Act continues sexual exploitation and gender-based violence to result in victims of domestic violence being being common. thrown out of their homes or being forced to leave situations of violence. Sairya, 42 years old, lives in Meena Bazar area in Delhi with her family. Her husband is a Other factors contributing to homelessness rickshaw puller while she and her daughters are of women are: lack of secure tenure, lack of rag pickers in the Jama Masjid area. The girls information about women’s human rights, lack are 17, 13 and 10 years old and this is another of access to affordable social services as a worry of Saira apart from being homeless. She is unable to sleep at night, as she fears result of privatization, lack of access to credit the local goons from nearby areas who molest and housing subsidies, bureaucratic barriers the women and girls who are sleeping there. preventing access to housing programmes, rising Generally they use blades/razors and threaten poverty and unemployment and discriminatory the girls and family and abuse them. Many a times they have even raped he girls. Sairya cultural and traditional practices. The former is insecure about the future of her daughters. Special Rapporteur on adequate housing noted (source: study on Delhi’s homeless, IGSSS, that a State’s obligation to eliminate gender 2008) discrimination is one of immediate effect and failure to do so constitutes a human rights Most homeless women are involved in violation.13 roadside vending nd related activities. They face harassment from local bodies and the police who Overview of Homeless Women in India snatch their goods and displace them at will. A 2003 Action Aid India report estimated Many women then have no option but to take to that the total homeless population in India is 78 begging. Most of them beg at religious places million.14 A study by Indo Global Social Service and sleep there, as they feel more secure. Society (IGSSS) in 2008 counted 88,410 Among homeless women there are two homeless citizens in the capital city of Delhi.15 categories of women: one that stays with her For every one homeless counted there was at family and the other who is without any family. least one missed who is at work, hidden in a

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 15 The homeless women without any family are poorly cooked food; meals not prepared on time; among the most vulnerable. or misbehaviour of the children.16 In the capital of the country, there exists only Where women in the community are in one shelter for the 10,000 homeless women. control of the family earnings and responsible Located in Regarpura (Karol Bagh), this has a for expenditure on family essentials, the issue capacity for only 30 women. Homeless shelters sometimes leads to conflict, when the husband are extremely inadequate and according to the feels that he has not been given adequate money Social Welfare Secretary of Delhi, cover only 5% for his needs.17 of the city’s homeless population. b) Sexual Violence and Exploitation Kinds of Violence Faced by Homeless Homeless women, particularly young women Women are vulnerable to sexual exploitation, sexual Women experiencing homelessness are trafficking and drug abuse. The instances of subject to unique violations of their rights and rape, molestation and women spending sleepless multiple forms of discrimination and gender-based nights guarding their young adolescent girls are a violence. It is reported that homeless women are common feature among homeless women. 10 times more vulnerable than men. They require In Bangalore, a recent study reported specialized support services to cater for their indications of sexual exploitation of women particular vulnerabilities and needs. under duress and blackmail. If the women do a) Verbal and Physical Abuse not succumb to these pressures there is a threat of putting their tents on fire. Several homeless Homeless women across India encounter women reported of miscreants teasing and abuse of several kinds, including foul language, harassing women and girls of the homeless verbal abuses by police and passersby; violence community. This sometimes led to the women from male police who slap and physically abuse being forced by circumstances to take up sex women, even when they are sleeping at night; work to survive.18 and abuse from other men on the streets. They In most urban areas, homeless women find it are often called sex workers and insulted by other difficult to get sustained employment. They are locals. Even homeless men exploit these women. often exploited sexually with promises of jobs. Repeated police harassment is a common Adolescent girls are among the most vulnerable complaint of homeless women. Women are to sexual abuse and also face risks of being supposed to be dealt with by women constables, trafficked. but more often than not it is men constables who c) Lack of Basic Services and Risks to handle their issues. Hardly any cases of abuse Security and Personal Safety get reported. In Delhi, homeless women stated that their Facilities such as toilets, bathrooms and husbands can be triggered to behave abusively water are not easily accessible to the homeless. due to circumstances such as: unwashed clothes; Each such service that a homeless person needs

16 BUTTERFLIES has to be paid for, and in cash. Having to pay basic requirements are not met. Due to the want coupled with lack of access to secure toilets and of a private space, having a bath in addition to the bathing areas often means that they must relieve availability of clean water is a great challenge. themselves in the open, bathe less frequently or A study on homelessness in Bangalore in the open/behind plastic covers, and access revealed that while water for washing is sometimes unclean water through public taps and leaking available, it is not fit for drinking. Homeless pipelines. This is most difficult for women, people, however, have to use this water for rendering them vulnerable to all forms of violence washing clothes and utensils. This has serious and abuse. The lack of a secure place to undress repercussions on their health, thus making them and change clothes and bathing in public spaces vulnerable to various kinds of contamination, also makes women vulnerable to gender-based diseases and infections.19 violence. Homeless women suffer from several Homeless women, especially those without diseases and illnesses due to inadequate living families, have to sleep in obscure places, which conditions and extreme weather conditions. They are hidden from the public view. They don’t are vulnerable to excess heat, rain and cold, change their sleeping place, as they feel safer and often have insufficient clothes and blankets in the known surroundings rather than going during winter months. The harsh living conditions to an unknown place. Even homeless shelters also cause homeless women to age rapidly. In are not the safest places for women. Locations most instances, illnesses go untreated or are for night shelters are often decided without the detected too late, making them more susceptible participation of the homeless and do not always to infection. have security arrangements for women. Malnutrition is a common problem among The custodial nature of women’s homes homeless women, affecting especially pregnant and beggar’s homes is also a major problem and lactating homeless women. threatening the security of homeless women. Research studies also indicate a direct These institutions rather than creating a safe correlation in increase in mental health and environment for women to live in dignity treat psychiatric disorders among homeless women, homeless women as criminals. especially those who are abandoned.20 The poor sanitary conditions and lack of d) Inadequate Living Conditions and Risks to Health privacy in most shelters for the homeless, also pose health risks for women. The World Health Organization defines health e) Lack of Access to Government as ‘not being the absence of illness, but a state of Schemes and Livelihood complete physical, mental, cultural and spiritual Opportunities, increasing Vulnerability well-being.’ Culturally some of the most private spheres of life such as bathing and sanitation are Homeless women have no access to any intrinsically linked to the feeling of well-being and government schemes. The number of women- dignity. For homeless women, however, these specific shelters for homeless women across the

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 17 country is woefully inadequate. In fact, even in In July 2010, a homeless woman died while cities such as Lucknow, Varanasi and Allahabad, giving birth on the street in Shanker Market, Delhi, where shelters exist, they are night shelters just reflecting a situation of criminal negligence by the for men, not 24-hour, yearround shelters for all state. In Bangalore, homeless women reported homeless citizens. Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, that 90% of babies are born in the hospital, while Guwhati/ Dispur, Patna, Gaya and Pune, have no 10% are delivered in the community with support shelter for the homeless). Chennai has a shelter of untrained nurses. Some of these women also for families, Hyderabad has a few shelters for fear visiting hospitals since participants stated families. In the capital city, Delhi, as mentioned that doctors sometimes physically or verbally above is there only one shelter for 10,000 abuse patients who shout during labour pain.23 homeless women. The New Delhi Municipal This is also the case in several government Council (NDMC), which is one of the richest hospitals in Delhi. municipal bodies in Asia, has not one homeless g) Destruction of Possessions and shelter in its precinct and has abdicated its Livelihood Means responsibility of, “construction and maintenance of rest-houses, poor houses, infirmaries,… The homeless are among the poorest of the shelters for destitute and disabled.”21 poor and own few possessions. Yet, these are Due to the stigma attached to being homeless, routinely destroyed by the police. Women in homeless women do not get jobs as housemaids Pul Mithai, Delhi, reported that MCD committee or in shops. In contrast to homeless men, the officials remove and confiscate wares when women face more difficulty in getting jobs as they try to sell their wares on pavements. In most have small children to take care of and particular, on Saturdays these authorities usually most employees consider this a handicap. Yet destroy such property so residents are constantly the responsibility to purchase food and ration for fearful when they try to continue with such work. their families generally rests with them, making Homeless women also constantly talk about them more vulnerable to exploitation, stress, and destruction and theft of property by police, 8 other psychological disorders. even of their tripal (plastic sheets), dishes, food, and other property.24 In some areas people find f) Difficulty in Accessing Healthcare it difficult to go to work for fear that their meagre Accessing health care, in particular hospitals, belongings will be stolen or confiscated by the is a tremendous challenge for homeless people, police. especially women. There are countless incidents h) Hunger as Violence of women being denied treatment and turned away from hospitals, including a shocking case of Malnourishment and hunger among homeless a 32-year old mentally ill woman Poonam Das in women is common. In Pul Mithai, Delhi, residents 2002.22 Most hospitals refuse to admit homeless stated that local police only allow residents to women, often making them run from pillar to post, cook at night, which has significantly limited their before they are able to receive any medical aid. food intake. If the women try to prepare a meal

18 BUTTERFLIES during the day, police throw away their utensils on the streets to fend for themselves or taken to and food items. As a result, families are only able child welfare homes. The ‘home’ for women in to eat one daily meal at night. If food remains from Delhi is located in Nirmal Chhaya, in the Tihar the night before, the women serve the leftovers Jail complex and is nothing better than a jail. The the next morning otherwise the family remains living conditions are deplorable, with no hygiene, hungry. However, the women typically purchase sanitation, or adequate food. The conditions are food from the outside market for their children, so bad that Ratnabai Kale, a 50-year old woman adding further economic strain. detained in Nirmal Chhaya, attempted suicide Not all homeless shelters permit residents twice by trying to hang herself with her own sari to cook, which means that the residents have to in 2009. buy food, which is often unaffordable. In the run The detained homeless women have no up to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the access to legal remedy in the form of a lawyer government prohibited homeless people from or other judicial redress, and often ending up selling items and carrying out their livelihoods, serving a sentence from anywhere between one forcing many into hunger. This most severely to ten years. affected children and women, especially pregnant j) Death and lactating women. Aap ki Rasoi, the free food distribution by Delhi government stopped from A study in Canada found that homeless around 30 September 2010 to 16 October 2010, women aged 18 to 44 years old were 10 times contributing to the situation of extreme hunger for more likely to die than women of the same age homeless citizens. group in the general population of Toronto. 26 i) Arbitrary Arrests and Detention Worst Affected Groups of Homeless Women The Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 1959 (adopted in Delhi in 1961) is routinely used to While all homeless women suffer multiple criminalize and arrest the homeless. The Act forms of abuse, gender-based violence and defines beggars as anyone soliciting alms and discrimination, there are certain groups within who have ‘no visible means of subsistence,’ homeless women who are even more vulnerable. including those who sell small articles at traffic These include: women with disabilities and lights and other public places. When penalised, mental health problems; single women and single beggars or homeless persons have to face homeless mothers; women living 9 with HIV/ hearings at a special court and may be sent to an AIDS; chemically dependent women and victims institution, or can bail themselves out by paying of substance abuse; pregnant and lactating money. Most homeless people, however, are not women; and girls and adolescents. beggars. The 2003 ActionAid study found that The Homeless Girl Child only 28% of the homeless live on mendicancy.25 Women who are arrested under the Act are India has the largest number of street children often separated from their children, who are left in the world. According to Indian Embassy figures,

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 19 there are 314,700 children living on the streets of plastic pots when they went to refill water back Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kanpur home leaving a pot in the queue. This led to them and Hyderabad, and another 100,000 in New being abused and beaten up even at home.28 Delhi. These numbers, however, may not reflect Girl children living on the streets are especially the true picture, as accurate census information vulnerable to victimization, exploitation, and is difficult to collect. sexual abuse. Recently, a six-year old girl in Pusa Children’s human rights to protection, Roundabout, Delhi, was gang-raped in a car, and education, secure housing, and participation, as is suffering from multiple injuries and disorders. guaranteed by the United Nations Convention Recommendations on the Rights of the Child are violated. For instance, the recently passed Right to Education In order to address the needs of homeless Act (2010) in India does scant little for ensuring women and protect and guarantee their human that homeless children are able to access their rights, it is important to have a clear understanding Fundamental Right to Education. Street children, of the reasons for them becoming homeless as in particular girls, find it difficult to go to school well as their problems in finding employment and and are not able to access many government safety concerns. schemes, including Integrated Child Development As emphasised by the UN Special Rapporteur Services (ICDS). The uncertainty of tenure of on adequate housing, addressing the problem of stay at any place, fear of eviction or being thrown women’s vulnerability to homelessness must first out and not having any identity proof giving them address their access, or lack thereof, to the skills, a sense of ‘existence’ and over all the need for resources and place in the community that allow survival has made education a distant dream for for the securing of adequate housing. street children. Though Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan A combination of a humanitarian and a human has several schemes, no efforts have been made rights approach is needed to address both the by the education department to promote street immediate and the long-term need of homeless children’s education.27 Often forced evictions women and communities. take place on the eve of exams forcing first 1) There is an urgent need to address multiple generation learners to dropout or lose a school forms of discrimination that homeless women year. face on grounds including class, caste, health, When asked about what is their most severe disability, sexual orientation, and other factors. An problem, most of the homeless children in intersectional approach to gender discrimination Bangalore said it was non-availability of drinking is essential to address such multiple forms of water. Often children have to queue up at public discrimination faced by women the adoption of taps to collect drinking water due to which they an indivisibility-of-rights approach to promoting lose out on their recreation/study time. The women’s rights to adequate housing. 10 children also expressed that older people took 2) Permanent, 24-hour shelters for homeless advantage of them and many times broke their women need to be urgently set up in all cities and towns, as homelessness is a perennial

20 BUTTERFLIES year-round problem, not limited just to the winter. of alternative adequate housing for victims of Separate shelters should be created for single domestic violence and abuse. It should also women, for women with children, for women with protect women’s right to be free from violent mental illness and disabilities, and for women and offenders. their families. These need to be long-stay homes 8) The government must introduce low-cost with facilities for treatment and rehabilitation. housing and public housing schemes for the The shelters should be based on human rights poor with special incentives for women, including standards of adequate housing and should be set single women and women-headed households to up close to sources of livelihood. access housing. 3) Information must be provided to all shelter 9) Gender-sensitive housing policies and residents on nearest hospital, police station, laws need to be developed and implemented. ration shop, and all other available government These should make special provisions for women schemes and services. This should include who are even more vulnerable to homelessness connecting homeless people with all available and other housing rights violations - victims of schemes and services, and also connect them domestic violence, widows, women-headed to existing Homeless Resource Centres as well households, women victims of forced evictions, as Gender Resource Centres. This must be the minorities, and indigenous women. responsibility of all shelter managers/caretakers. 10) Laws such as the Bombay Prevention of 4) Cities should set up a 24 hour emergency Begging Act 1959 that criminalise homelessness response system, including a help line and nodal need to be repealed and replaced with laws and point for homeless women. Hospital facilities policies that recognize the right to adequate (including beds in private hospitals) should be housing for the homeless. made available for homeless women. Community 11) The state must follow and implement Health Departments of hospitals need to also orders of the Honourable Supreme Court of India ensure that services are provided for homeless and High Courts that relate to homelessness and women. adequate housing. For example, Justice A.P. 5) Special schemes should be made available Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar’s judgement on for easy loans/ subsidies for entrepreneurship by housing and rehabilitation in the case Sudama homeless women. Singh and others v. Govt. of Delhi and others, 11 6) State-sponsored violence and police February 2010, lays down clearly the duty of the brutality against the homeless must be urgently state and the importance of the urban poor: checked and those responsible for offences must “The support service provided by these be brought to justice.29 persons (whom the Master Plan describes as 7) Legislation against domestic violence “city service personnel”) are indispensable to must ecognize the link with the right to adequate any affluent or even middle class household. housing and contain legal protections for women The city would simply come to halt without the to realize this right, while ensuring the provision labour provided by these people. Considerations

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 21 of fairness require special concern where Conclusion these settled slum dwellers face threat of being It is the legal and moral responsibility of the uprooted….” Indian government to ensure that the human rights The High Court of Delhi has passed several of all citizens, especially the most marginalized, of interim orders calling for rehabilitation of which homeless women constitute an important evicted homeless communities and the need category, are respected, promoted and fulfilled. for developing a short-term and long-term A state that continues to violate the rights of plan to address homelessness in the city, but the poor and fails to provide them with respect, these orders are routinely violated by the Delhi dignity, protection of livelihood, health, adequate government. A mechanism to report periodically living conditions, security, and freedom from to the Court on progress in implementation of violence, is failing in both its international and court orders/judgements should be set up. national legal commitments. 12) States should set up independent Monitoring Committees consisting of experts, END NOTES including representatives of civil society and the 1. In Savi Sawarkar & Lokesh Jain. (Curator & Editor) homeless to look at brutality by state actors, such 2010. voice for voiceless. indu prakash singh. as police, against the homeless. Kanglistan’s Homeless Citizens. New Delhi: MF Hussain Art Gallery, Jamia Millia, p. 118 (117 - 127). 13) The state should ensure access to affordable utilities such as water, electricity In Sabir Ali. 2007. Poverty and Deprivation in and heating, as well as access to education, Urban India. indu prakash singh. The Indian employment and health facilities. Urban Morass – Today’s Preference. New Delhi: Bookwell (Council for Social Development). Pp. 14) Women should have equal access 117 – 152. avenues of legal redress for violations of their 2. Indu prakash singh. 2001(April). Census right to adequate housing.30 of the Homeless: A Painful Farce and an Assault. New Delhi; First City. 15) Adequate attention and efforts must be devoted to addressing the causes of Also published in Sabir Ali. 2006. Dimensions homelessness, including investing in agrarian of Urban Poverty. indu prakash singh. Capital and rural development. The state should ensure Punishment: Recipe for the Homeless in Delhi. Jaipur: Rawat Publications. Pp. 218-254 and 379- that post-disaster relief and rehabilitation is 382. gender sensitive and does not discriminate 3. Supported Accommodation Assistance Program against women. Act 1994, Australia. 4. Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate 16) National laws and policies must ensure housing, Miloon Kothari, E/CN.4/2005/48, 3 compliance with international human rights law March 2005. and the Indian government must work towards 5. See, Handbook on UN Basic Principles and meeting its international legal obligations. Guidelines on Development-based Evictions and Displacement, available at: www.hic-sarp.org. 6. Report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing, Miloon Kothari, E/CN.4/2006/41, 21 March 2006.

22 BUTTERFLIES 7. Reports on women and housing available at:http:// women in Canada: www.wellesleyinstitute.com www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/Pages/ 21. U/s 12:h-z of the New Delhi Municipal Council WomenAndHousing.aspx Act, 1994. 8. Ruzbeh N. Bharucha. 2006. Yamuna Gently 22. See article by Indu Prakash Singh, “And the Night Weeps: A Journey into the Yamuna Pushta Never Seemed to End.” Slum Demolitions. New Delhi: Sainathann 23. “Invisible City-Makers: An Action Research Communications. on Homelessness in Bangalore City,” 2010. 9. Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate Bangalore: Bangalore Based NGOs and IGSSS. housing, Miloon Kothari, E/CN.4/2005/48, 3 24. Findings from a PRA exercise conducted by March 2005. IGSSS and Praxis with homeless residents of the 10. See Swept Off the Map, Kalyani Menon Sen and Pul Mithai community, located in the area of Old Gautam Bhan, Yoda Press, 2008. Delhi, in close proximity to the Old Delhi Railway 11. Report on ‘women and adequate housing’ by the Station, June 2010. UN Special Rapporteur on adequate on housing, 25. Study on Homelessness and Beggary, Action Aid, E/CN.4/2005/43, 25 February 2005. 2003. 12. The 2008 IGSSS study on homelessness in Delhi 26. See Wellesley Institute: www.wellesleyinstitute. revealed that of the homeless women surveyed com. in Delhi, 28.57 percent of the women left home 27. Ibid. due to ill treatment meted out to them at home; 28. “Invisible City-Makers: An Action Research on 18 percent were deserted by their husbands; 25 Homelessness in Bangalore City,” 2010. percent were forcibly thrown out by their relatives. 29. Report on ‘women and adequate housing’ by the It is also found that some of the women had mental UN Special Rapporteur on adequate on housing, health issues, which could also be the reason for E/CN.4/2005/43, 25 February 2005. homelessness. 30. Report on ‘women and adequate housing’ by the 13. Report on ‘women and adequate housing’ by the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate on housing, UN Special Rapporteur on adequate on housing, E/CN.4/2006/118, 27 February 2006. E/CN.4/2005/43, 25 February 2005. 14. Study on Homelessness and Beggary, Action Aid, 2003. Also see, AAA . 2001. “The Capital’s Homeless: A Preliminary Study”, Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan (AAA), 2001. 15. Study of the Homeless in Delhi, Indo Global Social Service Society, 2008. Used by the Supreme Court of India. To be published soon. 16. Findings from a PRA exercise conducted by IGSSS and Praxis with homeless residents of the Pul Mithai community, located in the area of Old Delhi, in close proximity to the Old Delhi Railway Station, June 2010. 17. Ibid. 18. “Invisible City-Makers: An Action Research on Homelessness in Bangalore City,” 2010. Bangalore: Bangalore Based NGOs and IGSSS 19. Ibid. 20. For example, see, Housing, Health and Mental Health, http://www.cmha.ca/data/1/rec_ docs/549_CMHA_Housing_EN.pdf, Also see Wellesley Institute for more studies on homeless

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 23 UNFINISHED: 95.8% OF HOMELESS SHELTERS IN INDIA’S RICHEST STATE India Spend, Oct 29, 2014

Why are so many homeless in our richest Drinking water: Safe, potable drinking water state? On failed policies and ineffectual court must be available 24/7 to residents. The water rulings. must be suitably treated, i.e., with chlorine, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced render it safe for consumption.• that houses for the homeless by 2022 should Subsidised meals: Community canteens must be a national mission. IndiaSpend, in an earlier be set up within the shelter premises or adjoining report, had estimated the government needs to it, to facilitate access of shelter residents to build about 60,000 houses each year until 2022 subsidised food.• to achieve for its mission of housing for all. Bedding: Adequate bedding must be provided But until that begins, there is another major to residents (including blankets where required). problem that needs attention, particularly in major Linen must be changed on a daily basis.•Lockers: cities: shelter for pavement dwellers or homeless Shelters must be equipped with locker facilities, people. thus allowing residents to store their belongings Census 2011 data reveal a 20% increase safely• in the homeless population of urban India over Let us now look at the homeless households the past decade, whereas the rural homeless and population in a major metro like Mumbai: population has declined by 28%. Abhishek Bharadwaj, an activist with The homeless are an invisible mass of Alternative Realities, a Mumbai-based non people, facilities for whom are rarely monitored. governmentorganisation (NGO) working with In Maharashtra, India’s richest state, 95.8% of pavement dwellers in collaboration with ActionAid, shelters that were supposed to be built were an anti-poverty agency working with poor people simply not, a violation of Supreme Court orders. to end poverty, said the state government has In 2010, the court said all states must provide not obeyed the Supreme Court. The plight of the one homeless shelter for every 1,00,000 people pavement dwellers, he said, remains the same: in 62 major cities of India. Here is a paragraph They continue to live on the streets, vulnerable from the judgement: and without security. “Article 21 of the Constitution states that no According to studies conducted by person should be deprived of his life or personal Alternative Realities, and some news reports, the liberty except according to the procedure Maharashtra government is passing off beggar established by the law. Over the years, this homes as shelter for homeless people. Reports Court’s jurisprudence has added significant have said that 80% of the people living in beggar meaning and depth to the right to life. A large homes are homeless people, not beggars. number of judgments interpreting Article 21 of We looked at some documents from the the Constitution have laid down right to shelter is Supreme Court, relating to state government included in right to life.” efforts to help the urban homeless. The shelter manual is a comprehensive The data show that 284 night shelters are guideline for setting up night shelters. For required in Maharashtra. Till 2012, only 12 instance, this is what it said about “essential permanent and 12 temporary shelters were built facilities”: across the entire state. That means 95.8% of

24 BUTTERFLIES shelters in India’s richest state were simply not Activists believe that apart from being callous, this built. In Greater Mumbai alone, this leaves an situation is a violation of the guidelines issued by estimated 57,000 people in urgent need of shelter. the highest court of the land.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 25 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN MUMBAI: WHEN THE SKY IS THE ROOF Shalini Nair, Mumbai

Part I Capture “Of late, the threats of eviction by cops have Jamli Pawar doesn’t remember her age. It increased. They say that once the building is could be 16 or 18 years, she says. Despite the complete, we will have to go find someplace eight-month pregnancy bulge and her infant by else to live,” said Alka Shinde, who ekes a living her side, her puny frame belies her age. by selling flowers at traffic signals. Outside the But as far as she can recall the Amar Mahal corrugated tin sheet boundary of the upcoming junction in Chembur has always been home to hi-end residences, Alka and others share their her and 50-odd people from the Pardhi tribe of space and food with more than a dozen stray rural Maharashtra. She wearily recounts how a dogs. “We feed them and let them sleep with us. fortnight ago a drunken tempo driver rammed into They keep us safe like the other day when they the wide divider underneath the flyover, where barked and ran after this man who tried to whisk many of them were sprawled out, and ran over away my little girl when we were all asleep,” she her left foot severing her toes. By the time she says. was rushed from one public hospital to another, she lost her entire foot and her extended family’s collective savings from road construction work. Part II She is lucky to be alive, says her mother-in-law Phulabai Pawar. “Just a year ago, my seven- While much noise has been made on the year-old grandson was playing on the edge of the sorry plight of homeless battling extreme weather road when he was hit by a speeding car. Since it conditions in the capital city of Delhi, those living was late at night, we didn’t realise what happened on the fringes in country’s financial capital have until he was run over by a couple of other vehicles continued to remain invisible until the recent but by then his body was dismembered beyond judgment in actor Salman Khan’s case made it recognition,” she said. Flanking their flyover part of the national discourse for all the wrong is the Santacruz Chembur Link road, the city’s reasons. first double–decker flyover, which after being a Worse off than 41 per cent of the total 12.47 work-in-progress for 11 years, was inaugurated million population that lives in Mumbai’s many last year. With the city’s east-west connecting slums, the homeless have lived, sometimes for link road now functional, the neighbourhood is generations, along the city’s pavements without a gradually getting gentrified. roof over their heads or any access to education, The slums across the street have given healthcare, water or sanitation. Even an official way to under-construction super-luxury high- acknowledgment of their existence came only rises with sky villas and duplexes that not only when the 2011 census figures pegged the number offer landscaped gardens, swimming pool and of those are not living in a ‘structure with a roof’ at acupressure walkway for its residents but also 57,416, a figure much disputed by activists who promise a dog park, pet crèche and salon for peg their numbers at anywhere between three to their furry friends. four lakh.

26 BUTTERFLIES Despite its inadequacies in providing shelter, been found abandoned. So were the two caged Delhi still has 184 shelters that can accommodate parakeets, both named Mithu, that Arbaaz and 14,584 people. That would be almost 90 per cent his friends brought in after they found them fallen of its 16,000 homeless population as estimated off the trees, lying on the street outside. Parts by Delhi government or just 31 per cent if one of the ceiling have fallen off exposing the rusted goes by the Census 2011 estimate of 46,724 iron beams that precariously hold together the homeless people in Delhi. Mumbai has only seven decrepit structure. “The children sleep on mats ramshackle structures that the Brihan Mumbai stretched out on the floor but during rains it gets Municipal Corporation (BMC) masquerades as flooded. So we bought these narrow wooden shelters. These collectively accommodate 200- benches for them to sleep on,” said caretaker odd inmates, mostly under-18 boys, accounting Gopal Sharma, who until last year worked at a for not even one per cent of the city’s homeless similar shelter near the crowded Dadar railway population. A December 2011 National Report station until it was demolished by the BMC to on Homelessness prepared for the Supreme create space for pedestrians. Court pointed out that besides West Bengal, Nobel Peace prize nominee Jockin Arputham, Maharashtra, which has the second highest whose NGO SPARC runs two of these shelters, number of homeless persons at 3.40 lakh people, points out that BMC gives no facilities, not even is the only state that has failed to set up even a subsidised drinking water or food, to run these single homeless shelter. Going by SC directive shelters. “We have to pay a monthly lease rent to of one permanent shelter per 1 lakh population, the BMC to keep the children here. Night shelters each with a capacity for 100 people, Mumbai are meant for all roofless people ione nothing to requires 125 permanent shelters in addition to provide for the homeless,” said Jockin. several temporary and night shelters. “In 2012, after Maharashtra failed to comply with the SC order we filed a PIL in the Bombay High Part III Court holding the state and BMC responsible. The BMC immediately went about painting signboards its affidavit filed before the Bombay High outside these age-old NGO-run shelters for Court, the BMC, the country’s richest civic body, children just to show the court that they has has said that it has borne all expenses for setting provided shelters for homeless in Mumbai,” said up the seven shelters terming these them ‘model Brijesh Arya, from Homeless Collective. One of night shelters’ that meet all requirements. these NGO-run shelter is in Bandra, the suburb A February 2015 court commission report, that is home to most Bollywood A-listers. About accessed by The Indian Express, has called the 1.5 km away from here is the American Bakery BMC’s bluff and pointed out that none of these where those sleeping on the pavement were run receive any financial support from corporation over by Salman Khan’s vehicle 13 years ago. or the state but are run entirely by NGOs. Of The shelter is a dingy 120 sqft room next to the seven, only two have mattresses while four a BMC dog pound office. It contains nothing but provide food. Many are without basic amenities lockers, a table, chair and a wash basin to which such as ventilated rooms, water or toilet facilities. the BMC has provided no water connection. With The commission found that only one shelter neither any bedding nor toilet, it houses three allows men above the age of 18 years while just teenage boys. Another one under the railway two — in the red light district of Kamathipura foot-over bridge near the Wankhede stadium in and in Byculla — allow girls, mostly children of tony South Mumbai is actually a three-decade- commercial sex workers. The report categorically old 24×7 home for children. From its youngest states that none of these are accessible to inmate, 6-year-old Arbaaz Shaikh to its newest homeless families in the vicinity. Ajay Kumar (11), the 24 inmates here have The policy blindness is reflected in the draft

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 27 housing policy which is set to be released by five tenements are just a beginning. With land Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis soon. While being limited, we have to devise better housing it has provisions for redevelopment of slums instruments to tackle the issue of migration to and for creating rental and affordable housing, Mumbai,” said SVR Srinivas, BMC’s additional there is no mention of measures for providing municipal commissioner. shelter, temporary or permanent, to those living For Jamli, a shelter home is a distant dream. in absolute poverty. “These people are so poor Her immediate worry is the impending threat of that they cannot even afford to rent space in a displacement from the only home she has ever slum. However, the BMC is in denial about its known. “With my foot gone, my earnings from homeless population. In its affidavit before the road work has also ceased,” she says as the High court, it has listed the state’s many schemes listless summer night draws out residents from for slum dwellers as its contribution towards their tattered cloth tents on to the garbage-strewn resolving the issue of homelessness,” said pavement opposite for a good night’s sleep. Abhishek Bharadwaj, an activist who works with Around midnight, a car pulls up next to them and the homeless. a couple of men step out bearing food. Children Five years since the SC order, the BMC has snuggled close to the stray dogs are woken identified a grand total of five tenements, each up. They have had an arduous day after being 225 sqft in size, at Mahul, a settlement along detained at the state-run Children’s home for the periphery of Mumbai, as shelter for the begging at the junction, but right now they have homeless. “We will abide by the SC order. These to be fed their only proper meal for the day.

28 BUTTERFLIES PLIGHT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IN DELHI June 2, 2012 Beyond Headlines News Desk(Courtesy: Pratirodh)

Shahri Adhikar Manch: Begharon Ke Saath This would reduce the requirement of 160 on Tuesday organised a press conference in Delhi permanent shelters in Delhi to 32 shelters and is to highlight the problems faced by the homeless in direct violation of court orders.” in the capital. Ashok Pandey from Beghar Mazdoor The press conference was attended by Sangharsh Samiti, also a SAM : BKS member, several human rights activists who condemned described the grossly inadequate living conditions the Delhi government’s inaction over providing in the temporary shelters. Constructed for the basic facilities to the homeless people. winter, these tin shelters, which were like cold Here is the full statement: storage boxes have become virtual ovens in the In a press conference organised by Shahri summer and are largely uninhabitable. “There Adhikar Manch : Begharon Ke Saath (SAM : BKS) is still no drinking water, toilets or fans in any of in the capital this week, human rights activists the tent and tin shelters. Without electricity, how and homeless citizens raised several issues of can any fans or lights be installed? The heat is concern related to homelessness in Delhi. unbearable, people cannot sleep at night. Our Indu Prakash Singh, SAM:BKS member and shelter in Kudusiya Ghat is infested with an army technical advisor at Indo-Global Social Service of mosquitoes. You can’t stand for a minute Society, provided an overview of the situation without being bitten. This is an acute health of homelessness, including recent positive hazard for the homeless, especially for children developments such as the President of India’s who are most vulnerable,” he said. Ishwar announcement of a National Programme for Chand, another SAM:BKS member, added, “The Urban Homelessness, the National Advisory absence of water and sanitation facilities poses Council’s recommendations for the homeless, and acute problems for homeless women and children progressive orders from the Hon’ble High Court and threatens their security. Mobile health vans, of Delhi and the Supreme Court of India. In spite despite High Court orders, do not visit most of the of these developments, the Delhi government shelters.” has failed to respond to the needs of the city’s Abdul Shakeel, member of SAM:BKS and over 150,000 homeless people. He said, “Despite Haq, drew attention to the struggle of homeless announcing plans to improve living conditions in citizens in Delhi for ration cards and adequate shelters, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board grain entitlements under the Public Distribution (DUSIB) has not taken appropriate action to date. System (PDS), which they are consistently denied. This delayed response amounts to a gross Establishing their identity is a critical issue for violation of a bundle of human rights of the the homeless. He stated that, “The failure of the homeless whom we call City Makers, as the city state to provide the homeless with voter identity is built on their sweat, labour and subsidised cards violates their right to political participation.” services.” He mentioned the, “preposterous He highlighted the economic burden faced due plan of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to DUSIB’s consistent late payment to caretakers to amend Master Plan Delhi-2021 to reduce the of shelters, many of whom are homeless citizens. number of homeless shelters from one per one He also spoke of recent forced evictions carried lakh population to one per five lakh population. out by the Delhi government at Chilla Khadar and

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 29 Baljeet Nagar, “which are resulting in more and significantly. ShahriAdhikarManch had submitted more people becoming homeless in Delhi.” to the government a short-term plan (in February Zubeida, a woman who was rendered 2010) and a long-term plan (in September 2011), homeless after being evicted from Viklang Basti with human rights-based recommendations, but before the Commonwealth Games, spoke about these do not seem to have been considered. the acute problems that her family has had to On behalf of SAM:BKS, Ms Joseph presented face. “The government demolished our homes the following demands from the Government of without any notice and did not provide us with Delhi: any alternative housing or compensation. We Immediately improve temporary shelters are now forced to live on the streets without any to make them habitable, including providing shelter, basic services, privacy or security. We electricity, fans, drinking water, toilets, have no one to approach or no means to seek healthcare, and mosquito repellants Establish an justice in this city. The city does not seem to care independent committee to monitor the functioning about the poor.” of all homeless shelters SAM:BKS member and associate director Conduct an audit into the expenditure of the of Housing and Land Rights Network, Shivani government on temporary shelters, and provide Chaudhry, stated that, “Both the High Court of information on the process of design selection Delhi and the Supreme Court of India have, in and contractors, and details on exact spending several interim orders, called for the construction Implement the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme of sufficient and adequate permanent shelters Court of India and High Court of Delhi, especially for the homeless. The High Court had asked the related to creating year-round, twenty-four government for a long-term plan and called for hour permanent shelters (160 shelters as per permanent shelters to be set up by December the requirement of one shelter per one lakh 2010. A year and a half later, the government is still population) and preparing a long-term plan for focusing on makeshift, dysfunctional temporary addressing homelessness in Delhi shelters, that too at a cost of Rs. 3,00,000 per Make available vacant government buildings shelter. We are extremely concerned about and unused premises for homeless shelters the attempts of the Delhi government to further Withdraw the proposal of the DDA to amend marginalise the homeless by proposing plans to the Master Plan Delhi-2021 to reduce the number relocate them to the outskirts of the city in areas of homeless shelters from one per one lakh such as Kanjhawla and Narela. This would violate population to one per five lakh population not just their right to housing but also their right Conduct regular meetings of the Joint Apex to work/livelihood. The government’s repeated Advisory Committee and implement its decisions abrogation of its legal obligations to implement and Prevent forced evictions that violate the right court orders and uphold the Constitution of India to adequate housing and result in homelessness. and international law, is disturbing.” She further Speakers stressed their commitment to added that, “Providing shelters is just the first step working constructively with all agencies in order in a continuum of housing rights; the ultimate goal to ensure that the human right to adequate of the government must be to provide low cost, housing of Delhi’s homeless is protected. Delhi adequate housing for the homeless.” has the opportunity to be a model for other cities Amita Joseph, SAM:BKS member and across India with regard to providing services director of Business and Community Foundation, for the homeless and upholding their rights. It regretted that despite the existence of a Joint is, therefore, crucial for the government to adopt Apex Advisory Committee (JAAC), a Mother a positive rather than an adversarial approach NGO (MNGO) and positive orders from the High and fulfill its national and international legal Court of Delhi and the Supreme Court of India, the obligations. condition of Delhi’s homeless has not improved

30 BUTTERFLIES 4 OF 10 BELOW-FIVE STUNTED IN URBAN INDIA; HALF OF HOMELESS CHILDREN SEXUALLY ABUSED DNA, Amrita Madhukalya

Mumbai, with 517 cases, second among conducted in over 53 cities around the country, country’s cities when it comes to crimes against said children amongst the city’s poor are more children vulnerable than their rural counterparts. “The Domestic help Anita, 54, gets up at 3:30 every vulnerability quotient is manifold, and urban morning. After completing her household chores, poverty is very different from rural poverty. In rural she takes a bus from the outskirts to a busy Delhi areas, the government is pro-active in coming up locality to reach the first house she works in by with schemes, but it is only in the last few years 6am. She works six houses to feed a house of that the government has realised how critical its seven after her 30-year-old son lost his right arm intervention is,” she says. in a factory mishap. “Compensation? Who will The study reveals that around 7.6 million fight for us,” asks the woman. children below six live in Indian slums, forming Year after year, as the successive governments 13.1% of the total child population of the urban work on schemes and policies to alleviate rural areas. Maharashtra, which has the largest number poverty, left in the lurch are the millions of poor of slum enumeration blocks – 21,359 – also has in our cities. A new study, ‘Forgotten voices: The the highest slum child population with around 1.7 voice of the urban poor in India’, released by Price million children (below 6 years) staying in slums. water House Coopers and Save the Children, well 31.5% of the urban poor in Delhi have never reveal some glaring facts about urban children attended schools, and the lack of sanitation and under the poverty line, like the ones we meet in water facilities, and diseases due to that, have households like that of Anita. lead to the loss of approximately 443 million The report, released by Minister of State for school days. Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, says that about 32.7% The child sex ratio in urban areas continued of urban children under five are underweight, to decline, with 935 girls per 1,000 boys in 1991 while 39.6% are stunted. While 35% of the street to 905 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011. And, 29% children in cities have indulged in substance of urban girls are prey to child marriages. Of abuse, 54.5% of homeless children confirmed the 51,000 street children in Delhi, 20% were experiences of sexual abuse. Only 26.6% urban girls, and all of them are vulnerable to abuse. households have access to safe drinking water. Bengaluru topped the list in the number of crimes Almost 70% of children who work as domestic against children with 551 cases; with Mumbai workers reported physical abuse and 32.2% (517) being second and Delhi (363), third. In sexual abuse. urban areas, only half of the girls between 15 and “It is saddening to see the figures of sexual 17 years of age attend school. And, there is only abuse of children in India. I believe that for a society one primary healthcare facility located within an or a country, the level of progress is determined urban area catering to population, much higher by how safe the children are,” said minister Kiren than the standard norm of one centre per 50,000 Rijiju. He said ‘smart cities’ concept cannot be a people. success without the safety of our children. Enakshi Ganguly of Haq Centre for Child Advocacy director with Save the Children, Rights said we don’t talk of urban poverty much. Bidisha Pillai, who was part of the survey “The safety threats in urban areas are serious;

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 31 unplanned urbanisation has led to people being Pillai said the poor-rich divide makes problems thrown out.” She said even though it really needs worse. “While you have obesity and other such to be seen how the Centre plans ‘smart cities’, lifestyle diseases, poor kids are malnourished. the decentralisation of centralised metros might Urban health centres are not equipped to reach help in the long run. out to so many people, and by bearing these The poor-rich divide in urban areas is more out-of-the-pocket expenses, the poor are really glaring: 29% to 32% of children in Delhi’s private strained,” she said. schools are overweight, while about 47% of urban “Urban needs are not in tune with urban poor children are malnourished. Komal Ganotra planning, and the population that keeps adding of Child Rights and You, who has worked in urban to these cities year after year are dynamic. slums in Seemapuri, Dwarka and Dakshinpuri, Rural areas have the PDS scheme and midday said while we need the services of the poor, meals, and every village has an anganwadi. The urban design and planning chooses to not talk schemes hardly trickle down to cover all the slum- about them. dwellers. JNNURM does not even take children into account,” said Ganotra.

32 BUTTERFLIES THE DEPLORABLE PLIGHT OF DELHI’S HOMELESS DNA, Wednesday, 19 February 2014 - New Delhi

Thousands of people sleep on the streets in The parking lot is always empty now, and so is the national capital, and live out their daily lives our dream of having our own little place. We try in dire straits. Some NGOs struggle to provide for and save some money, but that’s...” He trails off their needs, while the citizens turn a blind eye to as words fail him. their misery. Richa Taneja highlights their stories. This is the story of thousands of Ahmeds, the Homeless people sleeping on a street in Delhi. homeless in Delhi. Picked up by the police and All photographs by Sarika Gulati/DNA put behind the bars, some reappear after a few During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, four days, others vanish into oblivion. Children are settlements in Lodhi Colony near Sewa Nagar stripped on a daily basis in search of stolen mobile railway station (Prabhu Market Camp, Prabhu phones and seldom sleep at night without being Market Extension Camp, Indira Gandhi Camp subjected to inhuman poking by beat constables. and Viklang Basti) were demolished to build a Women are molested, raped. parking lot for the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium For an increasing number of the struggling and a link road to connect it with the Thyagaraj middle class, the homeless are encroachers Stadium. Noor Ahmed, 29, stayed with his wife occupying pavements that have been built for and three children at Viklang Basti (a colony for and with the money of hard working taxpayers. the disabled). Theirs was among the families To them the homeless are a liability who live off that were forcefully evicted with a promise of subsidies. For the government, the homeless rehabilitation. Only the disabled, however, were make the streets look filthy and dissuade rehabilitated. The rest are still in search of a roof. international investors. They are merely numbers Ahmed recounts his experience of being that need to be contained. For the police, they are uprooted from a place he called home, sadness criminals and drug addicts, who can be publicly filling his face. “My wife and I have learnt beaten up, repeatedly arrested on grounds of gardening and we work all day to beautify Lodhi suspicion and paraded in front of senior officials, Roads. From digging to prepping the soil, sowing and, at times the media, to show prompt action flowering seeds and planting saplings, timely when a complaint is registered. watering them and taking care of mulching, Few businesses acknowledge that the grafting, pruning to maintain the older ones, we homeless are cheap labour working for them do it all. Together, we earn about Rs 6,000, which for a pittance under inhuman conditions. Few in is just about enough to feed us and our three the middle class want to acknowledge that the children. The CWG happened; foreigners came in large numbers, played at the games and left.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 33 homeless are their drivers, cleaners, rickshaw (MCD) for demolishing a homeless night shelter pullers, sweepers, house maids and waiters, who on Pusa Roundabout and leaving 250 homeless work for them, at times for less than Rs 1,000 out on the streets in the capital’s harsh winters. a month. The government doesn’t acknowledge On January 7, 2010, Justice Shah ordered the that the rag pickers and people who go waist deep MCD to rebuild the shelter, to not evict homeless into sewage pipes and gutters are homeless too. in the winter on humanitarian grounds, and to take A homeless man on Delhi’s streets. For 11 responsibility to protect the rights of homeless years, he has found work every single day. He people in Delhi. mostly works as cheap labour (catering support) Justice Shah, while continuing to hear and during weddings and others local festivals. He left follow up with the government on the progress his home in Odisha and continues to stay on the of constructing shelters for the homeless, took streets, rarely going to the shelters to sleep. The cognisance of the newspaper report and pointed last time he visited Odisha was three years ago. it out as a glaring example of human rights violation of the homeless. The beginning, or an end? The suo moto case in the high court gave, On August 29, 2010, The New Delhi edition for the first time, tremendous visibility to the of an English broadsheet carried in its inside issues of the homeless. The People’s Union for pages the story of Laxmi, who on July 26, 2010, Civil Liberties (PUCL) took this opportunity and gave birth to a girl on a dirty roadside, without submitted to the Supreme Court that malnutrition any assistance from the government, hospitals and hunger were underlying causes that made or the capital’s citizens. It recounted how the people vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, wailing of the newborn lying beside her dazed and connected the number of deaths of the mother alerted a food-stall owner, who alerted homeless in Delhi that January to the Right (of a woman who ran a garment shop nearby. The every citizen) to Food case that they were fighting shop owner, the story read, was shocked to against the Government of India since 2001 in see dogs circling the day-old infant. “‘The dogs the Supreme Court. looked like they would pounce on the infant,’” it The petitioners prayed that there was an read. “‘The mother told me she had given birth urgent need for shelters in urban areas across on her own, even pulling the child forcefully to cut the country, and requested the court to direct the the umbilical cord.’” central and state governments to provide one On any other day, the story would have shelter to accommodate 100 people per one lakh offended several sensibilities for a few moments, of the population in every city with a population of and people would then continue with their lives over five lakh. The shelters, they said, should run after commenting on the government’s apathy. 24 hours a day, all through the year and have basic That particular day, however, the story caught the facilities such as beds, toilets, drinking water, eye of Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah, lockers, primary healthcare, de-addiction and who on January 6, 2010, had initiated a suo moto recreation facilities. The matter was discussed case against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi

34 BUTTERFLIES and the Additional Solicitor General appearing for has been one of the pioneers in bringing the the Union of India submitted that all major cities issue of homelessness to the forefront, says will be provided with shelters. bluntly, “All citizens should be strictly bound by This was hailed as a landmark order, and was “duty of care” which is completely lacking here. It to open doors for millions of homeless across the should be a shared responsibility. Often, we see country. people passing by a person lying on the footpath Four years and 176 new shelters assuming him to be drunk. So, why shouldn’t the later, mindsets still same society be blamed? Does donating a blanket or According to the Zonal Integrated Police talking about the issue fulfil our responsibility?” Network’s website, from January 1 to February The government and the society look at 15, 2014, 341 unidentified dead bodies were the homeless through the same lens. For them found in Delhi. Most of these were of members the homeless is one mass of people. In reality, of the homeless community, which, as per the they are single men, single women, women census data, grew by a whopping 95.5% in the with children, families, youths, people with National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi in the special needs and the elderly who battle illness, past decade. loneliness, depression, drug and physical abuse, Not all deaths can be attributed to climatic malnutrition, exploitation, harassment and conditions, as weak immune systems, drug poverty. The solution, therefore, needs to go addiction, sickness and withdrawal symptoms are beyond merely providing a tin cabin with dusty also strong causes. The issue, thus, is larger than floors and torn blankets. the implementation of the Supreme Court order, The numbers, where the challenge and the solution required needs to go beyond begins providing a temporary roof to the homeless. When looked at closely, the issue of the The challenge to rehabilitate the homeless homeless and their alleviation opens up a begins at their conflicting numbers. The Pandora’s box. Homelessness is not merely an Census of India defines homeless as houseless “economic folly”; it lays bare the intrinsic issues population not living in census houses, where of poverty, education, breach of trust, violence a census house is essentially a structure with at home, beggary, child abuse, sexual violence, a roof. The houseless population is likely to live inter-religious tension, caste issues, trafficking, “on the roadside, on pavements, in hume pipes, LGBT marginalisation and other such social ills. under staircases or in the open, in temples, on The deeper you delve into it, the more you are platforms and the like”. perturbed. Eventually, however, you too would According to the 2001 census figures, Delhi pass the blame and the responsibility on to the had 21,895 homeless. However, an independent government. study conducted by Ashray Adhikar Abhiyan Paramjeet Kaur from Ashray Adhikar in 2000 revealed there were 52,765 homeless Abhiyan, who has led a community outreach people in Delhi. The census figures v/s NGO clinic near Jama Masjid for over 11 years and numbers tussle, one would assume, must have

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 35 resolved in 13 years. It hasn’t. streets, clean the drains – the key drivers of an As per the 2011 census, Delhi’s homeless urban economy. They are often subjected to population stood at 46,724. In the same year, the police brutalities and are highly vulnerable to Supreme Court Commissioner’s Office (SCCO), exploitation. DUSIB, Mother NGO (MNGO), Homeless The DUSIB’s take on the homeless numbers Resource Centre (HRCs) (including the Indo- borders on shocking. In the third week of January Global Social Service Society -IGSSS) conducted this year, after several homeless deaths were an independent enumeration of the homeless reported in the capital, DUSIB conducted a survey population in Delhi, the figure for which stands at in 12 districts of Delhi with the help of 55 teams 2,46,800. that had an engineering staff of 170 members “While the government figures have not gone and administrative staff of 60, and also members beyond 50,000, NGOs believe around 1,40,000 of area-specific NGOs. The report, according to people are homeless in Delhi,” says Amod Kamal Malhotra, Director of DUSIB, showed only Kanth, Founder of NGO Prayas and a member 4,209 people sleeping outside on the roads, and of the Joint Apex Committee – a body constituted 8,784 people inside the 211 night shelters. “Even on the Delhi High Court’s orders which has if we double the number of people sleeping on representation from DUSIB and NGOs working the roads, the total would only be around 17,000. for homeless. So the NGOs’ escalated figures have amused According to Paramjeet Kaur, the estimate, us to a great extent and since more and more after many independent studies, has been that NGOs are joining the cause of the homeless, and 1% of Delhi’s urban population is homeless, so the government provides Rs 35,000 for running the number currently stands close to 1,50,000. per shelter, we do smell a rat somewhere. The The blame for the homeless deaths, according validity of the figures quoted by the NGOs is to Indu Prakash Singh, executive committee questionable,” he says. member of Shahri Adhikar Manch: Begharon Ke Night shelters: Paucity or abundance? Saath (Urban Rights Forum: With the Homeless), who has been relentlessly working for the cause This winter, a total of 229 night shelters were since 1999, lies with the Delhi Urban Shelter fully functional. More came up towards the end of Improvement Board (DUSIB). “The homeless are January, to a total of 234. victims of government’s nonchalance, arrogance After initial deaths were reported this winter, and corruption. In this case, it vests in DUSIB,” the steadfastness shown by the Aam Aadmi Party he says. (AAP) government has been praised by voluntary A night shelter for the homeless. Most organisations. “Arvind Kejriwal has been a big homeless people are daily wage earners, who support. The previous government didn’t bat an build our homes, wash our cars, pick up garbage, eyelid despite the high court orders. They delayed load and unload goods, serve at weddings/parties, and created stumbling blocks in the creation of pull rickshaws, water public gardens, sweep the new shelters. This year, in less than a month, over 76 shelters were created. Whereas, between

36 BUTTERFLIES 2000 and 2013, there were 175 shelters, most of so, that there’s no space to walk. Once you’ve got which came after High Court and Supreme Court your space, curl up and don’t move, appears to intervention,” says Indu Prakash Singh. be the norm. There’s an unpleasant smell inside According to the DUSIB’s daily computer- the shelter, a culmination of alcohol, suffocation, generated occupancy report of the night shelters, perspiration, and body odour from unwashed between January 28 and February 3, the highest bodies crammed in a room. This is usually the occupancy the 215 night shelters saw was 9,069. scene inside the men’s shelter. The one with As per the DUSIB, the occupancy figures have families and women are still breathable. not crossed 10,000 throughout this winter. A homeless shelter at the Yamuna Pushta, According to the DUSIB, the capacity of 229 New Delhi. (Yamuna Pushta is the pushta night shelters, which includes 83 permanent (embankment) on both sides of the river). The shelters, 97 porta-cabins, 22 tents and 27 voluntary occupancy of a shelter depends on basic facilities shelters is 16,959. “With an average occupancy like availability of toilets, drinking water and, most of 50% in the shelters already built, there seems importantly, the behaviour of the caretaker. to be no need to create more. Further, it is a huge The other cause of distress to the homeless challenge to get those homeless people sleeping is inadequate toilet facilities. The toilets near the just 500 metres away from the shelters inside Jor Bagh shelters, which are operated by the them. One can use some force, but in reality you MCD, are shut during the night. There are three can’t throw a person inside the shelter against his shelters in the vicinity and the non-availability of or her will,” says Malhotra. toilets during the nights is a cause of worry for the “Going forward, our immediate challenge is to homeless families. move towards more permanent shelters and find Kamla Tai, 56, prefers to live outside the space in the walled city. The maximum number of shelters. She once belonged to a well-to-do homeless people are around this area, but getting family in Haryana. After her husband’s demise permanent land allotted is a perennial fight,” he and her daughter’s marriage, she was abandoned adds. by her in-laws. She and a few other homeless The question that arises then is why the have made arrangements for themselves near capital’s homeless prefer to sleep on the Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place. streets in inhuman conditions, as opposed to She says, “I cannot live inside the shelters. the shelters. The problem, development sector There’s no privacy and I don’t feel very safe professionals working with the homeless say, is inside. All kinds of women sleep there, some with the condition, accessibility and location of also do dhanda. There’s always a fight brewing... the shelters. women fighting over petty issues, some would At nights, the shelters are packed, especially keep the television and light on until late night. the ones in the Yamuna Pusta area. All one can There’s constant disturbance and scrutiny, so I see are rows of people wrapped in blankets, decided to live outside.” stacked one after the other like sacks. So much While Kamla’s reasons are that of privacy,

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 37 personal hygiene, disturbance and constant required to delve into their issues, which are a noise, there are some who prefer to stay outside result of a prejudiced social structure. Some of as they continuously cough, vomit or have them want to work but health does not permit diarrhoea, and don’t find the night shelter’s them. I have felt helpless many times, but I give it environment conducive. And some also don’t find all I can,” he says. it right to disturb others sleeping beside them. Talking about the deficit of funds, he says, “Adequate number of shelters as per the “While the government provides Rs 35,000 to Supreme Court’s norm (one shelter per one lakh caretaking NGOs, the money is only enough urban population) with a capacity corresponding to provide the salaries of three caretakers, with the concentration of the homeless people in who work in three eight-hour shifts every day, that locality should be made available. Location, a sweeper and some maintenance charges. capacity, accessibility and utility should be the As per the Supreme Court order of 2010, the main criteria to open a shelter,” says Kaur. caretaking NGO needs to provide counselling, “The current occupancy of above 200 shelters lockers, recreational facilities etc., but where are is negligible as to the total count of the homeless. the funds? In constrained budgets, only the most Why is it so? We need to question and review that. essential things can be provided.” Shelter is the first step towards addressing the Two years ago, the death of a homeless issue. Also, mere passing on the accountability patient in front of AIIMS hospital on December 27 only to the state is not enough. The state should sent shivers down people’s spines. The 33-year- create apt infrastructure support at the shelters,” old man from Bihar had come for a check-up for she adds. a brain-tumour with his wife and two children. While the doctors allegedly refused to see him Beyond shelters: Gender, health, livelihood and security as he came in earlier than his appointment date, the family stayed outside battling the winter chill. Every homeless person at the night shelter Discarded cartons to keep warm from the biting knows Sunil Kumar Aledia. He is Delhi’s cold were of no help, and on one cold night, the 24X7X365 Homeless Citizen’s Helpline – man froze to death. The picture of the numb wife 9811327037, tirelessly working for the homeless and children wailing around the body of this man since 2000. Be it aadhar cards, medical help, pierces the heart and makes one ponder the opening of accounts or just sharing troubles, he value of human life. is the go-to man. “The women are the vulnerable This incident was one of the rare ones that lot, some widowed, some elderly, some lactating, came into the limelight, probably because it some sick, some who have suffered violence at happened right outside AIIMS. But there is an home, been neglected, suffered from malnutrition, equally heart wrenching story behind each of impregnated and then left, faced sexual abuse, the 288 deaths reported between January 1 and infidelity, trafficking or forced into prostitution, February 10 this year, and thousands of other used as surrogates and denied their freedom to deaths on the streets in the past decade. live. A lot of care, compassion and patience is

38 BUTTERFLIES Homeless people sleep on cots at Meena every three days, if not every day. The blankets Bazaar, near Jama Masjid. There used to be have lice, bed bugs, germs and are infected. Just a shelter here with a capacity to house 1,000 because someone is poor, he asks, does that people until 2001, when it was closed on the mean they lose the right to hygiene? A sourced orders of the then Union Urban Minister. Now, blanket can lead to further infections. Therefore, the homeless sleep outside. The cots come at a personal cleanliness and hygiene must be cost – Rs 30 per person: Rs 10 for cot, Rs 10 for inculcated. mattress and Rs 10 for quilt. This business has With the help of NGOs, there should be a desk the support of local police, who take money from to connect the homeless back to their states. So, the rajaiwalas. Sleeping here also ensures that apart from bringing in night shelters, providing there will be no police beating here. Elsewhere, a conducive habitat and support system to the police brutality is common. needy has be the prime focus, he adds. According to Dr. Amod Kumar, Community Kaur sums up some major challenges that Head of Department, St. Stephens Hospital and lie ahead. “While the state is busy fulfilling the Nodal Officer of Mother NGO, it’s not only about targets given through the court orders, there is giving the homeless shelters. The large number massive lack of trust between the NGOs and the of deaths is not due to the cold alone. It is primarily government. Without balancing the two, the road because the immune system of the homeless has ahead is full of doldrums. In high concentration become so weak that a moderate change in the areas, the capacity of shelters and their numbers weather can cause irreparable harm to the body. need to be increased. Roping in other concerned “Mental illness and homelessness go hand- departments like Social Welfare, Health and in-hand as proper healthcare is not reachable Family welfare, Social justice and empowerment, and accessible to both the categories. We have Labour etc. can only help in weeding out the Human Resource Centre rescue vans and CAT issue altogether. A special Disaster Management ambulances working round the clock at night Board must tackle winter woes. For a large chunk, to rescue the needy homeless. My experience integrated homes are required and finally, regular says most of them are deeply sick, in drunken review of the progress of the work, participatory condition and on the verge of dying. They need to approach, learning from the experience is be taken to the intensive care unit as their mental required.” faculties and bodily functions start to slow down. Above all, combating homelessness is a Why does one have to arrive at such stage to collective effort and must be fought together be treated? That’s a dark and delicate area that keeping aside individual differences,” she raises questions on medicine and healthcare in concludes. our country,” he says. A large number of the homeless are dependent Kumar also emphasises maintaining a level on injecting, inhaling and taking drugs which of hygiene inside the shelters. He advises that harm their mental faculties and also lead them the linen bed-covers need to be washed at least into petty crimes or beggary, thus also making

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 39 them “the first finger of suspicion” after a theft or among them. There are NGO teachers who come any other nefarious activity in the area. Special regularly to educate children. Encouraging them drug de-addiction centres to rehabilitate them is and sharing knowledge with them can propel also the need of the hour. them into making their lives much better. While we collectively ponder over solutions for the homeless in Delhi, the community, in its The solution to deal with homelessness is all limited capacity, offers helping hands to each in place, and has been in place for over half a other. There are young adults who have started decade. The DUSIB claims the shelters are in learning skills like Teflon-coating cars, computer place, the health department claims healthcare literacy, sewing, weaving and gardening to is in order, the education department claims support themselves. There are instrument everything is on track. Why then are hundreds players, poets, drivers, painters, teachers, mini- still dying invisible deaths in the national capital? shop owners, rickshaw pullers and house-maids It’s a question each one of us needs to ponder.

40 BUTTERFLIES STATISTICS ON HOMELESSNESS POPULATION

India’s Homeless Population

India 1,21,05,69,573 Rural 83,34,63,448 Urban 37,71,06,125 Source: Census 2011

Cities of India In Terms of Urban Houseless People

Greater Mumbai 95,755 Delhi 46,724 Kolkata 69,798 Chennai 16,682 Bangalore 16,531 Total 2,45,490 Source: Census 2011

Districts wise Distribution of Homelessness in Delhi

District Total Percentage North 7967 14.2 Central 13988 25.0 East 4983 8.9 West 1781 3.2 South 9427 16.9 New Delhi 894 1.6 North East 2747 4.9 North West 10827 19.3 South West 3341 6.0 Total 55955 100 Source: Homeless survey 2010, UNDP-Delhi Government

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 41 NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINES COVERED IN THIS ISSUE

Assam Tribunes Business Standard BBC News DNA Dainik Jagaran Deccan Herald Daily Excelsior Deccan Chronicle Dainik Hindustan Financial Chronicle Firstpost.Com Hindustan Times Kashmir Times Life News.Com Mint Millennium Post New Indian Express Nai Duniya Pioneer Rajasthan Patrika Sandhya Times The Statesman The Times of India The Tribune The Hindu The Economic Times The Huffington Post The Indian Express United Bharat

The News covered in this issue is from January to April 2015

42 BUTTERFLIES Article 5 The State shall recognise the rights and duties of the parents and the community with the evolving capacities of the child and rights recognised by the convention.

CHILDREN Pressure to Perform Depresses CHILDREN AND SOCIETY Students AND SOCIETY Of Young Brides And ‘Ageless’ Grooms Pressure to perform depresses 27 students The Asian Age, New Delhi, 25 January, 2010 OfThe young Asian Age brides and ‘ageless’ BusinessSoumya Standard, Bhatia New Delhi, groomsncko esa ykMys 2843 Businessjk"Vªh; lgkjk Standard Akshat Kaushal, 15 March, 2015 Ckkycpiu fookgdh cfyosnh dk vfHk’kki 44 always compared to the neigh- 30 Do students give in to jk’Vªh;tulŸkk laLdj.k nSfud tkxj.k The number of child brides bour’sgroup, kidthe orshare his ofschoolmates. women al- pressure or do they create Do parents ever encourage their ChildState reports marriages maximum continue 3246 and grooms in India has risen ready married was 70 percent, child marriages pressure for themselves? child to develop other skills be- DeccanThe Times Herald of India by 10 million over the past de- against a mere 30 percent for We find out. sides mugging? Doing away with cPpscky fookg cu jgsjksdus gSa ds nwYgk&nqYgu fy;s pyk,a vfHk;ku% 46 cade, and – in what could be a men. This implies a significantly 33 Board exams is a wise initiative, la/;kMhMhvks VkbEl more worrying trend more under high number of women marrying fojkV oSHko The year 2010 has begun on a but there is a divided house on What is best for a child? 47 age women are now marrying men out of their age brackets. sombre note. The recent unfortu- this as well.” TheChild Statesman development: 34 much older men an analysis of A study commissioned by role of parents and teachers The pressure is there, but it censusnate incident data ofby students business commit- stan- the now-remodelled Planning The Hindu ting suicide in Mumbai because of also depends what is the trigger. It dard shows. commission had in 2011 found Qans ij D;ksa >wy jgs gSa eklwe 35 either pressure in school or per- is not always fair to blame parents nSfud tkxj.k According to Census 2011, historical, social, cultural, and sonal reasons started a series of or schools for it. Take the case of Childhood's end? 37 India had five million child brides 16-year-oldeconomic reasons Ritu Sharma, for child a Class mar- The Hindu suicides. Is pressure to perform (women marrying under 18 year 12riages. student Parents, studying in mostin a leadingcases, A fourth of adopted Indian kids 39 leading students to take this dras- go abroad oftic age),step towards against ending 380,000 their in lives? 2001 school,did not whoseek has children’s taken on consent a chal- The Times of India anWith increase exam time of 4.56round million the corner, in 10 lengefor marriages, to perform it said.better than her years.we did aSimilarly, reality check. the number of friendA inUnicef the Boards. report Her on parentsSouth childPriya grooms Subramanian, (men marrying media andbe- tookAsia herreported to a counsellor half the recentlywomen forecommunications turning 21) manager,surged to Save6.71 in the region were married be- millionthe Children, from 620,800believes ourin 2001educa- a fore“Sometimes turning 18 parents one in have every risetion systemof over hassix million.a long way to go. five beforeno role 15 years. to play.” The report SheThe says, Census “A child datais always also undershed said the rate of child marriages lightpressure on theto perform. age mismatch Unfortunate- be- in South AsiaDr. Geetanjali was the highest tweenly, our educationbrides and system grooms. focuses In globally. Within the region, 2011,more everyon delivery fifth married than womangaining becausethe rate shewas has the stopped highest sleep- in wasknowledge. in the I wonder15-19 agewhen group, will a ingBangladesh on the bed (two and of sleeps every on three her study table instead. Ritu reasons if whilechild enjoyless thanhis childhood? five percent From of girls were married before turn- she sleeps on the bed, she would marrieda very early men age, were he inis expectedthis age ing 18), followed by India, Nepal not be able to wake up easily. bracket.to score Inhigh the grades. 20-24 yearsA child age is and Afghanistan.

MY NAMECHILDREN IS TODAY IN NEWS VOL VOL XVIII, XXIV, 20112015 l 2743 Married men and women in different age brackets as percentage WIDENING GAP of total population,according to Census 2001 and 2011 data 95.0 94.7 94.9 94.2 94.5 93.7 93.9 93.2 92.7 92.4 92.0 91.2 92.7 90.0 89.1 91.2 90.0 90.3 88.1 87.5 88.8 86.8 85.2 84.3 84.9 82.1 79.8 80.6 78.9 77.7 77.8 77.0 74.5 74.9 73.4 73.2 68.5 66.9 66.4 62.0 63.0 54.4 52.8 48.5 45.7 37.7 38.1 35.9 30.5 31.8 28.3 26.1 25.6 19.5 6.2 4.7 0.7 1.5 1.8 2.7 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+ Married Men Census 2001 Census 2011 Married Women Census 2001 Census 2011

Married Married

48.0 Men* Women* States with Source : Census 2001 and 2011 Census Census

38.5 the highest

36.9 2001 2001 Census Census 31.5 share of child 2011 2011 8.8 8.4 brides in total 3.7 female 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.8 2.5

2.3 population(%) 2.1 1.0 0.6

Age not stated Under 18 yrs Under 21 yrs Rajasthan West Bengal Gujarat Maharashtra Goa * Percentage of total population

ds gLr{ksi ds ckj jn~n fd;k x;kA cky fookg ls lacaf/kr ,d fjiksVZ tkjh Ckky fookg dk ;g ?kVuk mlh 24 tuojh ds pan dh xbZA bl fjiksVZ ds vuqlkj fo”o vfHk’kki jkst igys gqvk gS ftl fnu dks iwjk esa 7-2 djksM+ efgyk,a ,slh gSa ftudh ns”k ++++*us”kuy xyZ pkbYM Ms* ds :Ik “kknh 18 lky ;k blls de mez esa gks jk’Vªh; laLdj.k nSfud tkxj.k] esa eukrk gSA ns”k vkSj izns”k esa ,slh xbZ gSA fo”o dh dqy ckfydk o/kqvksa ubZ fnYyh gtkjksa ruq vkSj lksuw tSlh cfPp;ka dh ,d frgkbZ vkcknh Hkkjr esa ikbZ 02 Qjojh] 2015 gSa tks i<+uk pkgrh Fkha] dqN cuuk tkrh gS ;kuh fd izR;sd 3 esa ls ,d pkgrh Fkha] ysfdu mu lcdh vkdka{kk ckfydk o/kw Hkkjrh; gSA blh izdkj *eSa vHkh cgqr i<+uk pkgrh gwa] vkSj vjeku cky fookg dh HksaV Pk<+ okf’kZd LokLF; losZ{k.k ds vuqlkj e/; ysfdu esjs ?kj okys esjh “kknh tcjnLrh x,A izns”k esa o’kZ 2012&13 esa o’kZ 2011&12 djok jgs FksA “kknh #d tkus ls cgqr la;qDr jk’Vª dh ,d rktk fjiksVZ dh rqyuk esa vf/kd cky fookg gq, [kq”k gwa vkSj vc eSa fQj ls Ldwy tk ds vuqlkj Hkkjr nqfu;k dk ,slk NBk gSaA izns”k esa yM+fd;ksa ds cky fookg ikÅaxh vkSj vius ekrk&firk dks dqN ns”k gS] tgka cky fookg dk izpyu dh nj fiNys o’kZ dh vis{kk 2012&13 cudj fn[kkÅaxhA ;g dguk Fkk 13 lcls T;knk gSA Hkkjr esa 20 ls 49 esa 20 ftyksa esa c<+h gS ftlesa lcls lky dh ruq ftldk cky fookg gksus lky dh mez dh djhc 27 Qhln T;knk >kcqvk] nwljs LFkku ij “kktkiqj tk jgk Fkk vkSj iz”kklu dh eqLrSnh efgyk,a ,slh gSa ftudh “kknh 15 ls rFkk rhljs LFkku ij jktx<+ gSA oSls ls ;g fookg #d x;kA e/; izns”k ds 18 lky dh mez ds chp gqbZ gSA tqykbZ izns”k esa cky fookg yM+fd;ksa esa yM+dksa mTtSu ds teqfu;k [kqnZ xkao dh 13 2014 esa ;wfulsQ }kjk *,fMax pkbYM dh rqyuk esa de jgsa gSa] ysfdu fiNys lky dh lksuw vkSj ruq ds fookg dh eSfjt% izksxzsl ,aM izkLisDV~l “kh’kZd ls o’kZ 2011&12 dh rqyuk esa ckfydk rS;kfj;ka py jgh Fkha] ftls iz”kklu

44 BUTTERFLIES o “kS{kf.kd fodkl lgh rjhds ls ugha feykdj cky fookg dk nq”ifj.kke gks ikrk gSA de mez esa “kknh gksus ls thou Hkj lcls T;knk ckfydk o/kvksa mUgsa xfjekiw.kZ thou thus ds] LokLF;] dks Hkksxuk iM+rk gSA cky fookg dh iks’k.k] f“k{kk ds vf/kdkj ls eg:e dqjhfr dks jksdus ds fy, 1928 esa ,DV gksuk iM+rk gS vkSj os fgalk] nqO;Zogkj] cuk;k x;kA bl ,DV ds eqrkfcd “kks’k.k] ;kSu “kks’k.k dh f”kdkj gksrh gSaA ukckfyx yM+ds vkSj yM+fd;ksa dk cky fookg ds dkj.k cfPp;ka de fookg djus ij tqeZkuk vkSj dSn gks mez esa xHkZorh gks tkrh gSa ftlls muesa ldrh FkhA vktknh ds ckn ls ysdj LokLF; leL;kvksa dh laHkkouk cgqr vkt rd bl ,DV esa dbZ la”kks/ku c<+ tkrh gSA vkSj bl dkj.k e`R;q nj] fd, x, gSaA o’kZ 1978 esa blesa la”kks/ku xHkZikr esa o`f)] dqikssf’kr cPpksa dk tUe] dj yM+dh dh mez “kknh ds oDr 15 ekrk esa dqikss’k.k] [kwu dh deh gksuk] ls c<+kdj 18 lky vkSj yM+ds dh mez f”k”kq e`R;q nj] ekrkvkas esa ;kSu laca/kh 18 ls c<+kdj 21 lky dj nh xbZ FkhA fookg esa 0-2 Qhln dh o`f) gqbZ chekfj;ka c<+rh gSA dPph mez esa eka cky fookg çfr’ks/k vf/kfu;e 2006 gSA vxj yM+dksa ds cky fookg dks cuus okyh ;s ckfydk,a u rks ifjokj dh /kkjk 9 ,oa 1 ds rgr cky fookg ns[ksa rks muds cky fookg ds ftyksa fu;kstu ds izfr ltx gksrh gSa vkSj ds vk;kstu ij nks o’kZ rd dk dBksj esa Hkh cgqr T;knk c<+ksrjh gqbZ gSA o’kZ u gh uotkr f”k”kqvksa ds mfpr ikyu dkjkokl ,oa ,d yk[k :i;s tqekZuk 2012&13 esa 21-3 Qhln yM+dkas ds iks’k.k esa n{k gksrh gSaA bl dkj.k cPpksa gks ldrk gSA cky fookg dh f”kdk;r fookg 21 o’kZ ls de mez esa gq, gSa] dh lgh ns[kHkky ugh gks ikrh vkSj dksbZ Hkh O;fDr fudVre Fkkus esa dj tcfd fiNys o’kZ nj 18-3 Qhln jghA cPps iwjh mez detksj cus jgrs gSaA ldrk gSA vxj cky fookg gks tkrk o’kZ 2012&13 esa 35 ftyksa esa yM+dks ds v/;;uksa ls irk pyrk gS fd 15 o’kZ gS rc fdlh Hkh ckyd ;k ckfydk dh cky fookg ckcqvk izFke LFkku laHkkouk 20 o’kZ dh mez esa eka cuus o;Ld gksus ds nks lky ds vanj voS/k ij gS] ogha “kktkiqj 9-6 Qhln nj ds ls ikap xquk vf/kd gksrh gSA de ?kksf’kr djok;k tk ldrk gSA lkFk nwljs vkSj Vhdex<+ 42-7 ds lkFk mez esa “kknh djus ls yM+fd;ka f”k{kk ns”k esa cky fookg ds f[kykQ rhljs LFkku ij gSA blh rjg bankSj] ls oafpr gks tkrh gS mudk Hkfo’; dkuwu cuus vkSj le; ds vuqlkj Hkksiky vkSj tcyiqj tSls “kgj Hkh cky va/kdkje; gks tkrk gS vui<+ ;k dqN mlesa yxkrkj la”kks/ku dj mls vkSj fookg o`f) nj ls vNwrs ugha gSA cky i<+h&fy[kh gksus ds dkj.k os vius ?kj çHkko”kkyh cuk;k x;k gS fQj Hkh cky fookg cky vf/kdkjksa dk mYya?ku gSA es cgqr T;knk vkfFkZd lg;ksx ugh dj fookg yxkrkj gks jgs gSaA vxj ljdkj fyaxHksn] vf”k{kk] vKkurk] vlqj{kk] ikrh gS vkSj xjhch fujarj cuh jgrh ds reke ç;klksa ds ckotwn ns”k esa cky /kkfeZd&lkekftd ekU;rk,a] jhfr gSA blds vykok os vf”kf{kr gksus ds fookg tSlh dqçFkk dk var ugha gks ik fjokt] ijaijk,a] yM+fd;kas dks derj dkj.k vius cPpksa dks Hkh f”kf{kr ugh jgk gS rks bl vlQyrk ds ihNs lcls le>uk] mUgsa vkfFkZd cks> ekuuk dj ikrhaA ;fn fookg ds ckn ifr dh cM+k dkj.k ;g gS fd cky fookg bR;kfn izeq[k dkj.k gSaA lekt dh ;g ekSr gks tk, rks mls NksVh mez ls gh ,d Lkkekftd leL;k gS vkSj bldk lksp Hkh fd yM+fd;ksa dh de mez esa fo/kok dk thou thuk iM+rk gSA funku Lkkekftd tkx:drk ls gh “kknh dj nsus ls os nwljs ?kj esa tYnh bl çdkj ls cky fookg yM+dh dks lEHko gks ldsxkA dsoy dkuwu cukus lkeatL; fcBk ysrh gSaA ;g fopkj cky fyaxHksn] chekjh] vf”k{kk ,oa xjhch ds ls ;g dqjhfr [kRe ugha gksus okyh fookg ds vusd dkj.kksa esa ls ,d gSA Hkaojtky esa Qalk nsrk gS vkSj ,d ckj gS vxj bl dqçFkk dks tM+ ls [kRe ftu cfPPk;ksa dk cky fookg gksrk gS cPph bl tky esa Qal tk, rks mlls djuk gS rks blds fy, lekt dks vkxs mudk “kkjhfjd] ekufld] lkekftd fudyuk eqf”dy gks tkrk gSA dqy vkuk gksxk rFkk ckfydkvksa ds iks’k.k]

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 45 LokLF;] lqj{kk vkSj f”k{kk ds vf/kdkj yy More than one- third of Rajasthan. dks lqfuf”pr djuk gksxkA lekt esa legislators in Rajasthan got There were reports that sev- f”k{kk dks c<+kok nsuk gksxkA vfHkHkkodksa married when they were just eral villagers in Bhilwara district kids. tried to solemnize marriage of dks cky fookg ds nq”ifj.kkeksa yy It may take 50 years, kids in deep forest and fields. ds çfr tkx:d djuk gksxkA under present resources, The isolated venues were cho- to weed out this social evil sen to evade police. A few such Child Marriages completely, as claimed by marriages were caught by po- unicef. lice on Tuesday. Continue Interestingly, officials deput- A case came to the fore in ed with Anita Badel, Minister Rajsamand district when a sar- Deccan Herald, New Delhi for Women and Child wel- panch and a few members of the 22 April, 2015 fare Department, said there is panchayat were found involved no mechanism inplace even in conducting child marriage in The Rajasthan government to monitor the status of child their own family. has been making tall claims to marriages stopped by local ad- curb child marriages in the state ministration on Akshaya Tritiya. but there has been no long term The entire exercise of curbing cPps cu jgs gSa strategy in place to check the child marriage is at the disposal social evil. of local level officials. Over the nwYgk&nqYgu Even on the occasion question of drafting a long-term la/;k VkbEl] ubZ fnYyh of Akshaya Tritiya, which is strategy to check child mar- 02 ekpZ] 2015 frequently marked by child riages in the state, most of the marriages in the state, senior related departments held other officials in the government government departments re- jhr gS ;k ltk% jktLFkku esa ;g were least bothered to monitor sponsible for it and no one was jhr vHkh Fke ugha jgh campaigns run by local admin- ready to take charge. f”koyky vkBoha d{kk dk Nk= gSA istration to curb child marriages. Officials in the Women The occasion of Akshaya and child Welfare Department Ldwy tkuk nsj ls “kq: fd;k] vc Tritiya on Tuesday was marked claimed that its social Justice mldk eu Ik<+kbZ esa ugha yxrkA og by strong rumours about local Department is responsible for viuh eka dks crk pqdk gS fd okf’kZd administration preventing child preparing a long-term strategy ijh{kk esa og iDdk Qsy gks tk,xkA marriage in various parts of the to curb child marriages while f”koyky ds ,slk dgus dh otg\ state, but none of the officials in officials in the social Justice otg fcYdqy lkQ gSA mldh mez the state government had any Department too shifted the related information. blame of the women and child ds ckdh cPps tc i<+rs&fy[krs gq, Additional chief secretary welfare Department. ekSt&eLrh Hkh dj jgs gSa] og cky of women and child Welfare “Long-term strategy is the fookg dh otg ls etkd dk ik= Department Gurjot Kaur was need of the hour because child cuk gqvk gSA og cspkjk lgikfB;ksa completely unaware about the marriages take place through- }kjk mM+kbZ tk jgh f[kYyh ugha >sy happenings of the day. When out the year in Rajsthan. ldrkA f”koyky ¼14½ us crk;k% esjk asked about the number of Unfortunately local administra- child marriages topped by the tion runs the campaign only on d{kk esa tkus dk eu ugha djrkA esjs local administration in the state, Akshaya Tritiya and remain s lgikBh esjk etkd mM+krs gSaA og Gurjot Kaur said, : I cannot silent for rest of the year,” said eq>s *ikeuk* ¼nwYgk½ dgrs gSaA eq>s ;g tell anything because I am on Kirti Bharti, a social worker fight- vPNk ugha yxrkA leave.” ing against child marriages in

46 BUTTERFLIES f”koyky dh lgikBh jruh mldh cPph ds xHkZorh gksus dh dYiuk the parents, but rather separate eaxsrj gSA mls Hkh Ldwy esa jkstkuk bl dfj,A jkT; esa ekr` o f”k”kq e`R;q nj individual entitled to as much rjg dk rh[ks O;aX; >syus iM+rs gSaA vf/kd gksus dh eq[; otg ;gh gSA protection as any other individ- ual. Thus courts must give due jruh us crk;k% eq>s f”koyky vPNk eksjk xkao esa feyh gj efgyk ,uhfe;k importance to the wishes and ugha yxrk] ysfdu esjh vEek dgrh gSa xzLr o chekj fn[khA welfare of the child. fd tYn gekjh “kknh gksxhA jktLFkku iq’ik dh eka “kadjh nsoh ¼31½ mUgha The doctrine of best in- ds jktlean ftys ds eksjk xkao esa efgykvksa esa ls ,d gSaA mudh ikap terests was incorporated into izkFkfed fo|ky; ds ifjlj esa [kM+h lky dh mez esa “kknh djk nh xbZ FkhA international legislation through jruh us ekuks viuh fdLer ds vkxs muds Ng cPps gSaA “kadjh ds cky iwjh the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child. Article gfFk;kj Mky fn, gSaA og Lo;a dks rjg lQsn gks pqds gSaA mUgksaus gky esa 3.1 of the convention states ykpkj ikrh gSA og viuh mez ls ulcanh dk vkWijs”ku djk;kA mUgksaus that “ In all actions concerning NksVh yxrh gSA crk;k% eSa 16 lky dh mez esa eka cu children, whether undertaken la;qDr jk’Vª ds vuqlkj] cky xbZ FkhA eSa ges”kk chekj tSlk eglwl by public or private social wel- fookg tSlh lkekftd cqjkbZ ds ekeys djrh gwaA fare institutions, courts of law, esa jktLFkku fo”o esa nwljs LFkku ij gSA ;g iwNs tkus ij fd rks iq’ik dh administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best in- dkuwu dgrk gS fd Hkkjr esa yM+fd;ka bruh de mez esa “kknh D;ksa djkbZA terests of the child shall be a 18 vkSj yM+ds 21 lky dk gksus ls tokc esa mUgksaus nq[kh eu ls dgk% primary consideration.” Further, igys “kknh ugha dj ldrsA bl eq>s ;g ukilan gS] ysfdu cky fookg the principle finds its application laoknnkrk us ;gka dbZ xkaoks dk nkSjk gekjh jhr gSA ge /kwe&/kM+kds okyh in various contexts. In particular, fd;k vkSj ik;k fd dbZ vfHkHkkod “kknh dk [kpZ ugha mBk ldrsA iq’ik it is used in separation of child dPph mez esa vius cPpksa dh “kknh dh “kknh mldh nks cM+h cguksa ds lkFk from the family setting (Article 9), with reference to parental djk jgs gSaA ckyh mez esa “kknh gksus gh djk nh FkhA responsibility for the upbringing ls yM+fd;ksa dks LokLF; laca/kh dbZ and development of the child ( leL;k,a >syuh iM+rh gSaA What Is Best For A Article 18), adoption and com- eksjk xkao fuoklh lkr o’khZ;k Child? parable practices (Article 20) miek mUgha cnfdLer yM+fd;ksa esa ls and in the context of the child’s involvement with the police and ,d gSA papy LoHkko dh miek us The Statesman, Kolkata the justice system (Articles 37 29 January, 2015 crk;k% eSa fookfgrk gwa] blfy, esjh eka and 40). Subsequently, it was eq>s [ksyus ugha nsrhA mldk cky ifr adopted by almost all major iM+kslh xkao ldjokl esa jgrk gSA ;g The best interest of the legal systems as key principle iwNs tkus ij fd “kknh”kqnk gksdj dSlk child must be determined in determining any disputes re- yxrk gS\ tokc esa 12 o’khZ;k iq’ik us by balancing legal, ethical lated to children. and scial issues writes “kjekrs gq, dgk% eq>s ugha ekyweA Other international legis- Divya Murlidharan lations like Declaration of the yy [ksyus dk eu djrk gS ij [ksy Rights of the Child 1959, United ugha ldrs The doctrine of “best inter- ests of the child” has for long Nations Declaration relating to y y Ldwy tkus esa fgpfdpkrs gSa been relied upon by courts foster placement and Adoption xSj ljdkjh laLFkk ¼,uthvks½ while deciding any matter re- and the Hague Convention on tru laLFkku dh dk;ZdrkZ uhrk lated to children. At the heart of Intercountry Adoption also give dqekor us crk;k% ;gka cky fookg the principle is the idea that the effect to the principle in one child is not a mere property of form or the other. cgqr cM+h leL;k gSA 15 lky dh In India much of the

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 47 development of the doctrine has above all other considerations. minor. Consequently the court been through various person- Thus, under Muslim law the held that the minor child should al laws and judicial decisions wife is given preference over be sent back to his mother in relating to custody, mainte- the husband in maters of cus- USA (from where he had been nance, education etc. For tody of a child of tender years. illegally abducted by the father instance, eventhough Section Even a woman who might be fi- and flown into India) in view of 6 of the Hindu Minority and nancially poor may be given the the fact that the child was ac- Guardianship Act confers on custody of the child, if the court quainted and acclimatized with the father the exclusive right to feels that it is in the child’s wel- the environment in that country be the natural guardian of the fare to do so. and therefore it would not be minor, courts have relied on the Apart from these statutes, in his interests to have him re- best interests principle to award the apex court has in various moved from there. guardianship to the mother. landmark judgments elaborated Similarly, in the case of Githa Section 17 of the Hindu Minority on the doctrine of best interests. Hariharan & Anr v. RBI & Anr, the and Guardianship Act mandates For instance, in the case of Supreme Court had observed that the welfare of the child is of Elizabeth Dinshaw v. Arvand M. that “the welfare of a child is not paramount importance. Dinshaw the court had held that to be measured by money only, Even under Muslim law the in matters of custody the court nor by physical comfort only. rule of hizanat mandates that is to be guided not by the legal The word welfare must be taken the interests of the child be given rights of the parties but solely by in its widest sense. The Court paramount importance over and the interest and welfare of the has to consider, the whole of

48 BUTTERFLIES the circumstances of the case, to the evidence given by chil- were no standard guidelines to the position of the parent, the dren themselves. This would deal with children’s concerns in position of the child, the age of happen in a case where the family courts. the child, the religion of the child court is skeptical of the child To resolve all these prob- so far as it can be said to have being indoctrinated or tutored. lems it has been suggested any religion, and the happiness A court’s willingness to decide that the wishes and feelings of the child.” the case in accordance with the of the child must be given due Thus clearly the best inter- child’s wishes might be under- consideration by the decision ests standard has emerged as a mined by the knowledge that making authorities where they principle factor to be considered the child could be influenced are considered mature enough in matters related to children, by the adults around him. Thus to have a say in the matter. This across almost all legal systems. the courts must exercise ex- can be done through either hav- However, scholars have alleged treme caution while deciding ing them represented or giving that the doctrine has its own such cases. Further, a number them the opportunity to speak to share of flaws as well which of difficult questions arise when the judge directly. Of course, it need to be resolved before the trying to determine how much would be upon the discretion of doctrine can be implemented weight the court should given to the court whether to agree with successfully. the child’s wishes. For example, the views and desires of the Critics believe that the big- how old does a child have to be child or to ignore them. In the lat- gest flaw in the doctrine is its before its views are accorded ter case, the court must attempt innate vagueness and lack of significant weight? How is the to make the child understand clarity in defining factors which requirement of “understanding” the reasons for a decision, as would help determine the best interpreted? Also, how are the unless they do so there is high interests of the child in each wishes of the child to be ascer- possibility that they may refuse case. Whilst it is also true that tained in the first place? These to comply with it. Opinion of the principle’s flexibility is con- are difficult questions which psychologists and child welfare sidered to be one of its biggest have to be answered before experts should also be given strengths, but its extreme inde- the principle can be properly due importance while weighing terminacy has been a constant applied. evidence. These are some of source of criticism. It has been Thus the idea of best inter- the mechanisms which will go said that the heavily subjective ests has been found to be a a long way in ensuring the suc- nature of the power granted to highly abstract one making it cess of the doctrine in the long the judge allows him to consider a most difficult principle to put term. Clearly, the determination almost any factor which could into practice. The subjective, of best interests is highly com- only possibly have a bearing on vague and ambiguous nature plex issue and must be done the child’s welfare and assign to of the doctrine has often led to keeping in mind the balance of it whatever weight he chooses. its wrongful interpretation by legal, social and ethical inter- The open ended nature of the courts that are not always well ests. Only then will we be able doctrine has led to exercise of equipped to determine the best to ensure that the rights of the wide judicial discretion resulting interests. A Study of family law child are protected in the true in conflicting judicial decisions cases done in Maharashtra in sense. which are influenced by the 1998 had revealed that chil- judges attitudes and personal dren’s interests were never the prejudices. primary or major concerns in The courts might also face any petition leading to poor im- a problem in determining how plementation of the doctrine by much weight they should give the Indian courts. Further there

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 49 Article 19 Every child has a right to protection from all forms of abuse.

CHILD ABUSE 18 ChildrenProtect Go the Missing Child Daily in Delhi AND NEGLECT The Hindu, New Delhi, Protect the child 40 Hindustan28 February, Times, New2010 Delhi The Hindu 18 children go missing daily 50 03Nayantara January, Mallya 2015 Delhiin Delhi school kids facing excesses 41 TheHindustan Times of TimesIndia Faizan Haidar CriminallyWhere cattle corporal are dearer than 4251 A lead article “Our crimes parent. Parents must understand The Hindu Six year old Ravi was kid- Commissioner has ordered that children against Praveen Swami (The how child abusers silence their OnlyHindustan 27% parents Times control online 43 napped from his west Delhi’s cases involving missing children activities of their children: Survey Hindu, January 21) should have victims. The child often thinks it TheSevere Times punishment Of India mars 53 house in Nangloi in June. Hours below eight years of age must opened Indian parents eyes to is his/her fault the uncle or aunt Checkchild’s kids’ concentration abuse during Games: NGOs 44 later, based on tip off from lo- be investigated by the Station PoliticalDeccan & ChronicleBusines Daily Childcals, heSexual was foundAbuse in (CSA). a manhole, The touchedHouse Officer him/her (SHO). inappropriately. CrimeCountry against has children failed to protect 4554 governmentwith a deep cutreport on hisrevealed throat. that He TheIn predator 2008, threatens1,143 harmchildren to Assam Tribune children from sexual abuse’ everywas lucky second to survive. child in India faces thebelow child eight or to theyears family of exploitingage had AThe reality: Times child of abuse India by burning 46 sexual abuse. Fifty three per cent the child’s misplaced sense of re- The Hindu Many children go missing in gone missing and only 48 re- of children are sexually abused in sponsibility for the family’s safety. ns'kHkj esa c<+s cPpksa ls cykRdkj 48 the Capital. Quite a lot of them mained untraced. In 2009, 71 ds ekeys theirnever family make environment it back home. and Aboys po- of Whenthe 1,119 we teach children our babiesthat went the vej mtkyk] arelice moreanalysis at risk states than girls. that on an namesmissing of remain their body untraced. parts we But must in We need a separate law for CSA 48 average,Talking 18with children children go missingabout include2012 of the 785 names children of private that parts. had New Indian Express theirin Delhi bodies every opens day, ofcommunica- which four Childrengone missing, must not 108be ridiculedremained or Many of Delhi’s 20,000 missing 49 kids never came back tioncould channels not be traced. between children scoldeduntraced about and intheir 2013 private 171 ofparts. 902 Mail Today and Theparents. Delhi Teaching Police themconducted strat- Ifchildren someone remained touches untraced. a child’s pri- cpiu esa gh u'kk djus yxrs gSa cPps 50 egiesan age to wiserecognise analysis sexual of missing abuse vate partsNGOs the childclaim must that not young keep- jktLFkku if=dk empowerschildren cases them. Listeningand found when that a iter secret children from are his kidnappedparents. Show and fxurh ls xk;c ikap yk[k cPps 51 childtracing reports those a disturbingbelow 12 incident,year old thesent child to Gulf where countries nobody elseto work can nSfud tkxj.k believinghas been him difficult. and standing up for touchas domestic (bad touch). help, Explain some toexcep- work him “Whatagainst isthe disturbing abuser is crucial.is that tionsat roadside to the rule dhabas, such assome bathing are everyIndian year families the numberprefer to of hush un- washinglured and after raped toilet and use many and ex-are traced missing children is forced to get married. up CSA incidents: they let the amination by a medical profes- increasing. It shows lack of se- The rate of crime (in- abuser go scot-free to abuse more sional (always with the parent riousness on the part of police,” cident per lakh population) children and to further traumatize present). Role-play good touch said a NGO activist after ana- against children is highest in the child. Parents’s Job is to safe and bad touch. lyzing the statistics. Delhi. According to the report of guardTaking their children,serious not tonote protect of NationalChildren Crime have Record good instincts. Bureau, adults’the situation, reputations, the Delhieven ifPolice they If132 they children feel uneasy out of with a lakh over-exu- faced are a cousin, a spouse or a grand- berant affection form an adult tell 50 BUTTERFLIES 40 l BUTTERFLIES “I will never go to Delhi,” she UNSAFE CAPITAL whispers when she hears the visiting HT Team talk of the na- Delhi Police say tracing those below 12 years is most difficult tional capital. As with thousands of chil- Age group 0-8 years In dren trafficked from Jharkhand 785 missing 2014 (till Feb) there have every year, Delhi has been very 2012 108 untraced (14%) been 83 cases of cruel to Reeta. While visiting missing children - a market on Republic Day last 902 missing 39 untraced year, she was lured by two men 2013 171 untraced (19%) and a woman to Delhi with a promise of clothes and lots of money. Age group 8-12 years In 2014 (till Once in Delhi, the girl was 775 missing Feb) there have sold to an agent who got her been 98 cases of 2012 125 untraced (16%) employment as a maid in a missing children - home where she was subjected 962 missing 39 untraced to sexual and physical as- 2013 204 untraced (21%) saults. Reeta fled and spent two months at a woman’s home be- In fore her father brought her back 2014 (till Age group 12-18 years home. Feb) there have Reeta was one of the lucky 3,724 missing been 698 cases of missing children - ones. Thousands of girls traf- ficked every year by interstate 2012 504 355 untraced gangs to metros and states, untraced (14%) 5,371 missing including Delhi, Bengaluru, 2013 1,402 Mumbai, Chennai, Haryana, untraced (17%) Punjab and Goa, simply disap- pear without a trace. some kind of crime in 2013. The Off WRETCHED RACKET Most of girls serve as bond- analysis found that areas like Many children are ed labour who are not allowed Aman Vihar, Shahbad Dairy, trafficked to work as to interact with anyone expect Nangloi and Jahangirpuri are bonded labour, sex slaves their employers. The less fortu- most vulnerable. or pushed into surrogacy nate ones are made to work as sex slaves or become surrogate As she plays with her five mothers and organ donors. younger siblings and other chil- Revelations by some res- Where Cattle dren outside her thatched hut in cued girls have blown the lid Garja Kendatoli, a tribal hamlet are Dearer Than off the flourishing human traf- in Jharkhand’s Simdega district, ficking racket in Jharkhand’s Children Reeta Kumari (name changed) tribal hinterlands, a hotbed of is like any other 13 year old. But modern day slavery where fam- Hindustan Times, New Delhi a dark cloud casts its shadow ily members, neighbours, local 04 March, 2015 on her cheerful face whenever politicians and even NGOs are B Vijay Murty and Saurav Roy anyone mentions Delhi. involved in well organized rings.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 51 Inter-State Networks working together. earn between Rs 10,000 “These agents in eastern and and Rs 25,000 against each A 2013 report by the UN northern states are functioning girl supplied. office on Drugs and Crime iden- in a joint racket under the same yy THE ENABLERS: Many of tified Jharkhand as one of the syndicate based in New Delhi,” them are kin of the girls, who state’s most vulnerable for traf- said Rakesh Sengar director of make promises of money. ficking of women and children. victim assistance in BBA. yy THE REASONS: Much of Much of the trafficking is done trafficking happens from by placement agencies that are A HUMAN regions that have abysmally actually organized syndicate, low earnings (less than $1.2 the report said. TRAGEDY per capita). An emerging Another report by the Action reason is the demand for against Trafficking and Sexual girls in states where female Exploitation of Children in 2010 MASSIVE NUMBERS foeticide and infanticide has said about 42,000 girls has yy 5 lakh women and children skewed gender ratios. been trafficked from Jharkhand trafficked every year in yy THE MO: Traffickers to metropolitan cities. India. scout and identify girls at The problem, civil society yy 20,000 children are trafficked village haats (markets) and groups say, has become worse every year from Jharkhand, churches. as trafficking rings have forged West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar inter-state links to get around and Chhattisgarh, say EXPLOITING POVERTY enhanced vigil by state govern- NGOs ments. One ploy used is to take The rings have penetrated yy Thousands of girls, including girls from Jharkhand to far-off the remotest of villages in east- minors, have gone missing places like Assam, where they ern India that are worst hit by from Jharkhand’s tribal are less likely to attract the at- poverty and hunger. hinterlands, state has no tention of police, before sending “Blame poverty and the records. them to metros like Delhi. state’s neglect of the tribal pop- yy Tribal districts of Jharkhand, Nobel laureate Kailash ulation,” said Neel Justin Beck, Chhattisgarh, Odisha Satyarthi’s Bachpan Bachao a zila parishad member who and West Bengal most Andolan (BBA) has identified has campaigned against traf- vulnerable to trafficking. Rangia railway station in Assam ficking for the past two decades yy Out of 35 identified as transit point for trafficked in Simdega. trafficking kingpins, 14 have children from eastern states. In the countryside of Gumla, been arrested. Around 58 girls, 18 of them from Simdega and Khunti districts, yy Jharkhand girls are trafficked Lohardaga, were rescued from animals are pricier than chil- to metros in India and even Doboka in Assam in September dren, Back said. “People are to West Asian countries. last year. so poor that they worry for their yy Jharkhand’s hinterlands Girls from Gumla, cattle more than their missing have become a hotbed of Lohardaga, Khunti and Simdega children.” modern day slavery, where are also taken to Chhattisgarh Such is the apathy that thou- kin, neighbours, politicians or Orissa and handed over to sands of girls from the three and even NGOs are involved agents who send them to other districts have gone missing in well-organized rings. destinations. over the past three decades but their families and the admin- The BBA also found that BIG BUSINESS agents in Punjab. Haryana and istration have been unable to the National Capital Region are yy THE MONEY: Local agents locate them. There were even

52 BUTTERFLIES reports, Back said, that girls “We so not have BPL cards, child protection officials say that from Simdega were trafficked old age pensions or job under it is just the tip of the iceberg. as far as West Asia. MNREGA. During summers, “It is the most common Right activists claimed there we survive on wild berries. method employed to discipline are several villages without Wherever they go, I am sure children and most of the cases any teenagers, especially girls. at least they get good food to go unreported,” said Vijaya Devi Either they have migrated for eat,” said Khadia, whose four Mamidi, a member of Child jobs or have been trafficked. In daughters migrated years ago Welfare Committee of Ranga Palkot block of Gumla district , and never returned. He doesn’t Reddy district. more than 500 girls have gone worry for them. The report listed ‘mild pun- missing in the past five years, His neighbour Bhondi Devi ishments to severe physical they said. said many girls who went miss- abuse, verbal harassment and ing returned with children in labelling based on caste, gen- DONE IN BY RELATIVES their laps but could not reveal der or religion’ as the nature Many victims are sold to who had fathered them. of complaints reported by the trafficking rings by their rela- Despite the presence of children. tive. Like 12-year-old Somwari tough laws, trafficking of chil- Despite the ban, parents (name changed), a resident of dren has continued unabated endorse the strict measures as Novatoli village in Lohardaga, from Jharkhand. The BBA says they don’t have time to counsel who had no idea, her uncle, it reused almost 80,000 children the child said, another member. across India, of whom 15% to who lived in her neighborhood, ABUSE STATISTICS would sell her for a few thou- 20% were from Jharkhand and Bihar. sand rupees. PARENTS CONTINUE TO “Police in Jharkhand, Bihar He took her to Chhattisgarh TAKE STRICT MEASURES and Chhattisgarh will work to- in an auto-rickshaw on the pre- TO DISCIPLINE CHILDREN text of taking her to a fair, and gether to bust the flourishing y then sold her to a placement rackets and syndicates,” said y As per a UNICEF report agent, who took her to Delhi by inspector general (organized ‘Behind Closed Doors: The train. crime) Sampat Mina. Impact of Domestic Violence Mukta Kumari, alias Lola, on Children (2006)’ 27.1 to now 20, was sold to an agent Severe Punishment 69 million children from India in Goa by her cousin. She was Mars Child’s are estimated to be exposed rescued after two years. to domestic violence. y “For unemployed men, Concentration y Around 66 per cent of the women and even village heads, children said they had luring gullible girls and selling Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad received punishment from them to placement agencies has 02 March, 2015 their parents WINGS 2014. become a new income genera- Ayesha Minhaz tion opportunity,” said Baijnath “Mathematics, English and Physical training are the classes Kumar, a member of the NGO Around 500 cases of in which children get punished Divya Sewa Sansthan. corporal punishments the most, beatings with cane, Pointing to his crumbling on children have been slapping on cheek, and boxed hut, Lode Khadia (65) of Bangru reported in 6 months village in Gumla justified the mi- ears are most commonly used gration of girls to other states for Despite statistics of 500 methods of punishment. Being jobs. cases of corporal punishment on forbidden to use toilet is also children in the last six months, employed quite often, “observed

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 53 another SCPCR member. “The law is not that strong against those who flout it, but perhaps awareness about the ban on punishments will in- crease the number will increase the number of cases that are reporting of cases and action taken might help in bringing down the prevalence of corporal punishment, “said CWC mem- ber Vijaya Devi. yy According to NCPCR report of 2011, eight out of 10 children (81.2%) had experienced insults about their mental characteristics or the use of derisive adjectives. Over 65 per cent of children aged 3-5 years had been beaten with a cane and more than 60 per being ‘overweight’, and for ask- and a deterioration of academic cent slapped on the cheek. ing for a second helping during performance are some of the ad- yy The report listed ‘mild lunch provided by the manage- verse impacts of ‘punishment’. punishments to severe ment. Soumya was counselled School managements direct physical abuse, verbal by experts, while her mother teachers not to resort to punish- harassment and labeling spoke to the school manage- ment to discipline kids, however, based on caste, gender. ment to resolve the issue. awareness about physical pun- Verbal abuse equally “School management di- ishment or mental harassment damaging rect teachers not to resort to is low in south India. punishment to discipline kids. Dr Pragya Rashmi Not just physical violence However, awareness about Consultant psychologist at even verbal lashing to discipline physical punishment or men- Yashoda Hospital a child can cause psychological tal harassment is low in south trauma having long-lasting im- India,” explains Dr Pragya Country Has Failed pact on the child, opine experts. Rashmi, consultant psycholo- Nine-year-old Soumya gist at Yashoda Hospital. To Protect Children (name changed), studying in a Speaking about the adverse From Sexual corporate school in Hyderabad, affect of punishment on a child’s began giving ‘weird reasons to psyche, Dr Pragya, says, “While Abuse’ avoid going to school. When her younger children get confused grades dropped and so did her about why they got a beating. The Times of India, New Delhi food intake, her mother sought Older children can developing a 17 April, 2015 help from doctors, it was found rebellious attitude.” Bed-wetting, Payal Gwalani that Soumya was ridiculed by reluctance to go to school, with both teachers and students for drawn or aggressive behaviour, Over the last decade, the

54 BUTTERFLIES conducted by the Women and child development ministry in 2007, more than 50% children in the country face physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect of girl child and several such issues,” said writer Yogesh Master, who is also a support- er of the initiative. He believes that despite the figures there is widespread denial about the existence of child abuse in our society because no one wants to believe that anyone would do something that terrible to a child. Besides, in India, the perpe- trators in many cases of child abuse are mostly people known to the children, pointed out child right activist Sudha Rajashekar. “This means that the child abuse number of child rape cases exploitation and neglect among cases are highly underreported. has increased by a whopping others. However, activists feel As children are not aware of 336%, says data recorded by that the country has failed mis- what inappropriate behaviour the National Crime Records erably in providing the promises means, they don’t even know Bureau (NCRB). The bureau’s rights to its children, who ac- that they are being abused. report for 2013 states that be- count for 40% of its population. Since talking about sex is taboo tween 2012 an 2013, crime “I believe that children’s right in our society, the victims end against children like kidnapping, are often disregarded in favour up feeling guilty and don’t even procuring minor girls and rapes of women’s right. The Women tell anybody about their plight in have doubled. The average age and Child Development min- many cases,” she said. of sexual abuse victims in the istry focuses on women only, The activists want that country has been estimated to forgetting that they are respon- children should be given sex be around nine years. Despite sible to the children as well. The education and a mechanism the serious figures, there is no political leaders also chose not should be created for them to focus or national discussions on intervene as children are not feel safe to report such cases. the subject. a part of their vote bank,” said As a signatory of United NGO Child Right Initiative for Nations convention of Child Shared Parenting (CRISP). The Rights and a partner in the organization is among the many United Nations declaration on that have together initiated a the Right of the Child, 1959, discussion on the subject in ob- India guarantees certain right to servance of the national child its children. These include the abuse awareness month. rights to protection from abuse, “As per the results of a survey

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 55 Article 40 Every child accused of having infringed the penal law shall be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth.

CHILDRENCHILDREN Govt.Tough To L Goaw Ahead to Ensure With C Lawhild TreatingRights AND LAW Juveniles As Adults In Grave Crime AND LAw Deccan Herald, Banglore Govt. to go ahead with law 56 The Tribune,18 June, New 2010 Delhi, treatingTough law juveniles to ensure childas adults rights 52 Deccan Herald in grave crime Aditi Tandon, 29 March, 2015 TheRs. 10,000 Tribune fine for keeping 53 child away Govt keen on banning corporal punishment SCIndian wants Express relook into 58 Rejecting the recommen- A juvenile will face trial as an provisionsCode to check ofchild juvenile abuse in justice act.,53 dations for a parliamentary adultNCPCR only had when issued it is suchproved guide- that Deccantourist spots Herald Indian Express committeeThe National which Commission disapproved helines committed in 2007. the crime with an Cabinet approves bill setting 59 Govt plans code of conduct for 54 offor treating Protection juveniles ofaccused Child of adultSibal and told not reporters,” a childish The mind, new- up‘safe’ courts tourism for commercial heinousRights offences(NCPCR) as willadults, pre- the “Maneka said when asked about disputesThe Statesman ly enacted Right to Education Act Mintos';ko`fŸk ls eqDr djkbZ cfPp;ksa Centralpare andGovernment issue hastough de - theprohibits Centre’s corporal stand punishment.on the re- 55 cidedguidelines to go ahead to check with corpo-the new port of Parliamentary Standing Cabinetdk iquokZl okaysdjks trial of Juveniles 60 We must get rid of corporal pun- atnSfud 16 tkxj.kas adults lawral that punishments. allots 16 to 18 year olds Committeeishment. Children on HRD need which to be rein-- TheSC rules Times to curb of India child 55 guilty of grave offences to face jectedcluded harsherin the system. trial of I thinkjuveniles. there trafficking soon trial as adults. The report was submitted to JuvenileThe Tribune boards will take 60 Disclosing it on Thursday. Hu- is so much change in the method- final call Women and child parliament this February. ijekusaV ukbV 'ksYVj dk djks bartke% 56 man resource Development Minis- ology and the way we deliver edu- The Tribune Development Minister Maneka The juvenile Justice (Care gkbZ dksVZ ter Kapil Sibal Said that he spoke cation,” HouseuoHkkjr VkbElpanel rejects move to 62 Gandhi in an exclusive inter- and Protection) of children Bill to NCPCR chairman Shanta Sin- tryNew juveniles rules to stop as tourists adults from 57 view to The Tribune today said 2015Responsibility with minor changes sug- using children for sex ha in this regard. The Times of India the government was convinced gested by the parliamentary DNA The NCPCR would frame and Sibal Said,” Ultimately the jkT;ksa dks fo'ks"k iqfyl ny xfBr of the necessity of the new law. panel has now been sent to 57 issue tough guidelines to get rid of school has to take responsibility. djus dk funsZ'k We are going ahead with theSome Law one Ministry has to take for responsibil- vetting. It ubZ nqfu;k thecorporal law. punishmentI don’t think in the schools. parlia - In the backdrop of the alleged isity expectedif somebody to getgets the prominently Cabinet jkT;ksa dks cky dY;k.k cksMZ cukus mentary committee under stood 58 clearancedamaged duethis to a corporalweek afterpun- dk funsZ'k whatsuicide we of are 13-year-old saying. Around Rouvanjit 85 whichishment. it Sometimes,can be reintroduced such inci- nSfud fgUnqLrku percentRawla after people a corporalwho responded punish- indents Parliament drive students once the to Budgetcommit duringment in consultations a Kolkata School,on the newthe Sessionsuicide.” recess ends. lawHuman said Resource16 to 18 year Development olds com- “ThereThe committee should be hada process made mittingMinistry gravedecided offences to go ahead should with its recommendation arguing bethe triedexercise as adultsof preparing and get tough the through which there should be in- that the percentage of violent harshestguidelines punishment.to check corporal But pun-we quiry about the circumstances of tookishment. a middle path and brought crimesthe death against in case juveniles of a suicide. in In2012 the safeguardsAccording intoto thethe newminister, law. comprisedevent anybody only is 15.6 found percent culpable of the existing guidelines were not thethen IPC the possiblecrimes theycourse committed of action enough to check the menace. The should follow,’ the minister added. 56 BUTTERFLIES 52 l BUTTERFLIES as an adult, he will stand trial committed the crime with not in the normal adults system an adult and not a childish but in children’s courts, Maneka mind.” said Children;s courts are ses- sion courts established under How the law will work the National commission courts established under the National yy The new Juvenile Justice Act commission or Protection of seeks to replace the 2000 child rights act, 2005 to try peo- Act in which the maximum ple accused of crimes against punishment offenders can children. get is three years in a child remand home Ignores parliamentary yy Once convicted for a panel’s disapproval heinous crime, the child including 990 murders and 1175 will be lodged in a place of rapes. yy The government has rejecting safety until he turns 21 But Maneka said: “I would the recommendations of a yy At 21, he will be examined ask the committee what num- parliamentary committee for reformation. Only if bers of rapes and murders which disapproved of there’s evidence that he would make these crimes wor- treating juveniles accused of hasn’t reformed will he go thy of being checked? For me heinous offences as adults to an adult jail. The new law one is enough. The US makes yy The Juvenile Justice (Care also bars death penalty for 12 year olds responsible for and Protection) of Children children heinous crimes accountable. Bill, 2015 with minor Once convicted, the child will All we are saying is we need changes suggested by the be lodged in a place of safety a new law to address heinous panel has now been sent to until he turns 21 years. He won’t crimes by children. This law has the Law Ministry for vetting be sent to an adult jail. Even safeguards. The Juvenile jus- yy It is expected to get when he turns 21, he will be ex- tice Board will decide if the child the Cabinet clearances amined for reformation. Only if committed the grave offence this week after which it there’s evidence that he hasn’t with an adult mind and criminal can be reintroduced in reformed will he ham’s reformed Parliament once the Budget intent, if yes , he will face trial in will he go to an adult jail. The Session recess ends s system away from the existing new law also bars death penalty juvenile system which has failed for children,” Maneka Said. “Around 85% people to curb violent crimes by juve- The new JJ act seeks to who responded during niles,” Maneka said. replace the JJ act, 2000 under consultations on the new The Minister said there was which the maximum punish- law said 16 to 18 year now ample evidence that many olds committing grave ment juvenile offenders can juveniles committed heinous offences should be tried get is three years in a child re- crimes with the knowledge of the as adults and get the mand home. The JJ act, 2000 leniency of existing laws. That’s harshest punishment. But is ill equipped to tackle child what happened in the Nirbhaya we took a middle path and offenders in the 16 to 18 year case. We need to check that brought safeguards into age group, ‘The government but our safeguards will protect the new law. A juvenile will said. Recent cases involving ju- children’s interests. Even when face trial as an adult only venile offenders are Delhi gang the JJB agrees to try the child when it is proved that he rape, Shakti Mills gangrape,

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 57 Guwahati rape and most recent- in nature. Notably, a parliamentary ly a Gurgaon murder allegedly “There can be a situation panel on the juvenile bill 2014, committed by a boy who had where commission of an of- had in February shot down the killed a teenager as a Juvenile. fence may be totally innocuous proposal to send cases involv- or emerging from circumstance ing offenders between 16 to 18 SC Wants Relook where a young boy is not aware years of age, accused in serious of the consequences, But in offences like rape and murder, Into Provisions of cases of rape, dacoit, murder, to regular courts. Juvenile Justice which are heinous crimes, it is The existing Juvenile sys- extremely difficult to conceive tem is not only reformative and Act., that the juvenile was not aware rehabilitative in nature but also of the consequences.” recognizes the fact that 16-18 Deccan Herald, New Delhi years is an extremely sensitive 07 April, 2015 Minding minors and critical age requiring great- yy Court wants relook on er protection. Hence, there is no serious crimes like rape, need to subject them to different Taking note of a spurt in murder and dacoity or adult judicial system as it will cases involving juvenile of- yy Attorney-General told to go against articles 14 and 15(3) fenders, the supreme court on notify authorities concerned of the constitution,” the panel Monday said that some provi- for revisiting (Juvenile) Act had said. sion under the Juvenile Justice yy Court says minors could not On Monday, the court was act should be re-examined. be oblivious to the law while dealing with a petition filed by The court said it was difficult committing heinous crimes a person claiming that he was to conceive that minors involved yy Parliamentary panel in 17 years and nine months in in heinous offences like rape, February 2015 shot down the year 2000, when he killed a murder and dacoity do not know proposal to send serious man for not repaying a loan in the consequences of their acts. cases involving offenders Haryana. A time has come to think aged between 16 to 18 He challenged the trial, of an effective law to deal with years to regular courts which he faced with five other the situation. we would request yy Government told the court accused, contending that the the learned attorney general to in November that it was matriculation certificate was in bring it to the notice of the con- considering to treat minors his favour. He also urged the cerned authorities so that the based on the nature of court to ensure that his matter relevant provisions under the crime was to be considered under (Juvenile) act can be relooked, the juvenile justice (care and re-scrutinized and revisited, The Centre had in November protection of the children) Act, at least in respect of offences told the apex court in a separate 2000. which are heinous in nature, “ a case that it was considering Observing that the matter bench of Justices Dipark Misra how to make a distinction be- was to be decided on merit, and Prafulla C Pant said. tween minors and other juvenile the court asked: “Can it be While noting that juvenile delinquents engaged in hei- conceived by any stretch of offences could emerge from cir- nous crimes like rape, murder imagination that the petitioner cumstance and offenders being and drug-peddling. This would was not aware of the conse- unaware of the consequences, prevent minor offenders from quences? Or for that matter, was it said that minors could not be taking undue benefit from the it a crime committed, if proven, oblivious to the law while com- juvenile Justice act. mitting crimes that are heinous

58 BUTTERFLIES with a mind that was not ma- stepping stone to bring about JUVENILE JUSTICE tured enough? Or the life of the reform in the civil justice sys- victim is totally immaterial, for tem, “ The government said in The cabinet also approved five people, including a juvenile, après statement. the introduction of amendments think unless somebody pays the A commercial dispute has to the Juvenile Justice (Care debt, he can face his death”. been defined as a dispute and protection of Children) Bill, arising out of ordinary transac- 2014. The proposed bill pro- Cabinet Approves tions of merchants, bankers, vides that “ in case a heinous financiers and traders. These crime has been committed by Bill Setting include disputes relating to mer- a person in the age group of UP Courts For cantile documents; joint venture 16-18 years, it will be examined and partnership agreements: by the Juvenile Justice Board to Commercial intellectual property rights; in- assess if the crime was commit- Disputes surance; and other areas. ted as a child or as an adult” The bill proposes to set up The assessment will be done by the board, which will in- Mint, New Delhi commercial divisions in high clude psychologists and social 23 April, 2015 courts such as those in Delhi, Remya Nair & Moulishree Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, experts to ensure that the rights Srivastava and Himachal Pradesh, which of the juvenile are duly protect- already have civil jurisdiction. ed if she has committed the The Union cabinet on These courts will handle cases crime as a child. The trial of the Wednesday approved the intro- with claims above Rs.1 crore case will accordingly take place duction of a new law to set up and all existing cases in vari- as a juvenile or as an adult on courts that will deal exclusively ous courts will be transferred to the basis of this assessment. with commercial disputes, en- these courts. The courts, which The New legislation also suring their speedy disposal will be equivalent to district proposes to streamline adoption and making it easier to do busi- courts, will exercise jurisdiction proposes to streamline adoption ness in India. over all cases and applications procedures for orphaned, aban- The Commercial Division relating to commercial disputes. doned and surrendered children and Commercial Appellate The commercial courts shall, by establishing a statutory Division of High Courts and however, not have jurisdiction in status for the Child Adoption Commercial Courts Bill, 2015, matters relating to commercial Resources Authority (CARA). will be introduced in the current disputes where the jurisdiction It further proposed several session of Parliament. of the civil court has been either rehabilitation and social integra- Finance minister Arun expressly or implicitly barred tion measures for institutional Jaitley had proposed setting up under law, the government said. and non-institutional children, such courts for the quick reso- The number of pending in addition to providing new lution of commercial disputes, commercial vases in five high measures for sponsorship and based on the recommendations courts Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, foster care. This is in addition for the 253rd report of the Law Madras and Himachal Pradesh- to making it mandatory to reg- Commission. The commis- Stood at 16,884, which was ister all institutions engaged sion has sought to revamp the 51.7% of all civil cases pending in providing child care, while commercial dispute resolution in these courts, the commis- incorporating new offences, mechanism system by separat- sion, which submitted its report including illegal adoption, cor- ing it from other civil disputes. in January this year, had said. poral punishment in child care “The establishment of com- institutions, the use of children mercial courts in India is a by militant groups, and offences

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 59 against disabled children. a child or an adult. The pro- KIDNAP- MURDER! 2007 In August, the ministry of posed Juvenile Justice (Care 17-yr-old part of gang. Trial women and child development and protection of Children) Bill on before juvenile board. had introduced the Juvenile also provides for classifica- justice (Care and Protection tion of crimes as Petty serious Commercial Court bill of Children) Bill, 2014, in the and heinous and differentiated gets approval Lok Sabha. The proposed leg- processes for each category. The Cabinet on Wednesday islation, which would replace Under existing law, only those approved a bill that will allow the the existing Juvenile Justice aged 18 and above are tried setting up of commercial courts, act, 2000, defined and classi- under IPC. equivalent to district courts, in fied offences as pretty, serious The decision heeds the de- states and UTs where commer- and heinous, and defined dif- mand for tougher punishment cial divisions are not present. ferentiated processes for each to hardened Juvenile criminals The minimum pecuniary ju- category. The government then which spiked after the Nirbhaya risdiction of such commercial cleared a proposal to empow- gang rape in December 2012. courts and commercial divisions er the Juvenile Justice Board One of the accused in the crime is proposed at Rs. 1 crore. to decide whether a juvenile which shook the nation is a ju- above 16 years involved in hei- venile who was said to be the Cheque bounce: Filling most brutal of the gang. nous crimes such as rape is to cases easier be sent to an observation home The proposed changes or tried in a regular court. come in the teeth of opposition The Cabinet on Wednesday from child rights activists and cleared amendments to the Cabinet Okays Trial members of the parliamentary Negotiable instruments act, al- standing committee who argued lowing the holder of a bounced of Juveniles at 16 that even horrific crimes don’t cheque to file a case from As Adults subvert the reason or laying where he or she is based. The down a milder legal regime for Supreme Court had ruled last minors. The Times of India, New Delhi year that the case had to be ini- 23 April, 2015 tiated from the place where the GRISLY CRIMES cheque. – issuing branch was located. The Juvenile Justice Act will Minors older than 16 have be changed to allow for trial of ju- been found involved in veniles aged 16-18, accused of these horrific cases Juvenile Boards heinous crimes, as adults under yy Nirbhaya gang rape Will Take Final Call the Indian Penal Code, with the Murder! DEC 2012 Juvenile Modi Government bowing to the among 6 accused of The Times of India, New Delhi clamour for a tough deterrent raping, murdering 23-yr- 23 April, 2015 against young criminals who go old. Over 17 years old, sent unpunished because of the le- to correctional home for 3 The Juvenile justice act pro- nient provisions under the law. years. vides for leniency for juvenile As per the changes cleared yy SHAKTI MILLS GANG criminals on the ground that by the Union Cabinet on RAPE!2013 Five adults and they are of impressionable mind Wednesday, Juvenile Justice one minor each accused and, hence, incapable of either Boards will decide whether a in two cases. Minors older thinking through their actions juvenile accused of a heinous than 16 or fully recognizing the conse- crime ought to be treated as yy ADNAN PATRAWALA quences of their alleged crimes.

60 BUTTERFLIES While the opponents have the light of warnings that chang- year old walking a free man been overruled, their concern es in the JJ act would mean a in less than six months defies has been factored in by provid- raw deal for Juveniles who are every notion of justice even ing for a two stage process to not mature enough to compre- though it is the law. He was the determine whether a juvenile hend the results of their alleged most brutal of the six that gan- accused of a crime classified as crimes. graped Nirbhaya and from all heinous deserved to be treated The cabinet has approved accounts, it was the absolute- as an adult and therefore was amendments to the juvenile jus- ly horrifying things he did that unworthy of protection provided tice act so that those in 16-18 killed her. for under the Juvenile Justice age bracket can be tried under We known there is a reason act. IPC if they are accused of hei- why the law treats juveniles dif- Under the proposed law, nous crimes, “telecom minister ferently from adults, and not just Juvenile Justice Boards will Ravishankar Prasad told re- in India. But consider the anom- take the final call on the sen- porters after a meeting for the alies: if this murderous boy had sitive matter. An official press Union Cabinet. been 15, and less mature, he release emphasized, since this The bill was introduced in would have been in a remand assessment will take place by the monsoon session last year home for three years before the JJB, whichwill have psy- and was referred to the stand- being set free; but now he is at chologists and social experts, it ing committee. liberty to roam our streets in a will ensure that the rights of the The parliamentary panel, in few months because he is older juvenile are duly protected. The its report in February, reject- and presumably more mature. trial will take place as juvenile or ed the government’s proposals Consider another anomaly: as an adults on the basic of this to try juveniles between 16-18 a 17-year-old is not considered assessment.” years of age as adults on mature enough to have a driv- It further said, “this brings grounds that it is discriminato- er’s licence, but almost every about a balance that is sensitive ry, in contravention of the UN week, there’s story of an un- to the rights of the child, protec- Rights of Child and in violation der-age driver mowing down tive of his legitimate interests of Article 14 that ensures all are people which means he has the and yet conscious of the need equal in the eyes of law. licence to kill and not pay the to deter crimes, especially bru- price (beyond a few months in a tal crimes against women.” We reproduce here our juvenile home) Although the decision is times view that we carried expected to go down well with on heinous crimes by Commercial courts bill people outraged by the grow- juveniles who are 16 years gets cabinet nod ing involvement of Juveniles In old or older on January 5, New Delhi: The cabinet on serious crimes as well as that 2013. The Times of India Wednesday approved the com- they could get away lightly, it is happy that the Union mercial courts bill that will allow was not an easy one to take in Cabinet’s decision is in to set up commercial courts, view of the passionate advoca- consonance with its view equivalent to district courts, cy of child rights activists and on the issue. in states and Union territories UN laws which put the young on where commercial divisions are a different footing in matters of Times View! Lower not present. crime and punishment. The bill also provides for Earlier this month, PM the Juvenile age to 16, mandatory setting up of sep- Narendra Modi referred the punish them severely arate commercial division in Issue to a group of ministers for The prospect of the 17 plus those HCs which are already a final round of deliberations in

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 61 exercising ordinary original civil violation of Article 14 that en- 2013 while for rapes and as- Jurisdiction such as high courts sures all are equal in the eyes saults, crimes recorded were of Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, of law. up from 485 to 1884 during the Madras, and Himachal. The committee was unim- same period. Commercial divisions will pressed by the women and The report tabled in Rajya exercise jurisdiction over all child development (WCD) min- Sabha on Wednesday said cases and applications relating istry’s contention that there had that juvenile crime accounted to commercial disputes. The been a rapid increase in juve- for only 1.2% of a population of commercial division shall have niles, aged 16 to 18, committing 472 million children in the coun- territorial jurisdiction over such crimes like rape, murder and try and that this percentage had area on which it has original acid attacks. It has asked the remained constant over 2012 jurisdiction. ministry to review the amend- and 2013. The committee also The bill provides that com- ments and rename the law as noted that many of the juveniles mercial courts are to be set up the word “juvenile” has a nega- were acquitted as they were not in the states and UTs where the tive connotation. found guilty. HCs do not have ordinary origi- There had been a series of “The committee can only nal civil Jurisdiction. cases, including the Nirbhaya conclude that the existing ju- gang rape, Shakti Mills rape venile system is not only House Panel case and others, where juveniles reformative and rehabilitative were involved and got away with but also recognizes the fact that Rejects Move To a maximum of three years in a 16-18 years is an extremely Try Juveniles As reformatory home. The amend- sensitive and critical age requir- ments to the Juvenile Justice act ing greater protection. Hence, Adults were proposed by the then UPA there is no need to subject them government in view of the public to different or adult judicial sys- The Times of India, New Delhi outrage after the Nirbhaya gang tem as it will go against Articles 26 February, 2015 rape in December 2012. 14 and 15(3) of the constitu- Himanshi Dhawan WCD ministry officials tion,” the report said argued that National Crime A parliamentary panel has Records Bureau (NCRB) data shot down the government’s revealed that the number of chil- move to try juveniles-between dren apprehended fro heinous 16 and 18 years of age – who crimes, especially in the age have committed heinous crimes group of 16-18 years, had gone as adults on grounds that it is up significantly in recent times. discriminatory, in contravention From 531 murders in 2002, the of the UN Rights of Child and figure had gone up to 1007 in

NCRB DATA Year Total Cognizable Crime Juvenile % of Juvenile Crime To Total Crime 2010 2,22,4831 22,740 19 2011 2,32,5575 25,125 2.1 2012 2,387188 27,936 2.3 2013 2,64,7722 31,725 2.6

62 BUTTERFLIES Article 27 State parties shall recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.

CHILDRENCHILDREN Honey,Of Govt. Every Shrunk Rupee The Spent, Children’s ANDAND ECONOECONOMYmY Kids GetBudget Just Share 4.63 Paise Honey,Of every govt.rupee spent,Shrunk kids the get 5963 The Hindu, New Delhi just 4.63 paise Asian Age, New Delhi children’sThe Asian Age budget share 11 March, 2015 The Hindu 28 February, 2010 feêh [kkrs cPps Akanksha Jain 60 Rashme Sehgal PovertyubZ nqfu;k shinks brains from birth 64 The Hindu Price rise hits the needy hard 60 They constitute 39 per cent cent cut in the Budget for chil- The Statesman India gain support for WTO of OutIndia’s of every population, rupee spent making in the drenthe government this year. Fundingwants to forgo allin standMadhya Pradesh emerging as 6165 the country home to 20 per cent flagship programmes of the Millenniumhunger capital Post Budget Finance Minister Pranab for universalisation which means The Asian Age of the world’s child population, government like the Sarva Mukherjee has allotted only 4.63 reaching out to another 61 million ForSmall the hike 568 in childmillion schemes children 67 but children received the lowest Shiksha Abhiyaan, Midday 62 paise for children, who comprise more kids. aroundinadequate the world share in the Budget this time. meals and Integrated Children MillenniumThe Times of PostIndia 42 per cent of the population (420 With an allocation of little over DevelopmentThe present Scheme expenditure (ICDS), of For A Concerned Parent 62 million). While the total budget has Business Standard three per cent, it is a mere 29 healthICDS per schemes child is Rs and 4 per even day andal- risen by 8.61 per cent to a record vlaxfBr dkexkjksa dks feysxh 64 per cent from last year. Women locationthe government to key needsMinistries and addi-that lqj{kk Nrjh doRs 11not lakh fair crorewell fromeither last as year, the implementtional Rs 244 them million stand just severefor this- fctusl HkkLdj the children have received a mea- funds for the Union Ministry of lyscheme cut,” alone.said Enakshi Ganguly vkfnoklh cPpksa dks yxk >Vdk sly Rs 5,1453 crore allocation. 65 Women and Child Development of AHAQ: shortfall Centre of 9,5731 for anganwa-Children nSfud tkxj.k standThis reduced has upset by NGOs 51 per working cent Rights. dis will mean much more invest- fromin the childrenRs.21,193.88 sector who crore point outto Devika Singh of Alliance for ment in this sector also and the Rs,10,382.40that with 37 million crore. children below the Right to Early Childhood present allocation of Rs 1,7932 the HAQ’sage of 3 Budgetas underweight, for children while Development said: “The gov- crores will not be able to meet analysis50 per centshows of underthat in fivesthe last are ernment is investing in smart this increased population Haq be- 15moderately years, childrenor severely have malnour- never cities. Cities will be smart only if lieves. receivedished, India’s more sub-sahara than five per records cent children are smart.” ofin healththe total management Budget allocation. for kids will TheIt was finance also minister’snoted thatdecision of continue.Various NGOs and groups theto slash3.26 allocationper cent for share, the Rajeev edu- working for the welfare of chil- cation takes the largest chunk. The NGO Haq, which has done Gandhi National crèche Scheme dren and women came together However,for working evenmothers that by 31has per regis cent- ona detailed Tuesday anaylsis to highlight of the Budget how tered a fall. points out that while the existing from Rs 91.52 crores last year to Rs the 2015-16 Budget, which is 63.4“On crores the this issue year hasof Rightevoked toa beingIntegrated termed Child as Developmentprogressive, Education, the ground reality is great deal to criticism. hasServices been (ICDS) unfair reach to women out to and164 stark-inadequate teachers, poor children.million kids between age group of infrastructureCreches cover and 7.9 poor lakh childrenquality pre-school“There uphas to agebeen of six29 years per ofas education.on 31 March, The 2009Budget accord- has CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 MY NAME IS TODAY VOL XVIII, 2011l 5963 Sectoral share within the budget for children Poverty Shinks Year Health Development Education Protection Other than BFC* 2012-13 0.18 1.10 3.44 0.04 95.24 Brains From Birth 2013-14 0.16 1.10 3.34 0.03 95.36 2014-15 0.16 1.06 3.26 0.04 95.48 The Hindu, New Delhi 05 April, 2015 2015-16 0.13 0.51 2.58 0.04 96.74 Sara Reardon prioritized buildings over human distributions system with inclu- resources,” said Ambarish Rai sion for children under six in The stress of growing up of Right to Education Forum. ration cards. poor can hurt a child’s brain de- The groups and their rep- Scheme % Age velopment starting before birth, resentatives were of the view Fall in research suggests and even that the 43 per cent hike in Allocation very small differences in income the programme to address the Sarva Shiksha -20.74 can have major effects on the issue of child labour seems like Abhiyaan brain. a result of the Nobel Peace Midday Meal -30.11 Researches have long sus- prize win. They also sought to Rashtriya Madhyamik -28.70 pected that children’s behaviour know how the government jus- Shikhsa Abhiyan and cognitive abilities are linked tifies decreases allocation for Scheme for setting up -99.92 to their socioeconomic status, ICDS. Education has received 6,000 model schools particularly for those who are at the block level the largest share of alloca- very poor. The reasons have Support to education, -36.55 never been clear, although tion in both the Union Budget including teacher (2.28%) and that for children training stressful home environments, (79.12%). However, there has The only increase 43 poor nutrition, exposure to in- been a reduction in allocation is in the programme dustrial chemicals such as lead for elementary and secondary addressing child and lack of access to good education due to a fall in share labour education are often cited as of major schemes like the Sarva possible factors. Shiksha Abhiyaan, midday Fall in share of budget for In the largest study of meal, etc. the groups also noted children its kind, published in Nature that under spending in various Year Budgetary Neuroscience, a team led by schemes reflected the failure of estimate (% age neuroscientist Kimberly Noble the administration and does not of total) from Columbia University in mean that allocation should be 2012-13 4.76 New York City and Elizabeth less. 2013-14 4.64 Sowell from Children’s Hospital On Union Finance Minister 2014-15 4.52 Los Angeles, California, looked Arun Jaitley’s speech about 2015-16 3.26 into the biological underpinnings improving education in terms of these effects. They imaged of quality and opening more Step cuts in flagship pro- the brain of 1,099 children, ad- schools, they said allocation in grammes by government for olescents and young adults in the Budget shows otherwise. women and children several U.S cities. Because Meanwhile, a working Ministry of HRD -17% people with lower incomes in group for children under-6 Ministry of Women & -51% the United States are more years has written to Prime Child Development likely to be from minority ethnic Minister Narendra Modi, urging Ministry of Family & -51% groups, the team mapped each Health Welfare a universal coverage of public child’s genetic ancestry and

64 BUTTERFLIES then adjust the Calculation so that scanned the brains of 44 cause of the cognitive differ- that the effect of poverty would African-American girls, each ences. Although the authors of not be skewed by the small approximately month old, from both studies admit that genetic differences in brain structure various socioeconomic groups factors could be involved, they between ethnic groups. in Philadelphia. suspect that environmental ex- Researchers in the U.S Even at this early age, the posures such as stress and found that the brains of chil- researchers found, infants in nutrition are more important and dren from the lowest income the lower socioeconomic brack- begin even before the babies bracket (less than $25,000) had ets had smaller brains than their are born. up to 6 per cent less surface wealthier counterparts. The sci- area than did those of children entists presented their research India Gain Support from families making more than at the Society for Research in $150,000. Child Development meeting in For WTO Stand The brains of children from Philadelphia. the lowest income bracket (less Jamie Hanson, a psychol- Millennium Post, New Delhi than $25,000) had up to 6 per ogist at Duke University in 16 February, 2015 cent less surface area then did Durham, North Carolina says Jitendra those of children from families that both papers underscore making more than $150,000, the impact of adversity on child India presents its case on the researchers found. In chil- development “These early life potential damage posed dren from the poorest families, circumstances make it tough- by WTO’s trade facilitation income disparities of a few er for many children and it’s on agreement. Civil society thousand dollars were associ- many of us in society to make group have supported ated with major differences in sure that children have equal India’s claim for greater brains structure, particularly in possibilities,” he says. While food security areas associated with language he praises the cross-sectional and decision making skills, such studies, he adds that it is import- India made a strong pitch as reading and memory abil- ant to follow children over time for food stockpiling for public ity, also decline with parental in order to see how individual food security at the 41st ses- income. brains are affected by socioeco- sion of the Committee on World Martha Farah, a cognitive nomic status. Food Security (CEF) earlier this neuroscientist at the University Farah and her colleagues month at the FAO headquarters of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, plan to continue to observe in Rome. calls the research “unbeliev- these infants for two years and The meeting of the intergov- ably cool.” Having such a large watch how their brains surface ernmental body, attended by sample of children allowed the area change over time. They representatives of governments, researchers to show the great also plan to visit the infants for UN food agencies, civil society impact of poverty on developing two years and watch how their and private sector, was meant brains, she says, although the brains surface area change to chalk out a common strategy study cannot measure how indi- over time. They also plan to visit to fight global hunger. Trade- vidual brains change over time. the infants’ homes in the hopes related matters were not on the of pinpointing factors that might meeting agenda. Nonetheless, Nature versus nurture contribute to the differences, India used the platform to raise the issue of trade affecting food The findings are in line with such as how many stimulating toys they have and how much security and to tell world how unpublished research conduct- the skewed policy of the World ed by Farah and her collegues attention they get from par- ents. Neither study explains the Trade Organization (WTO) will

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 65 affect the food security of India. civil society and ensured coor- food security programme. “A fair Two other countries, El dination between ministries to amount of criticism has come Salavador and Jordan, also present India’s case in the inter- from the international arena, spoke in a similar vein about the national forum. which has challenged our public unjust WTO trade agreement. India’s Ministry of Food and stockholding policy which is the India had refused to endorse the Consumer Affairs presented the foundation on which the Food Trade Facilitation Agreement highlights of the National Food Security Act rests. We strongly (TFA) of WTO in August this Security Act and in coordina- feel that trade developing coun- year since there had been no tion with Ministry of Commerce tries need, rather than policies progress made on food-related it showed the potential damage having to tiptoe around trade issues. At that time India was posed by the WTO agreement rules. Developing countries blamed for the collapse of TFA, to India’s commitment to provide such as India must have the which is meant to “ease” world- food security to more than 800 freedom to use food reserves wide customs rules. million of its total population. to feed their poor without the India was well prepared India stated at the CFS meet threat of violating any interna- for the meeting. For once, the that the WTO agreement must tional obligation,” the Indian government of India roped in not be allowed to hamper its recreational obligation,” the

66 BUTTERFLIES Indian representative said. practice only by ensuring min- Valente, secretary general of Dipak Kumar, Joint secre- imalistic entitlements and by FIAN international. tary with the Union ministry of negating the principle of policy food and public distribution pre- coherence,” said Kannaiyan For The 568 Million sented India’s case. With help Subramaniam at the CFS meet. of audio-visual communication, He is an activist with the South Children Around he pushed the Indian’s case of Indian Coordination Committee The World food security. of Farmers Movements “We are one of three (SICCFM), a member group Millennium Post, New Delhi countries who were asked to La Via Campesina, La Via 24 February, 2015 for presentation on status of Campesina is an international Sat Pal food security. I highlighted the peasants’ movement started in National Food Security Act, 1993 and is headquartered in 2013, (NFSA’s) high points and Zimbabwe. It comprises about Sustainable development challenges before it because 164 local and national organiza- begins with safe, healthy of continuous WTO pursuance tions in 73 countries from Africa, and well educated children over India’s public stockpiling Asia, Europe and the Americas. The future of the world is at of foods,” Kumar told Down Altogether, it represents about stake, when 568 million children To Earth after his return from 200 million peasants, small around the world live in destitu- Rome. and people, women farmers, tion. Approximately 1.2 billion “I also showed a three min- indigenous people, migrants people worldwide survive on ute film on NFSA made by and agricultural workers from less than $1.25 Directorate of Advertising and around the world. (Rs 78). During a meeting of Visual Publicity. This time, the “The complete hypocrisy of the United Nations Children’s Ministry of Commerce helped the developed countries, partic- Fund (UNICEF) Executive in pointing out issues related to ularly the US and the EU needs Board, India’s Permanent trade and how it is going to im- to be thoroughly exposed. Whilst Representative to the UN pact food security commitment protecting the interests of their Ambassador Bhagwant Bishnoi of the government of India,” he farmers and agri-business, they said, in rather plain words, that added. are using the blatantly unjust poverty eradication and special Another international WTO rules to arm-twistIndia attention to the needs of chil- non-profit La Via Campesina and other developing countries” dren should be central goals for came in support of India’s stand he said. a post-2015 development agen- at WTO and termed the hue Subramaniam said if any da. Bishnoi argued that such and cry raised by developed unjust policy violated human goals are to ensure that children countries about it as “West’s rights, it should be held void. receive the requisite protection hypocrisy”. “The principle of human rights and nourishment to grow. “Civil Society endorses the should over-ride any trade nego- India’s call to protect chil- stance that India has taken here tiation or agreement that comes dren, who are either entangled today on the public stock hold- in the way of food security of our in poverty, or face child abouse, ing issue. We, as civil society constituent groups,” he said. exploitation and malnutrition, believe in the principle of coher- Another food rights activist from is an important one. Moreover, ence of human right, which is India, Biraj Patnaik, spoke about poverty since childhood is the enshrined in the UDHR. Human WTO TFA hamering Indian food cause of impoverishment in rights are indivisible and in- security at a side meeting with adulthood. Bishnoi stated that ter-dependent. We cannot have Hilal Elver, UN special rappore- the persisting challenge of inad- a right to adequate food in tur on right to food, and Flavio equate investment in a child’s

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 67 well being is often exacerbat- are twice more likely to die be- force on many issues affect- ed by economic crises, natural fore the age of five than children ing the lives of children, young disasters, and armed conflict. in better off families. people and their families. More India’s first Prime Minister Our representative also than little has been done to mit- Jawaharlal Nehru opined that added that India is home to 472 igate child labour, getting more everything can wait except ag- million children, which is nearly children into schools, reducing riculture, which he deemed 20 per cent of the world’s pop- extreme poverty, and enhancing crucial for India’s rural econ- ulation. He voiced the country’s access to safe drinking water. omy. We have to realize that commitment to the development The existing MDGs are nearing the eradication of child-poverty of every child, ensuring their right their target-duration this year. is another such urgent need, and protection from exploita- The world has a wonderful which cannot wait any more. tion. Noble laureate Kailash opportunity to set a course for To gauge the seriousness of Satyarthi has contributed sub- the next era of sustainable de- the issue, it would be imperative stantially to the eradication of velopment that is transformative to take note of a few figures. child labour. There are many for both the people and planet. Across the world, child-poverty more areas concerning children The UNICEF, it seems, is firm- rates up to the age of 12 are 34 that need to be take up on war ly committed to make sure that per cent. Between 13 and 18 footing. children remain at the centre of years it is 13 per cent, where- The United Nation and all its the next development agenda. as above 18 the figure go up member nations must commit It believes that an equity-based to 52 per cent. In developing themselves to uprooting pover- approach is essential to ensure countries, such as those in sub- ty, addressing its root causes that the most disadvantaged sahara region and South Asia, and accelerating the process of children and their families are the percentage of child-poverty development by talking imme- fully included in future are de- is higher than overall pover- diate and effective measures to velopment process. ty. Approximately 30 million eradicate child labour. The next agenda will need children are facing poverty in For the last 15 years, to integrate the three core the world’s richest countries. Millennium Development Goals dimensions of sustainable de- Children in the poorest families (MDGs) have been a guiding velopment the social, economic, and the environmental, and all people irrespective of where they live. In a post-2015 era, our new development agen- da must be responsive to their needs and be especially inno- vative in tackling the dire risks and uncertainties that a child faces in society. The ever-con- tinuing business, involving the rights, as well as the wellbeing of children must be boldly ad- dressed in the vision document. We must scale up the levels of education and nutrition, besides monitoring these aspects at all levels.

68 BUTTERFLIES Article 40 Every child accused of having infringed the penal law shall be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth.

CHILDRENCHILDREN ‘Nearly;kSu vijk/kksa 95 Per esa CentfyIr ofgksrs Juvenile fd'kksj ININ CONFLICTCONfLICT Delinquents Can Be Reformed’ jktLFkku if=dk] t;iqj WITHwITH LALAWw Business Standard, New Delhi 1222 April,ekpZ] 20152010 ‘Nearly;kSu vijk/kksa 95 esaper fyIr cent gksrs offd'kksj juvenile 6669 jktLFkku if=dk delinquents can be reformed’ xyr laxr esa iM+dj fd'kksj vc Thedk;Z firstdjus provisionokyh Lo;alsoh in lawlaLFkkvksa deal ds- Thecky vijkf/k;ksaHindu dh lqj{kk ds fy, Amendments to the 67 ing with juvenile crime was the gksaxs lykgdkj fu;qDr ;kSuJuvenile vijk/k djus Justice ls Hkh (Carexqjst ugha and dj dk;ZdrkZvksa dk ekuuk gS fd ifjtuksa Juveniles to be Punished for 70 Apprentices Act of 1850. After Heinousegkes/kk Acts jgsProtection gSA fd'kksjksa dsof ,sls vijk/kChildren) lekt ds /;ku ugha nsus ds pyrs fd'kksj many changes, this changed ThejkT; EconomicTimesesa cPpksa ls tqM+s 15 gtkj Act seek to bring children 67 dks u flQZ >d>ksj nsrs gSa] cfYd to,sls the vijk/k children’s djrs gSaA Act 1960. The Underageekeys yafcr offenders need 71 between the ages of 16 and ifjtuksa dh bTtr Hkh rkj&rkj dj Children’s Act then became protectiongekjk egkuxj 18 charged with heinous iqfyl dk ¶yki 'kks Deccan Herald nsrs gSaA cPpksa vkSj fd'kksjksa dks vijk/k what we know today as the cky lq/kkj x`gksa dh pkSiV O;oLFkk] crimes under the purview 69 JuvenileQjojh Justiceesa ihVhvkjvkbZ Act in esa1986. gqbZ ,d It JuvenilefjiksVZ ekaxh Attack 72 dhof nqfu;k the Indianesa tkus Penalls jksdus Code. ds fy, Thens'kca/kw EconomicTimes wasdk;Z'kkyk later esaamended iqfyl egkfunsZ'kd in 2000. ,lds iqfylThis egdes suggestion us Hkh dk;Z;kstuk has rS;kj The age for determining lq/kkj x`g esa vkx yxkdj Hkkxs 69 been strongly opposed jkmr us dgk Fkk fd fd'kksjksa vkSj cPpksa ukS cPps dh gS] ysfdy mldk ;g vfHk;ku adulthood was decided by coun- in Parliament. AMOD dks vijk/k dh nqfu;k ls nwj j[kus nSfud fgUnqLFkku fQygky foQy jgkA cPpksa ds fy, tries participating in a United KANTH, general secretary cky lq/kkj x`gksa ls Hkkxs 61 ckyd Nationsds fy, iqfyl convention egdes onus dk;Z;kstuk the sub- 70 of Prayaas, a juvenile aid nSfud HkkLdj ject.rS;kj Eventually,dh gS] ftlds an pyrs agreement gj Fkksus NGO, speaksdsl 1to Manavi bu cPpksa ls D;k lywd fd;k tk, was signed by democratic na- 71 Kapur about how important jk"Vªh; laLdj.k] Hkksiky ds ukfj;y [ksM+k esa 14 o"khZ; tions that this age should be is to retain 18 as the age to pksjh esa idM+s x, ukckfyxksa dk fixed at 18. Thisdsl is2 because 18 73 fd'kksjhdefine ds adulthood lkFk iM+ksl foresa jgus legal okys gksxk ekufld v/;;u actsHkksiky as dsa dividinglehi 'kkgiqjk line between ls ,d jk"Vªh; lgkjk nkspurposes. fd'kksjksa us T;knrh dhA bl ekeys childhoodNk=k dks rhuand Nk= adulthood. vkSj ,d ;qorhThis cky vijk/kh dks dSls j[ksa dSn 73 esa Whyiqfyl wasus nksuksa 18 dksoriginally fxj¶rkj setdj division becomes appropriate nSfud tkxj.k asfy;k the gSAupper buesa age ls ,dlimit nloha to try d{kk an becauseus dkj esa onetcjnLrh can cSBkown fy;kA prop ;s- accuseddk Nk= gSAunder tcfd] the nwljk Juvenile ckjgoha erty,yksx castmls ysdja vote, 'kgj enteresa ?kwers into jgsA a contract, get married, defend Justiced{kk dk Act?Nk= gSA 10 ekpZ dks Nk= bu Nk=ksa us Nk=k ds lkFk vHknzrk Eighteen has always been oneself in court after turning 18. theds ?kjage ds thatnjokts demarcates Hkwyo'k [kqys chil jg- ItHkh is dhAbelieved blds thatckn youmls onlynsj jkr attain dks drenx, FksAfrom nksuksa adults.Nk= mlds In dejsIndia, esa thegehfn;k maturity jksM ijto makeNksM+dj your Hkkx ownx,A through,vk, vkSj Mjkthis /kedkdjage limit mlds was lkFk at decisionsiqfyl us blwhen laca/k you esa turnvkjksfi;ksa 18. ds 16 for boys and 18 for girls. f[kykQWhat izdj.k would dk;e be fd;kthe reperFkkA - T;knrh dhA cussions if this age limit is

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 69 66 l BUTTERFLIES brought down from 18 to 16? offenders? have the tendency to be bullies There are two distinct sys- Over 7,000 juveniles have and influence younger children. tems of law and justice that come to Prayaas over the years. But it is also a fact that if you put exist today criminal justice sys- When I look back at the last them in a perfect and tight rou- tem and juvenile justice system. nine years, I find that few juve- tine, they begin to change for the There is no concept. Of a jail niles become repeat offenders, better. For example, we have a sentence under the Juvenile provided they are treated prop- football club at our Feroze Shah Act. Children are not viewed erly. The possibility of reform Kotla centre where leading foot as children. But under the new in juveniles is very high over ballers come to play with these bill that is being debated in 95 per cent. This is because kids. Same goes for cricket. The Parliament, there are glaring most crimes they commit are children start taking interest, get contradictions regarding the circumstantial and when their into routine and have no time legal procedure for dealing with circumstances improve, their left to create trouble. No one is juvenile crime. The recommen- chances of reforming up. Nearly above improvement. They just dations say that while a child 90 per cent of the offenders are need extra care and attention. below the age of 18 cannot be either illiterate, homeless or given a prison sentence, he or have suffered abuse. Juveniles to be she must be taken to court to be prosecuted. This recommenda- There are alternatives to Punished for tion seems pointless. jail, such as community Heinous Acts Internationally, how is service, group activities or this category “you adults” even sending offenders to The Economic Times, New Delhi treated? special homes but never 23 April, 2015 Those who want to get the conviction law changed are misinformed Cabinet approves changes about international norms. It is According to the nation- al Human Rights Commission in JJ Act to tackle heinous wrong to say that young adults offences like murder & rape and children who commit hei- and the Juvenile Justice Board nous crimes are thrown in jail. recommendations, an aftercare The Union Cabinet has Internationally, there exists a programme is very important. approved the introduction of differential system of law and There are alternative to jail, Amendment to the Juvenile justice for children. If at all chil- such as community service, Justice (Care and Protection of dren and young adults should be group activities, sending offend- Children) Bill 2014, which has prosecuted under the Probation ers back to his or her parents special provisions to tackle hei- of Offenders Act, where, in- and, as a last resort, sending nous offences like murder and stead of jail sentence, offenders the child to a special home rape committed by juveniles in are asked to do certain activities but never conviction. What is the age group of 16-18 years. that help in their reformation. required is improving the imple- One of the accused in the In fact, the category of young mentation of such measures. Nirbhaya rape case was 17 but adults is up to 21 years of age, But can’t young adults and was given a light sentence. so reducing the age limit is a repeat offenders be a bad in- On the basis of the approval thought less act. fluence on younger children of the Cabinet, a bill amending Do rehabilitation and at juvenile homes? In my experience, all ju- the current law will be intro- reform measures help juve- veniles live together and duced in the current session of nile criminals? How can the sometime, they reform them- Parliament, a government state- system be improved so that selves. It is true that certain kids ment said. The amendments to they don’t become repeat

70 BUTTERFLIES the draft bill strike a fine bal- 17 years old and got away crime would not only be tried ance between the demands with a lighter sentence of like adults but also, punished of the stakeholders asking for three years. like them. Although it ruled out continued protection of right of “As per the Ministry of life-terms an death sentenc- juveniles and the popular de- Women and Child Development, es for such children, it allowed mand of citizens in the light of this unique instrument/trial for their imprisonment in jails increasing incidence of heinous brings about a balance that is housing adults. The proposed crime by young boys, the gov- sensitive to the right of the child, legislation came in response ernment claimed, The proposed protective of his legitimate inter- to public outrage in the wake legislation, which would replace ests and yet conscious of the of the horrific rape and murder the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 need to deter crimes, especially of a young Delhi women by a clearly defines and classifies brutal crimes against women. gang of men, one of whom was offences as petty, serious and The proposed amendment rein- a juvenile, in December 2012. heinous and defines differentiat- forces these principles through Ignoring the sagacious recom- ed processes for each category. introduction of a new provision mendation of the Justice Verma The bill provides that in case that disqualification in cases Commission and in violution a heinous crime has been com- where a juvenile is tried and of the Constitution, Supreme mitted by a person between 16 convicted under the adult sys- Court judgments and the UN and 18 years it will be examined tem,” a government said. Convention on the Rights of by the juvenile Justice Board to the Child, the government went assess if the crime was commit- Underage ahead proposing legislation for ted as a ‘child’ or as an ‘adult’. treatment of juvenile offenders Since the assessment will take Offenders Need as adults. It was based on the place by the board which will Protection belief that that rising crime is have psychologists and social best prevented through stem experts, it will ensure that the Deccan Herald, New Delhi punishment and that human be- rights of the juvenile are duly 10 March, 2015 ings, including children, cannot protected if he has committed be reformed. the crime as a child, the govern- The parliamentary panel has ment said. The trial of the case The Parliamentary Standing done well to draw attention to will take place as a juvenile or Committee for Human Resource the flaws in this approach. It has as an adult on basis of this as- Development has rightly reject- stressed the need for providing sessment, the government said. ed proposed changes to the “greater protection” to under- Juvenile Justice Act that would age offenders. It has rapped Plugging Loopholes have allowed for trial of juve- the Ministry of Women and niles, who are facing rape and Child Welfare for putting out yy IN CASE OF HEINOUS murder charges, as adults. grossly exaggerated statistics CRIME, the Juvenile Justice Under the Juvenile Justice (Care to justify the move to try juve- Board will assess if the and Protection of Children) Bill, nile offenders as adults. The crime was committed as a 2014, that got Cabinet’s nod ministry had claimed that juve- ‘child’ or as an ‘adult’ last year, children aged 16-18 nile rape accounted for 50 per yy AN AMENDMENT to the years charged with heinous cent of all cases of rape in the Juvenile Justice Bill to be crimes or found to be repeat of- country, when official records introduced in the current fenders in serious crimes would put this figure at 6 per cent. It session of Parliament. be tried in adult criminal courts. is of gave concern that a minis- yy ONE OF THE ACCUSED in This meant that underage of- try mandated to project children the Nirbhaya rape case was fenders charged with heroines deliberately misinformed the

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 71 public to justify their severe grew up in a slum and dropped two months, mostly on smack. punishment. out of school when he was 10. As a 15 year old, the boy had Observation made by the But, as a teenager, he has seen eight cases registered against parliamentary panel merit atten- the kind of money that corporate him. He would be booked under tion. Hopefully, the government executives make in their 30s. The Juvenile Justice Act which will act on its suggestions to When he was 15, Sonu used meant that he would get bail reject the proposed legislation to make around Rs 1, 50,000 easily and as soon as he was and retain the rehabilitative per month, which was just about released on one count, he and and reformative approach of enough for his needs. his friends would get together to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. Sonu and his friends used plan the next hit. This continued In addition, the government to pick pockets, snatch chains until his addiction began take a must take steps to strength- and mug people. “We had to toll on him. en the reformative element in make Rs. 5,000 per day so we The effects of the addic- our treatment of offenders. At did whatever was requires,” he tion also translated into more present, juvenile offenders are says. The urgency was on ac- violence and, after getting into sent to remand homes that count of their addiction to smack near death situations more function more or less like jails. (heroin). The drug would cost than once, Sonu agreed to at- It is important that correctional him around Rs. 3,000 a day at tend rehab on the advice of a centers provide young convicts the least. counsellor. with counseling, a supportive Sonu’s father had passed Now, Sonu has completed environment, training and op- away in 2001 while his mother his rehab programme and says portunities that enable them to died in 2006. The government he plans to remain clean for the become responsible and pro- school that he attended was rest of his life. He is aware that ductive adults. as rough as his neighbourhood he is unlikely to see the kind and he gained a reputation of money he got used to as a Juvenile Attack for violence early in life. He teenager. But he says there is dropped out after completing nothing as priceless as peace of The Economic Times, Mumbai fifty standards. mind. “I don’t want that life ever 22 March, 2015 Sonu and his friends initially again,” he says quietly. KP Narayana Kumar used to steal pieces of railway track, iron fittings off the road Many out there and mother pumps. Then they Sonu is only one example A stupendous rise in crime took to pick pocketing at mar- in Delhi is connected with of a catastrophe that the capital riages. “There was a particular finds itself caught in. Activists an army of teenagers marriage hall where I used to taking to drug abuse. say that there could be as many frequent almost every week. If as 10,000 minors in Delhi like Inside one of the Capital’s you dig around the place you most underrated crises Sonu who are caught in the will still find wallets, purses and double trap of drugs and crime. Nineteen year old Sonu other such that we had cast The age of children taking to does not exactly look the kind away.” At one such wedding, such activities also has come who could afford to blow up Sonu noticed the bride’s moth- down drastically. “Earlier, drug around Rs 1.5 lakh every month. er had pushed a bag under her abuse and crime used to stare Dressed in a worn out T-shirt seat. He managed to draw it out at around 14 or 15. Now, there and an equally well used pair of and walked away. When they are hundreds of children who jeans, he does not come across opened the bag, there was Rs. are about 10 and are becom- as someone who is rich. Sonu 4.5 lakh cash and some jewels. ing habitual offenders,” says a The money was spent in

72 BUTTERFLIES counsellor who does not want SLUMS: This along with is because the roads are wider to be identified. Most people as- unplanned development of here, making it easy to zip away sociated with juvenile care say lower income neighborhoods after snatching. In most cases, they do not want to be identi- has exposed children to a the accused have turned out fied speaking on the subject as hostile environment at an to be a youngster from the sur- they believe the issue has be- early age. rounding slums in areas such come a sensitive one since the yy INEQUALITY: Most as Bindapur. December 16, 2012 Delhi gang- teenagers want a slick life. “They want the fast life. They rape case. When their parents cannot want everything that the mall At the same time, these afford to pay for the same, class have. But their parents people believe that the problem they steal. are extremely poor. So now, has now become a catastrophe, yy DRUG ABUSE: The hostile snatching is their way of becom- given the sheer number of mi- environment, lack of income ing slick,” says this officer. nors-many of them as young as and poor education facilities Juvenile Justice Personnel 10-who have been apprehend- drive teenagers to drugs say that snatching and theft ed in connection with police and to form boy gangs. cases are dominated by minors cases. Activists also say the yy CONDITION OF even as they also figure in more staggering rise in petty crime is GOVERNMENT SCHOOL: serious offences as well. “We connected with the problem of Many school do not have have estimated that there are teen addiction. The connection water or function from about 10,000 minors in Delhi between drug addiction and the dilapidated building; who are on smack. They nee rise in teen crime is visible in teachers lack motivation. around Rs. 6 lakh per head per statistics. Data available with the Delhi year just to buy smack. This In 2014, the number of Police suggests that juveniles amounts to around Rs. 600 snatching cases in Delhi dou- commit six crimes a day on an crore per year,” says an activist. bled from 3,638 a year ago average in the city. to 7,350 and burglary cases Data sourced by news agen- A Fresh Start more than trebled from 2,835 cy IANS reveals that 1,727 Joginder who is 16 says to 10,309. Similarly, motor ve- criminal cases-including snatch- he and a few friends from the hicle thefts also increased from ing, robbery, dacoity, attempt to neighbourhood all of whom had 14,916 a year ago to 23,384. murder, murder and rape-were dropped out of school – would The number of incidents of committed by juveniles between go around looking for indepen- house thefts jumped almost four January 1 and October 31 last dent houses that were locked time from 3,216 to 12, 735 while year. Among all crime, robbery from outside. First they would other thefts soared from 11,992 was the most common crime unhinge the exhaust fan after to 42,634. While the police point with 412 cases reported across which they would get the young- out that the rise in numbers is the city. Dacoity was the second est of the group – who was then due to their registering all com- most common crime committed aged about 10- to crawl through plaints, the rise in the number by minors followed by burglary. the hollow. of teenagers taking to crime Juveniles were also booked in Joginder who has six cases has also had an impact on the 70 murder and 74 attempt to registered against him says that numbers. murder cases. he too need the money around Dwarka is considered one of Reasons for the Teenage Rs. 6,000 a day – to buy smack. the most snatcher friendly local- After two years at a rehab cen- Crime Wave ities in the city. A police officer tre, Joginder says that he is now who looks after cases pertaining yy PROLIFERATION OF completely says that he is now to juvenile crime says that this

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 73 completely off drugs. are narrow and broken while the shot dead at a local gym by Counsellors say that many streets are overcrowded. The three men, one of whom was of the rehabilitated children crimes are mostly committed felled by a dumb-bell flung by proved to be star recruits for by the neghbourhood boys and another person who witnessed their employers as they turned youngsters who live in slums the incident. The dumb bell hit out to be more innovative and nearby and attend the many the attacker on the head as they hard working than their peers. government high schools in were fleeing and he is said to be Ali who now works for a well the area. Apparently, violence in coma. known hotel has become a star between the boys from the A teacher at a school in chef. lower income neighbourhood Jahangirpuri says that senior “He could cut vegetables and the nearby slums is a daily students are known to unhinge like a robot and he had all sorts occurrence. fans and iron legs off desks of easy fixes to cook for large “Just two days before Holi, and benches and sell them at gatherings. The senior chefs at there was a stabbing in our scrapyards. “Anything they can the hotel were quite amazed at locality. Some of these ‘smac- tear apart and sell, they will. his ability to innovated and that kiyas’ from the slum tried to Teachers cannot do anything. is what is common with most steal a pump and one of them “The reason behind their help- children who go through this got caught. He raised an alarm lessness to control students is whole cycle of drugs, crime and and two of his friends attacked twofold, said this teacher who rehabilitation: they are more in- the man who had spotted the did not wish to be identified. novative than the average child. thieves. Such things are com- As per the educational pol- They can focus better and come mon here,” says Ravi, a local icy, till the eighth standard no up with solutions to almost any student whose friend was student is to be failed and they problem,” says a counsellor. arrested three years ago in con- are only to be graded. The stu- There are minors who have nection with robbery case. dents are aware of the strict more than 30 cases registered On the streets, groups of laws against corporal punish- against them. “The most se- teenagers walk with an exag- ment and they take advantage vere case that I have ever dealt gerated swagger. Ravi points of the situation, the teacher with involved a child who was out to a particular group and reckons. diagnosed with anti-social per- says that the leader and says “Under the new educational sonality disorder. He used to say that the leader of said “gang” policy, our hands are tied. Even that even if he stopped drugs, was in jail for murder. The vi- if we reprimand students, they he could not stop committing olence committed for money can accuse us of corporal pun- crimes,” adds the counsellor. spins off its own side-story of ishment. Moreover, we are not In Jahangirpuri in north-west brawls over disagreements, re- supposed to fail any student till Delhi, a locality hit by a wave lationships and other such. In he is in the eighth standard. So of juvenile crimes, most people a recent case, a teenager was even if the student is irregular have stopped. Carrying money beyond their immediate needs Crime Rate Has Soared in Delhi and use cheaper brands of mobile phone. This is because Crime 2013 2014 snatching and mugging have Snatching cases 3,638 7,350 become an everyday problem Burglary 2,835 10,309 in the area. Motor vehicle thefts 14,916 23,384 The area is full of low-in- House Thefts 3,216 12,735 come housing colonies. Most of Other Thefts 11,992 42,634 the houses lack paint, the roads

74 BUTTERFLIES and does not keep pace with showed the after-effects of hav- accused in the case who is now the class, he is to be passed. ing narcotic substances. The 17. His grandmother and aunt So, for the last many years, chil- police also found a laptop and said he was not welcome at dren are literally lording over some other gadgets in the car. home and that after the case, teachers. They even threaten Inquiries revealed that the car he and his mother moved away us physically. So we say noth- was stolen from the residence of to live somewhere else. ing and just do our jobs,” says a high-ranking bureaucrat in the “Rocky used to pick up fights this teacher who has taught at UPA governments. After ques- in school. Then he dropped out the neighbourhood government tioning the boy, the police came and went berserk with drugs, school for more than 15 years. to know that Rocky and two of robberies and what not. Don’t One night in 2011, a police his friends (both of them young- allow him to visit us he would patrol that was making its rounds er than him) had scaled the wall be a bad influence on his neph- around a lower-income neigh- and the balcony of the bureau- ews. We don’t want to see him bourhood in Delhi happened to crat’s house and escaped with again,” said his aunt. see a car that was parked rath- electronic gadgets and his car. (Name of the minors have er haphazardly and the driver The three boys had disposed been changed to protect their seemed to be asleep. When the of the goods at an electronic identity.) police officer peered inside, he market in the city. ET Magazine found Rocky, a 13-year-old who visited the house of the main

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 75 Article 40 Every child accused of having infringed the penal law shall be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child's sense of dignity and worth.

EDUCATIONCHILDREN India;kSu Disappoints vijk/kksa esa fyIr in Educationalgksrs fd'kksj Outcome Test IndiaIN Disappoints CON fin LICT 76 Educational Outcome Test jktLFkku if=dk] t;iqj Mint Mint, New Delhi wITH LAw 1422 January,ekpZ] 2010 2015 Education is fourth pillar of 78 ;kSu vijk/kksa esa fyIr gksrs fd'kksj 66 Prashant K. Nanda developmentjktLFkku if=dk The Times of India xyr laxr esa iM+dj fd'kksj vc dk;Z djus okyh Lo;alsoh laLFkkvksa ds cky vijkf/k;ksa dh lqj{kk ds fy, 67 class 2 text in 2014 against 47% Casteinggksaxs lykgdkj off fu;qDr their rights 80 ;kSuEnrolment vijk/k djus level ls Hkh stays xqjst ughanear dj dk;ZdrkZvksa dk ekuuk gS fd ifjtuksa New Indian Express universal but only 48% of in the previous year. This means egkes/kk jgs gSA fd'kksjksa ds ,sls vijk/k lekt everyds /;ku second ugha nsus Class ds 5pyrs student fd'kksj in ThejkT; wrongesa cPpksa lsof tqM+s the 15 right gtkj to 82 class 5 students can read education 67 dks u flQZ >d>ksj nsrs gSa] cfYd rural,sls vijk/k India djrscan’t gSaAread the text of ekeys yafcr a class 2 text; arithmetic The Tribune a class three levels below. gekjk egkuxj ifjtuksastill remains dh bTtr a challenge.Hkh rkj&rkj dj iqfylIn 2005,dk ¶yki when 'kks the first ASER Gendercky lq/kkj parityx`gksa dh inpkSiV indian O;oLFkk] class, 86 nsrs gSaA cPpksa vkSj fd'kksjksa dks vijk/k 90% out of school are now in 69 India would appear to have reportQjojh was esa published,ihVhvkjvkbZ threeesa gqbZ out,d ThefjiksVZ Indian ekaxh Express dh nqfu;k esa tkus ls jksdus ds fy, ns'kca/kw partially arrested the downward ofdk;Z'kkyk five children esa iqfyl in egkfunsZ'kd Class 5 were,lds Atlas shrugs : unequal 86 spiraliqfyl egdesin the usquality Hkh dk;Z;kstuk of learning rS;kj able to read a Class 2 text. This lq/kkj x`g esa vkx yxkdj Hkkxs jkmr us dgk Fkk fd fd'kksjksa vkSj cPpksa gender colours fly 69 ofdh schoolgS] ysfdy children mldk in rural;g vfHk;ku areas is the 10th ASER report. This FinancialukS cPps Chronicle dks vijk/k dh nqfu;k ls nwj j[kus nSfud fgUnqLFkku butfQygky there foQy is little jgkA to cheercPpksa dsabout fy, year, the foundation surveyed India made big gains in 88 cky lq/kkj x`gksa ls Hkkxs 61 ckyd the country’s performance, ac- 577ds fy, rural iqfyl districts egdes acrossus dk;Z;kstuk India child edu: UN 70 cording to the Annual Status of for the report. ThenSfud Times HkkLdj of India rS;kj dh gS] ftlds pyrs gj Fkksus Education Reportdsl 1 (ASER) pub- “Stagnation has happened bu cPpksa ls D;k lywd fd;k tk, 71 jk"Vªh; laLdj.k] lishedHkksiky onds Tuesday.ukfj;y [ksM+k esa 14 o"khZ; but at a low level. That’s the The enrolment level is near reality,” said dslMadhav 2 Chavan, pksjh esa idM+s x, ukckfyxksa dk 73 fd'kksjh ds lkFk iM+ksl esa jgus okys gksxk ekufld v/;;u universal with 96.7% of chil- chiefHkksiky executive ds lehi and 'kkgiqjk president ls ,d of jk"Vªh; lgkjk drennks fd'kksjksa registered us T;knrh dhAin blschools ekeys Pratham. He said things have during 2014, the same as 2013, Nk=k dks rhu Nk= vkSj ,d ;qorh cky vijk/kh dks dSls j[ksa dSn 73 esa iqfyl us nksuksa dks fxj¶rkj dj not changed much despite gov- nSfud tkxj.k accordingfy;k gSA buesa to ASER ls ,d 2014,nloha pubd{kk- ernmentus dkj esa levyingtcjnLrh a cSBktax fy;kAto fund ;s lished by education non- profit educationyksx mls ysdjand 'kgjenacting esa ?kwers a jgsAlaw organizationdk Nk= gSA Prathamtcfd] nwljk Education ckjgoha to ensure access to education Foundation.d{kk dk Nk= gSA 10 ekpZ dks Nk= forbu allNk=ksa children us Nk=k in dsthe lkFk 6-14 vHknzrk age ds The?kj dsproportion njokts Hkwyo'k of all children[kqys jg group.Hkh dhA blds ckn mls nsj jkr dks inx, Class FksA 5nksuksa who Nk= can mldsread adejs Class esa gehfn;kAnd arithmetic, jksM ij NksM+dj the last Hkkx of x,A the 2 text has improved by 1 per- three Rs, ‘still remains a chal- centagevk, vkSj pointMjk /kedkdj from 2013 mlds - 48.1% lkFk lenge.iqfyl Forus bl example, laca/k esa onlyvkjksfi;ksa 44.1% ds childrenT;knrh dhAof Class 5 could read a off[kykQ Class izdj.k8 students dk;e in fd;k rural FkkA India

76 BUTTERFLIES 66 l BUTTERFLIES Enrolment Stays Near Universal managed to do a division in 2014, Out of school children (in%) Enrolment in private school (in %) as against 46% in 2013. 2010 3.5% 2010* 23.7% “The all India (rural) figures for 2013 3.3% 2013 29% basic arithmetic have remained 2014 3.3% 2014 30.8% virtually unchanged over the last

*The year in which the Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force few years. In 2012, 26.3% of Class 3 children could do a two-digit sub-

ATTENDANCE (in %; on the day of visit) traction. This number is at 25.3% Student attendance(Class 1-8) Teacher attendance in 2014. For Class 5 children, the ability to do division has increased slightly from 24.8% in 2012 to 86.4 85.8 85.8 26.1% in 2014,” said the report. The situation in the ability of school children to comprehend 73.4 71.8 71.1 English too seems to be stag- nating. “Children’s ability to read English is relatively unchanged 2010 2013 2014 in primary school. In 2014, about 25% of children enrolled in Class Top 5 states in sending students 2013 5 could read simple English sen- to private schools 2014 tences. This number is virtually (as a percentages of total number of students) unchanged since 2009,” the report said. The situation is worse in middle school. In 2009, 60.2% of children

70.5 68.8 51.4 49 46.7 73.3 62.2 54.2 51.7 51.7 in Class 8 could read simple sen- tences in English but in 2014, this Manipur Kerala Haryana UP Punjab Manipur Kerala Haryana UP Meghalaya figure was 46.8%, the survey said. Experts said the numbers indi- SCHOOL INFRASTRUSTURE AND RTE INDICATORS cate that India’s school education % of schools...... with separate usable is in deep crisis and needs urgent ...with usable toilets toilets for girls ...meeting pupil teacher attention. If India wants to reap the ratio as per the RTE Act 62.6 65.2 53.3 55.7 ‘so-called demographic dividend, 45.3 49.3 47.2 38.9 then the school is where it must 32.9 focus, experts said. “How will you reap the de-

2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014 mographic dividend when your

...Where drinking ...Where mid day meal ...that have heard of CCE school children are not learning water is available is served (on the day (Continous Comprehensive the basics?” asked Yamini Aiyar, of survey) Evaluation) 84.6 87.2 85.1 88.5 director of Accountability Initiative, 72.7 73.8 75.6 78.9 part of think-tank Centre for Policy Research. Administrators have talk- ed about IITs, IIMs and skill development but less about what’s 2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014 2013 2014 happening inside classrooms in schools, she added. “In the pursuit

LEARNING OUTCOME (2014) CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 77 Reading English 58.8% 74.6% Comprehension of class 6 students of class 8 students Of the students who can read Who can read Who can read sentences, % of those who can class 2 level text class 2 level text tell the meaning of the sentences

Arithmetic 64.8% 68.2% 25.8% 23.2% Class 6 Class 8 of class 6 students of class 8 students Who can subtract Who can subtract SCHOOL INFRASTRUSTURE AND RTE INDICATORS % of schools...... with separate usable ...with usable toilets toilets for girls ...meeting pupil teacher ratio as per the RTE Act 62.6 65.2 53.3 55.7 45.3 49.3 47.2 38.9 32.9

2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014

...Where drinking ...Where mid day meal ...that have heard of CCE water is available is served (on the day (Continous Comprehensive of survey) Evaluation) 84.6 87.2 85.1 88.5 72.7 73.8 75.6 78.9

2010 2013 2014 2010 2013 2014 2013 2014

to play in improving the school LEARNING OUTCOME (2014) education system in India, Reading Banerjee added. English 58.8% 74.6% Comprehension Education Is of class 6 students of class 8 students Of the students who can read Who can read Who can read sentences, % of those who can Fourth Pillar Of class 2 level text class 2 level text tell the meaning of the sentences Development Arithmetic 64.8% 68.2% The Times of India, New Delhi 25.8% 23.2% Class 6 Class 8 of class 6 students of class 8 students 26 January, 2015 Who can subtract Who can subtract Dilip Ranjekar

It was in 2009, while being a part of an Education Think Tank of excellence, we cannot leave schools, if not the learning out- conference organized by a pre- the basics behind.” come. It also said that more mier educational institution in She said the ASER report students are now enrolled in pri- the US where I realized that bar- should influence the centre and vate schools than even before. ring a handful of nations such as states to set specific goals and In 2014, 30.8% of all children Finland and Sweden, the World work towards it. between the ages of 6 and 14 at large is struggling with the Chavan said the report is, in were enrolled in private schools. issue of how to achieve quality a way, a summary of what “we This number was 29% in 2013 in school education. There were have observed over the tenures and 16.3% in 2005 when the first representatives from about of UPA I and II. It is also a base- ASER report was published. 70 countries and most were line for the new government and A human resource devel- lamenting about the poor quality what it has to deal with.” opment ministry official, who of education in their countries. Rukmini Banerjee, Director asked not to be named, said Despite massive campaigns of ASER centre, said that she that the government is serious such as ‘No Child Left Behind’ would like to see the report as a about the learning outcome. In led by President Obama and “glass half full than half empty”. August, the ministry unveiled a other private initiatives such as “Stagnation has happened and new scheme that emphasizes Teach for America, the quality we hope the upward mobility primary reading, Writing and un- of school education is a strug- will start soon,” she added. derstanding, the official added. gle even in a developed nation Banerjee pointed out that Abhijit Banerjee, a professor like the US. some states had done better. of economics at Massachusetts For over three decades, suc- In 2014, a higher proportion of Institute of Technology and au- cessive governments in India class 5 students in Himachal thor of Poor Economics, said he have projected three pillars of Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Haryana, is not convinced that the central our development - electricity Bihar, Odisha and Karnataka government gives education roads and Water (bijli, sadak could read a class 2 level text its due priority. It seems to be and paani). The political mas- than in 2013. focusing more on reviving econ- ters must accept Education as The survey also said that the omy first, said Banerjee, who the fourth pillar which has the Right to Education Act and the attended the event that saw power to change our status from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan have the release of the ASER report. a developing nation to a devel- resulted in an improvement in More than the centre, the state oped nation. infrastructure in government governments have a bigger role

78 BUTTERFLIES To be fair to India’s political to the poor quality of education than the children themselves. masters, there has been a sig- in our schools. The accountability is missing nificant progress in access and The ASER report has con- due to several reasons such as enrolment during the past one- sistently brought home the absence of performance cul- and-a-half decade. Triggered abysmal performance of our ture, lack of risk reward system by the 86th amendment to the children in simple abilities of and uncertain tenures Constitution, the NDA gov- reading, writing and arithmetic. (c) Absence of perspective ernment in 2001 made a bold This has culminated in people on education at all levels: A very decision to launch the Sarva losing the confidence in the large majority of education func- Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for public school system and brand tionaries, teacher educators All) - putting several infrastruc- ‘Public School’ has taken a and teachers do not possess ture, innovation, incentive and major beating. During the past in-depth knowledge of the teacher education program- 15 years, the shift’ from public National Policy for Education mers under one umbrella than schools to private has been al- and the National Curriculum programmers being identified most fifteen percentage points. Framework. by multiple donors (World Bank, And the tragedy is - contrary to (d) Dysfunctional institutions DFID). public perception, the quality of supporting the school education This led to unprecedented education in private schools is elaborate institutional frame- increase in the availability of worse than in public schools. works such as the NCERT, schools, classrooms and teach- Even education functionar- NCTE, SCERT, DIET, Block ers. Over 98 percent of our ies who run and support public and Cluster level resource cen- villages have a primary school schools send their children to tres were created under the within l km and a higher prima- private schools, fully knowing National Policy for Education, ry school within 3kms. The SSA that government schools have a vast majority of them suffer brought in the concept of com- better infrastructure, more qual- from both quantity and quality of pulsory teacher development ified teachers, higher teacher people for every teacher and provided salaries, elaborate academic (e) Absence of schools of budgets for it. Several innova- support system and, above all, education that develop compe- tions were attempted and some free education for all children. tent education professionals to quality initiatives such as Nali manage the large educational Kali and Activity Based Learning Some Critical to Quality system that we have. In most were supported by government Issues At a Broader developed nations, almost all resources. Level, The Critical Issues good universities have a school Have Been: of education within them. For a Brand public schooling nation of 1.25 billion people, we has suffered (a) Lack of political will - as have practically no schools of evidenced through inadequate education. We need hundreds India’s school education budgets and unwillingness to of such institutions. system is among the largest eliminate political interference in the world that deals with 1.4 in issues such as teacher ap- Key actions in education million schools, over 25 mil- pointment and transfers etc. Public education in India lion children, 7 million teachers (b) Lack of accountability today must be seen in the con- and about 1.5 million education among the education function- text of the commitments that functionaries supporting the aries. Illustratively if fifty percent we, as a nation, made towards schools from outside. Several children fail in the tenth standard the education of our children researches and educational board examination each year through our Constitution. studies have repeatedly pointed nobody is accountable other

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 79 1. We must begin to see of curricular goals and across the country – Dalit chil- teaching as a very highly- mostly promote a process dren being made to sweep regarded profession of mechanical, rote based classrooms and clean toilets at considering that a teacher learning in the classroom. schools, eat separately and face is a leader of change. The Examinations are also a neglect. The constant branding reality is that teachers as a source of acute stress and by the teachers and classmates group are in some measure fear among children and as the other, besides affecting politically empowered but, their families. the psyche of the child, has also both as a group and as 5. Our public education system shown to increase dropouts, individuals, professionally has historically suffered and the cycle goes on – child disempowered. Most from inadequate resource labour, drug abuse, alcoholism teachers see themselves allocation towards fulfill. and crime. as accountable to their The issues of child rights ‘superiors’ and not to their Casteing off their exist universally, where there students. Addressing is a divisive system between teachers’ professional Rights our children and their children identity their need for but the discrimination gets re- knowledge and skills and New Indian Express, Chennai inforced in India because of the their empowerment as a 09 March, 2015 socio-religious philosophy that community is critical. almost accepts caste discrimi- 2. As people responsible Poor quality of education nation, believes social activist for achieving the goals of for kids from marginalized Vasanthi Devi, Former chairper- education policy the decision communities and the son of the Institute for Human makers and administrators in social setup is driving Rights Education. the education system need them to child labour Often being first generation to be significantly better and crime, say activists. learners with a non-conducive prepared and competent to Archita Suryanarayanan home atmosphere, the trou- deal with the diverse and speaks to stakeholders to bles at school are multilayered. complex issues of school take a wide angle view of “Dalit children have special education in India. the problem and looks at needs, and this is not accepted 3. Providing early childhood solutions. by most people, school children education has not been face the same issues the adults made mandatory and is When a man from the largely of the caste face – lack of op- excluded from the ambit of stigmatized Kuruvar community portunity and poorer standards,” the right to education making was picked up by the police in says N Thayalan, director, it a mostly unregulated Madurai weeks back for alleged Human Resource Development area. theft, the collateral damage Foundation. 4. Curriculum, classroom was massive. Lakshmi (name Pallar, Parayar and environment and changed), his 13-year old Arunthatiyar are the major Dalit pedagogical processes are daughter stopped going to the groups in the state. A survey was primarily based on rote- school as a result of her school- conducted in 2010 among 200 learning and do not enable mates’ snide remarks about her Arunthatiyar families, the group conceptual understanding, father. engaged in manual scavenging creativity or collaborative With widespread caste dis- and considered Dalit among the learning. In their current crimination and ‘branding’ of Dalits.’ The study, conducted by form, examinations do not communities, the effect on chil- the Arunthatiyar Human Rights assess the achievement dren can be observed in cases forum, revealed that 24 per cent

80 BUTTERFLIES of the children dropped out from and consequently, the schools all children, and it is time to stop school; dropouts started right often from marginalized com- labeling groups as Dalits or from class I and the maximum munities, and consequently, street children,” says Shantha dropouts were in Class VIII. the schools often have poor Sinha, Who started her life in The top reason given by stu- facilities where teachers are child rights activism by work- dents for droping out was slow not sensitized on non-discrimi- ing only for dalit children but learning, followed by peer group nation. “The moment they step later moving to an area-based influence, family incompetence, into school, they feel the hostil- approach, as she felt that caste- teacher’s attitude and difficult ity. Teachers referring to caste based welfare measures could syllabus. names and treating them with increase polarization. The tar- While the children may not contempt is common,” Vasanthi geted approach, she believes, completely comprehend the Devi says. There are also sub- continues the caste-stereotyp- underlying factors behind this tler issues like the difference ing and the approach has to be social oppression, around 40 in the Tamil dialect that they more democratic. per cent of the teachers had speak, which is mocked. The “A common school system is quoted caste discrimination as schools with a majority of SC/ the only way to move to conver- a reason for dropouts, although ST Students often get branded gence. The government schools the top reason was inadequate as rowdy schools, with teachers and Adi Dravidar schools often staff followed by poor paren- who work there constantly on have poor facilities, teacher tal care and economic factors. the lookout for better positions. absenteeism,” claims Vasanthi Frequent migration by parents, Marginalized groups have Devi.”Once there are mixed occupation of the parents as also been pushed to the fringes economic groups in government manual scavengers, and the due to urbanization and migra- schools, they will be forced to disturbed environment at homes tion, affecting their education. upgrade.” increases dropouts. ”Should Dalit children not be Dalit leaders, however, be- “The most number of drop- there in the heart of the city?” lieve that this approach, while outs are from the SC/ST asks Virgil D’samy, director commendable, is idealistic. community. The school-going of Arunodhaya, a foundation “It is a good concept, but we age is an impressionable age working for street and working know the kind of discrimination and extra attention needs to children. “Should the city have we face even as Dalit leaders. be paid to counter this vulner- only glass buildings and be for A lot of social development is ability,” says Shantha Sinha, only one section of society?” necessary and we need to first Chairperson, National commis- become equals,” says Karuppu sion for protection of child rights The Inclusivity Sami, an activist from the or- and founder of the Andhra Questions : ganization Rural Educational based MV foundation. and Development centre in At a time of urbanization Satyamangalam, Erode. “In an and globalization, ‘inclusivity’ is From the moment they ideal society, we could have what activists believe is the way step into school, they feel common schools. There is a forward, and separate schools the hostility. Teachers separate SC/ST minister and for the marginalized could lead referring to caste names department. Why not SC/ST to isolation and ghettoisation. and treating them with schools?” asks Karuppu Sami. “In the past, we needed sep- contempt is common arate schools to give special STATE’S STRATEGY : The majority of students in attention, but I believe that now government schools are often is a time for assimilation. Any The Tamil Nadu government from marginalized communities, child rights policy should target is trying to tackle the issues of

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 81 children from backward com- A floodgate of litigation are far from being met, 5 lakh munities through scholarship. may now open, with teacher vacancies still rest Adi Dravidar school and hos- parents well within their and contract hiring of teachers tels, and provision of free study rights to move courts, continues. material. “ Enrolment rates and and the Supreme Court Though enrichment in pass percentage are going issuing notice to all states schools has improved and is up, “says an education official. following PIL. today 1,990 lakh (of the total There are 1397 Adi Dravidar 2,330 lakh six to 14 year olds), schools and 1304 hostels in the In August of 2009, the RTE remains more a right to State, with around 90 percent of Parliament passed the historic school than to quality education these being in rural areas. Over Rights to Education act (RTE) in the wake of massive teacher 1,70,000 children study in the to make elementary education vacancies and lack of trained schools, and ten more college the fundamental right of all six teachers. hostels were added this year. to 14 year olds. The legisla- That explains why learning The post matric-scheme tion stipulated several norms outcomes continue to dip and covers the college fees for all to ensure that children get not lesser class V children are able students who clear the eligibili- just access to school, but also to read school texts prescribed ty, and ten students from each quality education. It also set the for class II children, or even do block on the basis of merit are deadline of March 31, 2015, simple maths. With the RTE given scholarships for private for all state governments to deadline set to be missed, doors schools. Apart from reserva- achieve a range of goals. These are open for parents and wards tions and scholarships, a large included mapping of all out-of- to move courts against the scale sensitization on discrim- school children and bringing Centre and state governments ination, from the government them to school, un-crowding the for failing to deliver a fundamen- side, is an important factor that classroom by ensuring not more tal right to elementary education activists believe is much needed than 30 students per teacher at guaranteed by Article 21A of in order to tackle this problem at the primary (classes I to V) level the Constitution. Already the the root. and 35 students per teacher at National Coalition for Education the upper primary level (classes and RTE Forum have lied a PIL The Wrong of the VI to VIII). petition in the Supreme Court, School managements were seeking directions to states to Right to Education required to provide a decent deliver children their “justifiable” atmosphere to children by en- right and to school manage- The Tribune, New Delhi suring potable water, functional ment to pay penalties (Rs 1 lakh 29 March, 2015 toilets, boundary walls, ramps, a school for violations and more Aditi Tandon playgrounds, libraries and if violations persist). The court electricity Getting profession- has issued a notice to all states ally trained teachers to make Five Years after the and 17 states have replied with schooling pleasant was another RTE came into effect, detailed affidavits. big goal. 3.45 crore students Five years were given to are still out of school. Unrecognized Schools states to meet the targets after With the deadline for its the Act came into force on April Government schools dom- implementation expiring 1, 2010. As the March 31 dead- inate elementary instruction on March 31,the goal of line awaits expiry 3.45 core deliveryman over 80 per cent universal elementary students remain out of school, schools are in rural areas. Data education remains school infrastructure targets shows eight out of every 10 grossly underachieved.

82 BUTTERFLIES schools imparting elementary Delhi and Jharkhand, where Prof R Govinda, Vice- instruction are financed by the over 40 per cent schools are Chancellor of NUEPA, states, government, though trends indi- non-compliant with the PTR “Teacher education is our big- cate a mushrooming of private requirement of 1:30. At upper gest challenge. We are the unaided schools. The Act man- primary level, the PTR is 1:35, only country in the world which dated that all schools should be but 15.35 per cent schools has left teacher training to the regularized by March 2015 and across India remain non-com- private sector. Of the 15,000 unrecognized schools be shut plaint. This percentage was teacher training centres in down, but 21,351 such schools 27.46 in 2013. The number of India, over 95 per cent are pri- continue to be in operation. districts not complaint with PTR vately managed. Countries like The mapping of these schools norms is 219 (almost half), with Finland that report the best began in 2010. most being in Bihar, Gujarat, education indicators offer free About 80.20 per cent are Jharkhand, MP, Maharashtra, teacher training in the govern- government schools, 2.52 lakh UP and West Bengal. ment system. Another worry is private unaided schools and As far as teacher quali- the poor quality of instruction 68,000 private aided schools. ty goes, it can be judged from at our many small schools with Mirta Ranian of RTE Forum, the fact that lesser number of enrolments under 100 students. a group which privately mon- teachers are receiving in-ser- These schools continue to lan- itors the progress of law says, vice training. In 2011, 40.21 per guish due to lack of investments “Unrecognised schools are a cent teachers received training and multi-grade teachers. major cause of concern, so is as against 22 per cent of 77 States must pay attention to de- the closure of schools. Our stud- .21 lakh teachers in 2014. “In tails like how to create a good ies show that since the RTE Act government schools, this value library or a good laboratory” came into force, around 1 lakh decreased from 36.77 per cent More and more privately government schools have been in 2013 to 31.45 per cent in 2014. trained teachers are flunking closed down, mostly because In private unaided schools, the the national Teacher Eligibility these had fewer enrollments. value was just 3.32 per cent ‘test conducted by the CBSE There is no formal system to in 20l4,” National University twice annually the tests began determine the number of school of Education Planning and in 2010 to meet RTE stipu- closures. Our state units have Administration survey (NUEPA) lations of minimum teacher reported closures that flout the says. qualification for school instruc- spirit of the law which meant to Contractual teacher em- tion. On an average, only about end non-regularized instruction ployment is also a challenge, 8 per cent candidates have and not instruction itself.” with 5,08,000 such teachers in been passing the test. This en- the system. “Contract teachers courages contract employment, Dearth Of Teachers constitute 6.45 per cent of all which then adversely impacts Academicians and activists teachers. Government manage- learning outcomes. agree that teacher-related indi- ments have the largest number cators are the biggest concern. of contract teachers at 9.71 per School Indicators Schools are short of around cent,” an HRD Ministry official : 72,435 Single six lakh teachers despite the admits. Centre sanctioning additional Contractual teaching is Classroom Schools posts to meet RTE targets. pushing RTE targets behind. across India Primary level pu- About 80 per cent of regular pil-teacher ratios (PTR) are teachers are professionally unacceptably high in Bihar, trained as against 55 per cent contract teachers. CLASSROOMS

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 83 Of a total of 14.48 lakh el- Another major target – min- levels of development. ementary schools, 1,04, 307 imum 200 days of instruction at (7.2 percent) are single-teach- primary and 220 days at upper Cut in SSA Budget er schools with enrolment of primary levels – has not been The last Union Budget saw less than 15 students across reached. Over 72,000 primary 23 percent cut in funds for the all eight sections. In 5 percent schools are below the 200 mark flagship Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan of all schools, there is only and 25 percent upper primary (SSA), which is the vehicle one classroom. This translates schools are behind deadlines. to fund RTE requirements. into 72,435 single-classroom Student Strength Majority of the education budget schools- a statistic that has the goes into teacher salaries, etc HRD ministry worried. Even The National University leaving little for plan expendi- today, an average elementary of Education Planning and ture to improve teacher training school has only 4.8 classrooms. Administration (NUEPA), under facilities. This is worse for government the Ministry of HRD and con- schools where the number of ducts annual school reviews to More Facilities, But not average classrooms in 3.2 as monitor RTE indicators, con- Enough against 5.8 for private schools. fesses, “About 30.45 percent The government’s lat- of the 14.5 lakh elementary Teachers est review of RTE indicators schools have enrollment of less celebrates the fact that an in- The average number of than 50 students.” teachers per school is three. creasing number of schools This number is 1.3 at the pri- Were States Stand now have buildings. As per the mary and 5.3 at the upper latest NUEPA report, a signifi- The HRD Ministry (through primary level, indicating lack of cant achievement in most new NUEPA) is annually releas- recruitment or teacher interest schools is the presence of build- ing Education Development ings. Between 2003 and 2014, at induction levels. Index (EDI) data to indicate 1.98 lakh primary schools have Student-Classroom Ratio where states stand on RTE opened, which is 24,41 per cent targets. The index uses foru (SCR):- of the total primary schools in board indicators to rate states India. More than 95 per cent of The number of children per access, infrasgtriucture, teach- these have buildings. primary classroom in India has ers and outcomes. The latest However, Annie Namala, improved from 39 in 2006 to 29 data shows states are at varied an RTE activist based in Delhi, now. HRD data shows Bihar School Data (SCR 57) Chandigarh (42), Delhi (40), Dadra and Nagar Total school in India 14,48,712 Haveli (36) and Daman and Diu (36) have a long way to go to Enrolment at elementary level 1,990 lack achieve the RTE stipulation of Percentage of govt. schools in total schools 80 SCR 30 for Primary and 35 for Average no. of classrooms per schools 4.8 upper primary sections. The Average no. of teachers per school 3 country as a whole is lagging on Total no. of teachers 77,21,903 this target, with 159 of the 662 Teacher vacanies 5.04 lack districts non-compliant and one in three schools non-complaint. No. of contract teachers 5,08,000 Percentage of trained regular teachers 80.1 Instruction Percentage of trained contract teachers 55.5

84 BUTTERFLIES says, “In Delhi, an average gov- One of the essential re- seats. Andhra has filled just 0.2 ernment school section seats quirements to achieve universal percent, UP3 percent, Tamil over 100 students. Many slums elementary education is to re- Nadu 11 percent, Karnataka 19 don’t have school for even one tain students. The ratio of class percent and Gujarat 25 percent. lakh children. In Bawana and V to Class I students is a crucial “Where 1.6 crore children Khada areas, schools run in indicator. Though it improved should have benefited under makeshift structures and the from 88 percent in 2013 to 93 the law, only a fraction have. RTE promise of transporting percent in 2014, it is hardly State rules and notifications in children to school is nowhere. encouraging. this respect are not yet clear- The most vulnerable popula- The Annual dropout rate in ly defined,” observes Ashish tions-children of construction primary grades in 4.7 percent as Dhawan, founder and CEO, workers, ragpickers and no- against 3.13 percent for upper Central Square Foundation, mads – are not even on the primary sections, the HRD sur- Which released the report radar.” vey reveals. While the dropout ahead of the expiry of the RTE Gaps in claims and ground rates at primary level fell from Act deadline. reality are shocking. In 2014, 5.6 percent in 2013 to 4.7 per- Non-reimbursement of after conducting household cent in 2014, the corresponding amount by the government to surveys to map out- of- school rates for upper primary classes private schools is coming in children, state governments put VI to VIII rose from 2.65 to 3.13. the way of achieving the res- the figure at 17 lakh. Census This means more children ervation target. Yamini Aiyar 2011 puts this at 3.45 crore. than before are leaving school of Accountability Initiative ex- Not all is grim though. For after completing class V. plains, “ Private schools often instance, the ratio of prima- “The overall retention rate at face the problem of delay in ry to upper primary sections in primary level is 82 percent. This reimbursements. Also, there is schools has declined from 2.23 is 80.68 percent for SCs, 67.68 no uniformity over which fee is in 2010 to 2.06 in 2014, indicat- percent for STs and 78.06 per- to be reimbursed - only tuition ing that infrastructure is being cent for Muslims,” a ministry fee or even the cost of books, created at classes VI to VIII source points out. uniform, etc. level to absorb students finish- ing class V. 25 Percent Norm Ignored Missing The 2015 “In 17 states, this ratio is The RTE Act stipulates that Targets less than the national average. 25 percent seats in all private yy All teacher vacancies had to These include Chandigarh, elementary schools must be re- be filled; 5.04 lakh persist Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. served for Economically Weaker yy All teachers had to be Assam, Goa, Meghalaya and Section (EWS) students. regularized; 5,08,000 Bengal need much improve- However, a study by IIM- teachers still on contract ment,” says the HRD ministry Ahmedabad, Central Square yy All teachers had to be pass survey. So far other RTE targets Foundation and Accountability central eligibility test and be go, even the simplest ones like Initiative reveals that only 29 trained; 20 pc regular, over ensuring 100 percent schools percent of the 21 lakh seats re- half of contract teachers with drinking water, separate served for EWS students have untrained functional toilets for girls and gone to them. Delhi, Madhya yy All six to 14 year olds had boys, boundary walls, comput- Pradesh and Rajasthan have to be in schools; over 3.4 cr ers, etc. have not been met. fared well on this indicator, filling still out Dropout Challenge 92 percent, 88 percent and 69 yy Pupil-teacher ratio at primary percent, respectively, of EWS level had to be 30:1;30 pc

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 85 schools have higher ratio. an equal ratio of girls to boys On literacy, it says, “The PTR at upper primary had to in both primary and secondary one measurable goal that India be 35:1:16 pc schools have education,”says the report, re- did not reach was to reduce its more leased in Delhi by HRD Minister illiteracy rate by 50% women yy All private schools had to Smriti Irani on Thurday. represent the majority of illit- fill 25 pc seats with EWS India has brought out-of- erate adults with 68 percent of children; only 29 pc quota school children down 90 percent illiterate adults in India being seats filled in 15 years. Gross enrolment in women.” yy All schools had to be pre-primary education touched Of the 781 million illiterate recognized; over 21,000 still 58 percent in 2012, in com- adults worldwide, 265 million unrecognized parison to 58 percent in 2012, are Indians. The report says 32 yy All schools had to set up in comparison to 19 percent in per cent of the countries, includ- management panels with 1999. While 47 percent of the ing India, are still “very far” from parents; 96 pc have countries achieved universal achieving adult literacy. yy Elementary education had pre-primary enrolment, eight The report also urges the to be free; many schools percent of the countries, includ- international community to find, charging tuition fee, etc. ing India, are close to doing so. in partnership with countries, “Improvements in early the means to bridge the $22 bn childhood education, universal annual financial gap for quality Gender Parity In primary education, the huge re- pre-primary and basic educa- duction in out-of-school children tion for all by 2030. Indian Class, 90% and gender equality are big Out Of School Are achievements for india, a coun- Atlas Shrugs : try where more that 220 million Now In children are in schools, “said Unequal Gender Aaron Benavot, the report’s Colours Fly The Indian Express, New Delhi chief author. 10 April, 2015 Irani said initiatives to im- Financial Chronicle, New Delhi Shikha Sharma & Ruhi Tewari prove enrolment and “a new 19 March, 2015 paradigm of education that fos- Alongside strides in school ters knowledge, analytical skills, ATLAS, the Titan, held the enrolment, Indian is also close to vertical reasoning and the abili- world on his shoulders. Women gender parity in the classroom, ty to imagine beyond the given hold up half the sky But when the notes UNESCO’s Education for is being adopted”. Enhanced digital gender atlas for advanc- All Global Monitoring Report, focus was being laid on science ing girls’ education shrugged 2015. India is, however, behind and mathemeatics, she said. this women”s international day in goals set for quality of learn- The report cites the 2014- the women seemed to lose their ing outcomes, adult illiteracy 15 Annual Status of Education half of the sky and the world. and checking the mushroom- Report (ASER) to point out wide The digital gender atlas, de- ing of private schools in urban disparities in students’ basic veloped jointly by the UNICEF slums. skills across states. It mentions and the Ministry of Human The girls-to-boys ratio in pri- a “strong preference” of parents Resources Development mary classes is already 1.02 to send their children to private (MHRD), creates vivid, colored while that in secondary school schools to learn in English, and patterns of gender inequalities is 0.94. “In fact, India is pre- highlights a swelling number of among Indian states, visual- dicted to be the only country in contract teachers and teacher ly reinforcing India’s gender south and West Asia to have absenteeism.

86 BUTTERFLIES inequality index, which, ac- education, the Census of India teacher index, has a high index, cording to the UNDP Human 2011, National Family Health the same as high CGI states Development Report, 2014 is Survey-3 and District Level of Kerala and TN. Jharkhand below South Asia’s average, Health Survey 2007-08. and Odisha have better learn- and places India at rank 135, It includes indicators as ac- ing outcomes at the secondary slipping from its rank at 127 in cess in terms of distance and than elementary levels. AP, 2013. The female labour force ratio of Primary Schools (PS) to J&K, Arunachal, Manipur have participation rate is only 29 per Upper Primary Schools (UPS), a lower composite index at ele- cent, and the percentage of fe- and of upper primary schools to mentary and a higher one at the males with secondary education secondary schools, infrastruc- secondary level, reversing the only 26 per cent. ture like functional toilets, girls’ belief that a strong elementary Girls comprise half the pop- hostels, and teachers, including base builds a strong elementary ulation of school-age children. percentage of women teach- base builds a strong secondary The atlas maps performance ers. Outcomes are measured level. Though teacher’s index indicators that impact their in terms of ratio of girls to boys for all subjects at all levels in education. The compara- enrolment, girls’ dropout rate at AP is average, its learning out- tive Composite Gender Index and transition rates from prima- comes are high. Gujarat, with (CGI) for primary upper prima- ry to upper primary to secondary medium CGI is below Bihar, UP ry and secondary education, levels and the percentage of and Assam in girls’ enrolment is calculated as an Education girls who passed class X. ratio at all levels, and its girls’ Development Index (EDI) Some indicators should be dropout rates are below UP and based on access, infrastructure, gender neutral such as labs, equal to Bihar. teachers and outcomes. Trend libraries and qualified teachers The ratio of girls enrolment analysis of gender indicators for all subjects. Some indica- to boys at primary was high- tracks performance over three tors need to be added, such as er in UP and Bihar and Assam years, i.e., 2011-12, 2012-13 poverty that creates intrinsic than for TN, Maharashtra, AP, and 2013- 14. Vulnerabilities in- vulnerability. Poverty and under Karnataka and Kerala in 2012. dicators comprise rural female nutrition during preschool years In 2013, while in UP this ratio literacy percentage of girls/ account for subsequent loss of dipped below Kerala, in Bihar, boys married below the legal more than two school grades. Assam and West Bengal, it age, working children, children Adverse economic conditions was equal to Kerala. Girls’ en- with disabilities, low child sex can reduce school enrolment rolment ratio at upper primary ratio, and special problems like rates by up to 12 percentage is again higher in UP, Bihar, LWE. Available down to the dis- points. Children who leave Jharkhand, Assam and West trict level, the atlas is a spatial school to work erode their Bengal in 2012 and 2013 than display of multiple disadvantag- chances of escaping intergen- in Kerala, TN, Karnataka and es impacting girls’ education, erational poverty. Maharashtra. At the second- enabling navigation between The atlas colours spring ary level, Kerala sinks to an geographical representation surprises and intriguing ques- average level in company with and numeric data at state dis- tions. Rajasthan, Bihar, Odisha, UP, MP, Maharashtra, while trict and block levels. Assam and Jharkhand have Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and The atlas data is based low composite gender index Assam surpass it with a high primarily on the district infor- at the elementary and sec- index. mation system for education, ondary levels, low in access, Likewise, girls’ dropout rates the national education man- infrastructure, and teacher indi- at primary level in 2012-13 and agement information system ces. But in learning outcomes, 2013-14 are lower in J&K, HP, for elementary and secondary Assam, a low CGI state with low UP and Assam than Kerala,

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 87 Which equals Rajasthan Girls the apparent narrative of gender girls to boys in both primary and dropout rates at upper primary inequality disturbing the com- secondary education this year. in MP, Chhattisgarh, and HP are placencies of Well-performing’ Unesco’s Global Monitoring low. In Kerala and TN these are states. Provoking deeper analy- Report (GMR) director Aaron actually higher than Rajasthan. sis, the atlas urges governments Benavot praised India for mak- Equally surprising, the girls’ to integrate health, education, ing exemplary progress in dropout rate index at the sec- and social protection services helping children gain access to ondary level is high in the high for children and families and to pro-primary and primary educa- CGI states of Kerala, TN, and deliver on such programmers tion since the global education low in low CGI states Rajasthan, through better governance. goals were set in 2000. UP and Bihar, Haryana reduced “India’s example clearly its high dropout rate at second- India Made Big shows that with sufficient polit- ary level in 2012 - 13 to average ical will and resources the world in 2013-14, out performing TN Gains In Child can step up to meet the new ed- and Kerala. Edu: UN ucation targets by 2030,” said Transition rates from prima- Benavot. ry to upper primary and upper The Times of India, New Delhi Unesco Global Education primary to secondary are gen- 09 April, 2015 Report erally static between low and Manash Gohain India(%) 1999 2012 medium or declining between Gross enrolment 19 58 2011 to 2013. Girls’ achieve- ratio in pre-primary education ment percentage at class X in Enrolment In Pre-Primary 2013-2014 was high in Kerala Primary education net 86 99 and TN. But surprisingly again, 58% In 2012 enrolment ratio this index for UP with low CGI India has made significant yy Since committing to global at the secondary level and av- strides in the past 15 years, but education goals in 2000, erage outcome index, is equal remains far from reducing adult India has reduced its out to Maharashtra, Karnataka and illiteracy. of school children by over AP with medium CGIs. The A Unesco global education 90% vulnerability index appears pri- report that human resource de- yy 52% of countries achieved marily based on marriage below velopment minister Smriti Irani the target of universal legal age which is high in UP, would release on Thursday has enrolment in primary Rajasthan, MP, Bihar, AP and revealed this. education, including India Bihar, rather than on the per- The report said gross en- yy Gender parity will be centage of girls as workers in rolment ration in pre-primary achieved at the primary the age group 5- 14 and 15-19, education touched 58% in level in 69% of countries by as this is higher in Kerala and 2012, compared to 19% in 2015, including India TN, than in Rajasthan, MP, UP 1999. Primary education net en- yy In the goal to achieved 50% and Bihar. rolment ration reached 99% in reduction in levels of adult There is a need for reviewing 2012. India had reduced its out- illiteracy, 32% are very far data quality and the relationship of-school children by over 90%. from it. They include India between different indicators in Globally 52% of countries in- yy Women continue to make different contexts, to assess cluding India achieved universal up alomost 2/3rd of the their critical value in promoting enrolment in primary education. adult population denied the or impeding girls’ education. India is predicate to be the right to literacy; in India, the The drama of the atlas’s colors only country in South and West percentage is 68% is in the mysteries that underlie Asia to have an equal ration of

88 BUTTERFLIES Women 68% of adult become the only country in of having the highest absolute illiterates in country South and West Asia in to have number of child brides about 24 an equal ratio of girls to boys million. This represents 40 % of London : The world is now in both primary and secondary the 60 million world’s child mar- home to 781 million illiterate education, the bad news is that riages. India is also home to 225 adults with 68% of illiterate early marriage and adolescent million adolescents, consisting adults in India being women. pregnancies are keeping girls nearly one-fifth of the nation’s India has failed to reduce its out of school in India. In coun- total population. Around 16% of adult illiteracy rate by 50% as tries, 30% women aged 20 to 24 these girls – aged 15-19 have planned and since 2000 only were married by the age of 18. already begun child bearing managed reducing by 26%, As many as 36.4 million women and 12% have had a live birth. according to a new UNESCO in developing countries aged The report had some good global education report to be 20 to 24 reported having given news for India rural India saw launched on April9. birth bofore age 18 and 2 million improvement in nearly all as- Even though there is good before age 15. pects of school facilities and news with India expected to India has the dismal record infrastructure.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 89 Article 2 All children must enjoy equal rights irrespective of their sex, race, colour, language, religion, ethnicity or disability.

GIRLGIRL CHILDCHILD SettingWomen's An ExampleLot Improves, India’s have Quiet Feminists SettingWomen's an Lot Example improves, India’sMore Say: 9088 More Say: Study quietStudy feminists The Times of India Indian Express Mint, New Delhi W(h)ither the girl child? 88 The Times13 March,of India, 2015 New Delhi csfV;ksaThe Hindu dks c<+kok nsus ij ,d djksM 93 Nikita Doval23 January, & Namita 2010 Bhandare nSfudThe Awakening fgUnqLrku 89 Financial Express AnGirl inconvenient child on the comeback truth about trail 9492 There is some good news for “It neverAccording occurred to the to me'Gendering to treat foeticideDNA Despite widespread women on Girl Child Day with data myHuman daughter Development any differently Indices: TheThe CradleTribune of Succour for prejudice against girls, 92 indicating that gender disparities fromRecasting my two the sons,”Gender he Develop- said in ToAP ImplementGirl Child Beti bachao 97 fathers across India Deccan Herald an interview. He says he has Beti Padhao, here are a few betweenare leading men and an women unsung are on ment Index and Gender Empow- Send girls to school, or-pay fine 94 the decline. The gender develop- alwayserment beenMeasure convinced for India', that states ed- SimpleAsian Age steps India can take movements as the quiet The Times of India ment index - based on standard of ucationthat have is scored “the key well to include changing Del- Rs 4,500cr Food Plan for Teen Girls 94 and unheralded enablers Tipon Agenda the scales in her favour 98 living,of their life expectancydaughter’s and dreams educa- ourhi, Andamanthinking. & Nicobar Islands, HindustanThe Times of Times India tion levels - for India was 0.590 in Goa,One Andhra of six Pradesh, siblings Himachaland the New Haryana Surcharge on AT 95 2006,Much up fromof the0.514 focus in 1996. on Thisthe Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and to Mop up more Funds son of a farmer, Singh says The Hindu BBC4increase ofdocumentary 0.076 points suggestsIndia’s hisKerala. father Nagaland told him is afterat the he bottom had Daughterthat male-female has dwelt disparity on the is “mind com- completedof the chart his while Class Orissa, X that Bihar, he ofing the down. rapist” banned in India, its wasMizoram, now onJ&K his and own. Meghalaya “But the depictionThe study, of ‘a releasedconvicted by rapist the landscore I owned,between just0.316 two and big 0.415has, andMinistry his ofdefense Women andlawyers Child hasDe- waspoints. too small to sustain us,” he beenvelopment taken (WCD), somehow shows as thatre- says. flectingstates/UTs a mindset that have shared performed by all ThereW(h)ither was no choice the but to Indianwell include men. Delhi, Chandigarh, move out of the village and take Goa,Yet, Kerala lost and in Puducherrythe din is while the up a seriesGirl of jobsChild? ranging from film’sBihar hasportrayal the lowest of a scorequite anothin GDI.- working in a factory to a security The Gender Empowerment Mea- er sort of man the father of the guard’sThe post Hindu, at Newa Delhi Delhi hospi - surement (GEM) two key param- 23 year o1d woman who was tal. It was25 at April,the hospital 2010 that an eters of women's development - brutally gang raped and who encounter with a patient led to has shown an increase from 0.416 died of her injuries in December a permanent job as a loader at in 1996 to 0.497 in 2006.The pa- 2012 in a crime so horrific its DelhiJanuary airport. 24 was observed as rameters for the GEM score are ramifications continue to echo the WhileNational Singh Girl Childworked Day. double Mark- political participation & decision- ing the day that Indira Gandhi over two years later. shifts, his bright daughter the making power and economic par- took over as Prime Minister in Badrinath Singh is bemused eldest of three children, gave ticipation power over economic 1966, the government plans to when asked if he is a feminist: tuitions while still in school to resources. raise awareness on sex-selection

90 BUTTERFLIES 88 l BUTTERFLIES help with the family’s expenses. But just like Singh, and de- the father of Geeta and Babita By the time she was in Class IX, spite wide- spread prejudice Phogat, among the bright- she had made up her mind to against girls, fathers and moth- est stars in Indian women’s become a doctor. ers across India are leading an wrestling. Wrestling runs in “I said to her ‘I don’t have the unsung movement as the quiet the family he is also the uncle money for a medical education!” and unheralded enablers of of Vinesh Phogat, who won says Singh. their daughters’ dreams. a gold in the 55kg category at What about the land back A music video, Baap wali the Commonwealth Games in in the village, countered their baat, which shows a man in Glasgow last year. Babita too daughter. And so, Singh took rural India educating his daugh- brought home a gold in the the unusual step of selling ters, was released last year by 48kg category. And while Geeta that land-not for his daughter’s the United Nations Children’s missed out on a medal, she dowry, or even the education Fund (Unicef) on 11 October, became the first Indian woman of his two sons, but to fulfill the the International Day of the Girl wrestler to qualify for the dreams of his daughter. Child. With its catchy tune and Olympics in 2012. She’s also “I told my wife, ‘Whom are rap-lyrics, the song is about the winner of the ‘first ever gold we earning for?”’ he says. “My a father who encourages his for India in Women’s wrestling brothers thought I was crazy, daughter to go to school and in the 55kg freestyle at the 2010 but for me there was never any pursue her dreams. The video Commonwealth Games. question that my daughter had is part’ of the It Starts with me Mahavir Singh Phogat’s de- the same rights as my sons.” campaign by Unicef India. The termination to make champions Moreover, he adds, the sons aim of the campaign is to make of his daughters took root when themselves looked up to their an example of men who stand Geeta was just 10 and Babita elder sister and were convinced up for the rights of women. 8. The sporting world is replete that once she had set herself on “The aim of the song is with tales of parents who go to an educational goal, they too to create a positive mindset extraordinary lengths to nurture would be able to follow. “She among men. So when boys their children’s talents, so why was clearing the path for them,” see their fathers respecting should Phogat’s tale be any dif- says Singh. women, they are likely to do ferent? Perhaps it is because India’s record of treatment of the same when they grow up,” the family comes from Haryana, its women is not a secret. The Rebecca Reichmann Tavares, the state with the worst sex sex ratio stands at 940 women UN Women representative in ratio in the country and the per 1,000 men. According to India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri place chosen by Prime Minister the National Crime Records Lanka, was quoted as saying by Narendra Modi to launch the Bureau, every 20 minutes a a Rediff.com news report. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao cam- woman is raped in India. Crimes UN Women is a United paign in January. against women in 2013 in- Nations entity that works for While wrestling has long creased 26.7% com- pared with gender equality and empower- been a popular and prestigious 2012. The government’s Beti ment of women. sport in Haryana, it remains a Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign But some men such as male bastion-as elsewhere in seeks to improve the sex ratio Mahavir Singh Phogat need no the world, the ultimate men’s at birth by 10 points every year. prompting. A resident of Balali sport. “I have been called mad At its launch, Maneka Gandhi, village in Haryana, he is not to my face, had arguments with minister for women and child aware of either the campaign people, been told that I should development, had said female or the music video, though he be ashamed of myself and con- foeticide claims the lives of could easily be on a poster for it. stantly heard the refrain ‘who 2,000 girls daily. A former wrestler, Phogat is will marry your girls?’ flung at

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 91 me, but none of it mattered,” for wrestling classes. “I get a other person to a realization,” says Phogat. “I have used every lot of flak from people who give says Desai. trick in the book, from cajoling me all sorts of arguments rang- From teachers to daily to anger, to bring them where ing from religion to gender, but wage earners, the Bindi Project they are today. I used to tell I say my daughter will do what works with fathers from a wide them ‘struggle now, baad mein she wants to,” he says. socio-economic prism. “This thaat honge (there will be lau- Khan accompanies his is an issue which transcends rels later)’. daughter to her classes daily all boundaries and the differ- Phogat dismisses queries after school and is immensely ent ways in which people view about defying the norm. “It is proud of the local and inter- state themselves,” says Desai. parents who make a child weak competitions she has won. The Perhaps no one exemplifies or strong. As a parent, all you government has given her cash this better than B.P.S. Dhaliwal want is for your children to be prizes, too, which Khan says he of Patiala. A senior manager in self-sufficient-gender is irrel- has put away in a separate ac- a government bank, Dhaliwal evant,” he says. There have count for her. “That money is for has been a pillar of support been initiatives worldwide, in- her future. All the expenses of for his daughter Gazal who, in cluding UN Women’s he or She her training, travelling, etc., for 2007, under- went a sex change campaign, that aim to involve competitions come out of my operation. Since her childhood, men and boys in the campaign pocket,” he says. Gazal had felt like a girl in a for gender equality. In an inter- Last year in June, the Girls boy’s body and shared her ap- view last year, United Nations 20 Summit (a take on the G20, prehensions with her parents at Population Fund deputy exec- but about encouraging skills in the age of 13. utive director Kate Gilmore had girls and women through invest- “I can’t even begin to imag- spoken about the need to “invite ments) in Australia launched ine what I would have done if men and tell them we want them an initiative called Fathers my parents had not supported to be a part of the change? Empowering Daughters to cele- me. My life is what it is because Despite India’s disturbing brate the role fathers can play of my father,” says Gazal, an record, there are men such as in the advancement of their engineer turned scriptwriter. Phogat who leave no stone un- daughters. Closer home in Adds Dhaliwal: “There were turned in order to ensure that Ahmedabad, Indian-American periods of struggle, the dificulty their daughters get an equal Sunil Desai is attempting some- to understand whether it was shot at life. thing similar with the Bindi something that could be ad- Salim Khan is a karkha- Project. The non-governmental dressed with counseling, etc., na (workshop) owner in organization aims to build more or whether she should go for the Ahmedabad. His 13-year-old awareness about daughters and operation, but all of this was in daughter, Pathan Sanofar their potential through commu- the initial years. Bano, is the apple of his eye the nity efforts. “lf you tell someone “I am a very practical man. If one for whom he has severed their way of doing something we have taken a decision about ties with his extended family. is wrong, they will either walk something, then we have, why “We had enrolled her for swim- away or they will argue. So I get should we question it time and ming classes; when I heard men, who are very involved in again?” he says. Today Gazal about judo for girls, I enrolled their daughter’s lives and value lives in Mumbai and her parents her for judo for primarily securi- them immensely, to tell their sto- say they are very proud of her. ty reasons, but she is enjoying it ries, to talk about why they think “She was always very confident, immensely,” he says. the way they do, to talk to their but ab toh jaise rang aa gaya On his daughter’s insis- neighbours, the community. It’s hai (it’s as if color has suffused tence, Khan even enrolled her done in a way so as to lead the her life),” he says emotionally.

92 BUTTERFLIES While the importance of a dignity of the individual, particu- cjkcj yM+fd;ksa dh tUe nj gkfly father’s role cannot be over- larly women, children, the aged, djus okys xkaoksa dks ,d djksM+ #Ik;s emphasized in supporting and the disabled, the poor and other dk buke fn;k tk,xkA esudk us bl encouraging a girl child, some weaker sections of society.” For advocate caution. “It is a tricky this father the dream lives on. vfHk;ku dks tu/ku ;kstuk] LoPN situation, for the minute we Hkkjr vfHk;ku vkSj esd bu bafM;k ds say we need men, it can be ckn pkSFkh cM+h igy crk;kA mistaken for reinforcement of csfV;ksa dks c<+kok esudk us dgk fd ns”k esa vHkh patriarchy. But less opposition Hkh 46 Qhlnh cPps dqiksf’kr gSa] buesa leads to more empowerment nsus ij ,d djksM+ yM+fd;ksa dh rknkn 70 Qhlnh gSA and this message needs to be nSfud fgUnqLrku] ubZ fnYyh shared,” says Sona Sharma, gfj;k.kk esa 70 ,sls xkao gSa tgka o’kksZa 23 tuojh] 2015 joint director (advocacy and ls ,d Hkh yM+dh ugha tUehA ;g communication) at Population yM+fd;ksa ds vfLrRo dh yM+kbZ gS] Foundation of India (PFI), a yM+dkas ds leku yM+fd;ksa dh ftlesa mUgsa gj gky esa thr ikuh think tank that deals with popu- tUenj gkfly djus okys xkaokas gksxhA lation issues. dks feysxk ;g buke PFI has tried to spread this eksnh us fd;k fizal dk ftØ message through the series csVh cpkvks&csVh i<+kvks vfHk;ku Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakli Hun, dk;ZØe esa efgyk ,oa cky fodkl o’kZ 2006 esa cksjosy esa fxj x, which traces the journey of a ea=h us ,syku fd;k fd yM+dksa ds fizal dks cpkus ds 50 ?kaVs pys vfHk;ku woman doctor with a support- ive father. Now, with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan getting ready yxkrkj de gks jgh yM+fd;ksa dh la[;k ns”k esaa efgykvkas dh lkekftd] vkfFkZd vkSj “kSf{kd fLFkfr vHkh Hkh fparktud cuh gqbZ gSA yM+dksa ds eqdkcys to play the role of Mahavir yM+fd;ksa dh la[;k yxkrkj ?kV jgh gSA bldh otg mUgsa csgrj f”k{kk] LokLF; lqfo/kk,a ugha fey ikuk Hkh gSA Phogat in his next film, star iwjs Hkkjr esa ¼yM+fd;ka @1000 yM+dksa ds vuqikr esa½ cnrj ftys power could help take the mes- 774@1000 % >Ttj sage further. jkT; 2011 2001 778@1000 % egsanzx<+ Tragically, Badrinath Singh’s mÙkjizns”k 902 916 csgrj ftys 2011 iatkc 846 798 1084@1000 % dsjy daughter’s dream of becoming fnYyh 871 868 1013@1000 % ykgkSy&Lihfr a physiotherapist was cut short >kj[kaM 948 965 ¼0ls Ng lky dh mez ds cPpksa dk vuqikr½ on the night of 16 December 919 fcgkj 935 942 efgyk dh lk{kjrk Hkh de 2012. But, he says, he has mÙkjk[kaM 890 908 2001 ns'k % 74-4% never regretted selling his land, fgekpy 909 896 iq#’k % 82.14% efgyk % 74-4% standing up to his family’s oppo- gfj;k.kk 834 819 927 paMhx<+ 880 845 fcgkj % 63.82% sition or educating his daughter. iq#’k % 73.39% efgyk % 53.33% His elder son is well on his way 2000 yfM+d;ka ekjh tkrh gS 59-0 Qhlnh dbZ izdkj dh to becoming a commercial pilot jkstkuk v{kerk ls ihfM+r >kj[kaM % 67.63% 46-0 Qhlnh cPps dqiks’k.k 1-40 djksM+ dks izkFkfed f”k{kk iq#’k % 78.45% and the younger one is giving ds f”kdkj ulhc ugha izkbejh f”k{kk efgyk % 56.21% his Class XII exams. 70-0 Qhlnh buesa yM+fd;ka 18-0 Qhlnh yM+fd;ka izkFkfed mÙkj izns'k % 69.72% For the parents, the daugh- dqiks’kr f”k{kk ls nwj iq#’k % 79.24% 29-0 yk[k cPps “kkjhfjd -88 djksM+ yM+fd;ka izkFkfed efgyk % 59.26% ter’s dream lives on through a v{kerk ds f”dkj f”k{kk Lrj ds fnYyh % 86.34% trust they have established in 9-90 yk[k (06&14 o’kZ) iq#’k % 91.03% buesa ls Ldwy ls ckgj efgyk % 80.93% her memory, the Nirbhaya Jyoti mÙkjk[kaM % • iwoksZÙkj jkT;ksa esa yM+fd;ksa dh la[;k rsth ls de gqbZ 79.63% Trust, whose aim is: “To work for iq#’k % 88.33% • iatkc] gfj;k.kk] fgekpy] xqtjkr] rfeyukMq] fetksje esa fLFkfr lq/kjh efgyk % 70.70% the realization of human rights • fcgkj] >kj[kaM] ;wih vkfn esa yM+fd;ksa dh la[;k rsth ls de gqbZ and freedoms, equality and

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 93 dks ;kn djrs gq, eksnh us dgk fd iwjs yy 01 yk[k #Ik;s 18 lky dh gksus An Inconvenient ns”k us mldh tku cpus dh fnu jkr ij izkFkZuk dh FkhA mUgksaus loky fd;k yy mÙkjk[kaM esa uUnk nsoh dU;k Truth About yksx vius bnZ&fxnZ cfPPk;ksa ds ekjs ;kstuk Foeticide tkus dks ysdj brus laosnughu dSls yy 05 gtkj dh ,QMh csVh ds tUe gks tkrs gSaA eksnh us psrk;k fd vxj ij The Tribune, New Delhi 09 March, 2015 ge vkt ls Hkh dU;k Hkzw.k gR;k dk yy 18 lky dh gksus ij yM+dh dks Manju Gupta iki jksd dj bl vuqikr dks ikVus feysxk /ku dk iz;kl djsa rks Hkh bls Bhd djus esa yy dsanz dh tuuh lqj{kk ;kstuk With the proliferation of 100 lky yx tk,axsA eksnh us dgk] yy vLirky esa izlo ij efgyk dks technology, the implementation *ns”k dk iz/kkuea=h ,d fHk{kq dh rjg 1400] vk”kk cgw dks 600 :i;s of the PNDT Act is no more a csfV;ksa dks cpkus dh Hkh[k ekax jgk yy xHkZorh efgyk dks enn ls tqM+h prerogative of doctors and the gSA muds fy, ;g cgqr ihM+knk;d gS rfeyukMq dh vEek csch ds;j administration. This will further intensify the war between tech- fd ,d ,slk jkT; ¼gfj;k.kk½ ftlus fdV nology and legislation. varfj{k dh lSj djus okyh dYiuk lkbfdy us nh dU;k f’k{kk If the Prime Minister of India pkoyk tSlh efgyk dks tUe fn;kA has to beg his people not to kill og vU; dYiuk pkoykvksa dh eka ds dks j¶rkj their daughters, something is xHkZ esa gh gR;k dj nsrk gSA yy fcgkj esa eq[;ea=h ckfydk gravely wrong with the coun- try and its people. But are the lkbfdy ;kstuk ls yM+fd;ksa dU;k dks"k ;kstuk people alone to be blamed, or dh f’k{kk esa cM+k lq/kkj the state has a role to play in gfj;k.kk ds lh,e us jkT; esa fdlh yy 9oha vkSj 10oha dh yM+fd;ksa dks this mess? Before coming to a yM+dh ds tUe ij 21 gtkj #Ik;s nsus nks gtkj :i;s lkbfdy ds fy, conclusion, consider the other dh ;kstuk “kq#vkr dhA csVh tc 18 yy 06&08 d{kk dh yM+fd;ksa ds fy, extreme, what if the indiscrim- lky dh gksxh rks ;g jkf”k ,d yk[k eq[;ea=h ckfydk iks’kd ;kstuk inate elimination of girls was planned – not by individual par- :Ik;s ds rkSj ij mls nh tk,xhA yy ;wih esa dU;k fo|k /ku ;kstuk ents thinking only of themselves **ns”k esa jkstkuk djhc nks gtkj 20 gtkj #Ik;s chih,y ifjokj but by some larger force? What yM+fd;ka ekj nh tkrh gSaA ;g gekjs dh yM+dh dks 10oha ikl djus if someone told us that the fy, “keZ dk fo’k; gSA bls gj gky esa ij fnYyh esa ykMyh f’k{kk Indian and US governments and jksduk gksxkA**& esudk xka/kh] dsaUnzh; ;kstuk ds rgr leading western organizations efgyk ,oa cky fodkl ea=hA yy 8oha ds ckn gj lky enn ;wih esa had a role in it? This sensational suggestion was made by a se- nloha ikl yM+fd;ksa dks lkbfdy yM+fd;ksa ds tUe dks nior obstetrician who has been ckaVus dh ;kstuk ykxw izksRlkgu quoted by Mara Hvistendahl yy nwljs jkT;ksa esa izksRlkgu in her 2012 Pulitzer finalist yy fcgkj esa eq[;ea=h dU;k fookg >kja[kM esa yM+fd;ksa ds book “Unnatural Selection”. As ;kstuk vykok fucZy vk; oxZ dks Hkh always, the truth lies some- eq¶r lkbfdy NÙkhlx<+ esa where in the middle. yy 02 gtkj #Ik;s yM+dh ds tUe This article is not an attempt ij ljLorh lkbfdy ;kstuk to point fingers or fix respon- yy egkjk"Vªª esa lqdU;k ;kstuk yy 10oha ikl yM+fd;ksa ds fy, sibility. It is just a fact based yy 21 gtkj #Ik;s yM+dh ds tUe yy 7-63 yk[k yM+fd;ksa dks nl lky exploration of the reasons why ij esa nh lkbfdy NÙkhlx<+ esa we became a nation of daughter

94 BUTTERFLIES Killers. The issues raised are a country where women would were crammed with advertise- largely known to the medical keep reproducing till the desired ments of clinics diagnosing community and are taken from son was born, a birth control healthy male or female babies various books and publications,. method which selectively con- in the womb. There was now a The repercussions of foeticide trolled the birth of females. This growing number of Indians who on society are now well estab- policy seemed to suggest that it found it morally acceptable to lished and do not require any was okay to desire and obtain a kill daughters to limit the fami- justification or harping on the male heir as long as the family ly size and there were doctors matter. size remained small. who had read papers (Verma From this premium institute I.C. et al in Journal of Indian Nothing new about it the technology slowly perme- Pediatrics Sudha S. et al in Female infanticide is a dark ated to other medical colleges Intersifying Masculinity in Sex chapter of our nation’s history, and government hospitals of Ration in India”) on the virtues but it was practiced by certain the country. A few years later of foeticide to reduce unneces- castes in certain parts castes ultrasound started being used sary fecundity. An avalanche in certain parts of the country, for the same purpose. This had been triggered. Casualties more as an aberration than the method was more acceptable were bound to occur. because it was noninvasive and norm. Hence it was never as Too little, too late issue big enough to affect the there was no risk to the unborn sex ratio. Preference and pref- child, at least the male child. Damage control was initiat- erential treatment to a male At the onset, these methods ed. They government had an child is ingrained in the fabric were scarce and available to uphill task to fight this menace of our society, but that too was the upper strata of society, but quickly and effectively. The never a cause for alarm. People as technology became cheaper preconception and prenatal di- would mark their disapproval on and private centers proliferated, agnostic Techniques act was a daughter’s birth curse destiny it came within the reach of the passed in 1994 and implement- and get on with life. Then where average Indian. That is when ed two years later. The stringent and how did it become an epi- the sex ratio began to slide. So if measures taken by the govern- demic? The sad truth is, India’s not guilty of coercion, the state’s ment helped to stem the tide to skewed birth ratio is not a result lack of farsightedness and un- a certain extent, but changing of backward tradition but of eco- derstanding of the mindset of the mindset of the nation is not nomic growth and technological a patriarchal society cannot be easy. In her much acclaimed progress. denied in bringing it to the pres- work, Mara Hvistendahl states In 1974, funded by western ent state. that as late as the 90s, many organizations, amniocentesis When feminist organizations intellectuals were not against was introduced in the All India started raising, this issue, the sex selection as means of birth institute of Medical Sciences, government realized its mis- control. Hence, we can’t really New Delhi, to diagnose congen- take. In 1978, sex selection was blame the illiterate’s public for ital malformations. In their book, quickly banned in public hos- not understanding the down- “Writing the women’s move- pitals but the harm had been side of a policy which initially ments”, Indu Agnihotri and Vina done. To make matters worse, appealed to our learned elite. Mazumdar write that it was also the private sector had stepped Now, when we try to explain to used to determine the sex of the in. If the government was driv- people that girls and boys are unborn foetus so that unwant- en by statistical targets, private equal and the desire for a male ed females could be aborted. It clinics were driven by com- heir at all cost is wrong, it goes was endorsed as a way to con- merce. Public walls across the against the earlier message that trol the population explosion in country, specially North India, it is natural to want a son and

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 95 acceptable to get one by unnat- for the fourth child. A similar Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, ural means. trend has been noted in India females face a mortality in- And although we can (samiksha Manchandaet et al equality along with the natality absolve ourselves from all guilt 2011) – a clear-cut indication inequality These figures of the claiming that it is a technology that foeticide is rampant. Over Indian Government census data that came from the West, the the years, the world sex ratio do not auger well for the future fact is that we were a free nation has shown masculinisation too, of our country. and could have resisted the lure but China and India, who make At this juncture, we have of the accompanying grants. up one third of the human popu- good news and bad. The good Moreover, the west that gave us lation, are the main contributiors news in that it has been re- the technology, didn’t indiscrim- to this trend. peatedly postulated that with inately kill their daughters, we If the government was driv- education and economic prog- killed ours. In western nations en by statistical targets, private ress, the sex ratio will even out. prenatal sex selection is used clinics were driven by com- That it’s a temporary phase in for sex balance, to ensure that merce. Public walls across a developing society. The bad families have children of both the country, especially north- news is that it will take time for genders, against, a debatable ern India, were crammed with this tide of social responsibili- issue, but at least the sex ratio advertisements of clinics diag- ty to percolate to the deepest remains unaffected. On the nosing healthy male or female crevices of society. Some es- other hand, in India, any num- babies in the womb. timates by demographers, like ber of sons are acceptable and In India, at the turn of the Christophe Z Guilmoto have cherished as a gift from God last century, the sex ratio was shown it to be as late as 2050. but a lone daughter is Bhateri a healthy 972, dropped to 946 Which is pretty far off. Already, (enough) and a second one is in 1951, continued falling to the the pitfalls of a masculinised Maafi (forgive us). In such a all – time low of 927 in 1991, society with surplus men have son- crazy nation, sex selection improved marginally to 933 in started showing and will only was and will always be a lethal 2001 and further to 940 in 2011. become worse. weapon. The 2011 Census also revealed that northern states remain the War between law and Statistical Shock worse hit, with Haryana at the technology bottom with a dismal sex ratio All over the world, the sex Twenty years have passed ratio at birth hovers around of 877, while Kerala leads at 1084 which is much higher than since the PNDT Act was im- 105, that is for every hundred plemented, millions of F-forms girls born, 105, boys enter this the national average. The fall is more pronounced in the ed- have been duly filled, centres world. This is nature’s way of have been regularized and cer- compensating for men’s reck- ucated, urban class who opt for small family size, with Delhi at tification issued, inspections less behaviour which makes and raids conducted, licenses them outnumber women in a shameful 821 and Chandigarh at 773. Another worrying trend cancelled, and doctors penal- early deaths. In South Asian ized (only a few). Through these countries, this number is an un- is that since 1981, the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group has de- aggressive actions, the sex natural 107 and it gets worse ratio has stabilized, but con- with increasing birth order. In creased faster than the ratio at birth, indicating that more tinues to be the lowest in the south Korea, a study carried out world. There is a general con- in 1989 revealed that the ratio girls die in early childhood due to acts of commission (infanti- sensus (Hatti and sekhar 2004, for the first born in 104 and it Jha et al. 2006, Visaria 2007) increases to an astounding 209 cide) or omission (malnutrition and disease). As proposed by that these bans have not been

96 BUTTERFLIES very effective. In 2011, India’s projects like affordable health- do they deserve to be killed? In then Home secretary, GK Pillai, care, better education and job our country terrorists and rap- Said: Whatever Measures that opportunities is needed. Ant ists are granted a fair trial and have been put in place, over the dowry campaigns by the front- given a chance to defend their last 40 years have not had any runners of society will work actions. Our state reserves the impact on child sex ratio and better than laws and help re- death penalty for the rarest of therefore enquire a complete move the burden stigma for girls. the rare cases. Being a girl can- review. Also, safer environs at home not be a bigger crime. This is partially because in and work through improved law the war between technology and order conditions will help Woman and machines and legislation, the former will women reach their full potential yy Advanced technology always win. Consider the lat- and reduce bias against them. has also led to pocket est developments in the field In the end, no laws can help sized portable ultrasound of medical engineering. With this situation until we change machines which are beyond better machines and clearer the way our society looks at the reach of the authorities. images, ultrasound is no lon- daughters. In the 30 years of yy More potent abortifacients ger the prerogative of doctors. medical practice in a small town Drugs are easily available Anyone with a bit of training of Haryana, I have encoun- over the counter can do what doctors won’t. tered numerous reasons for yy Sophisticated technologies Advancing technology has also son preference and none could used with in-vitro fertilization led to pocket-sized portable withstand logic and scientific or artificial insemination can ultrasound machines that are reasoning. A few are quoted help select the sex of a baby easy to conceal. More potent here. A son improves the stature before conception. They abortifacients drugs have been of the woman in the family and open the possibility of sex introduced, which are easily society. It is an established fact selection without abortion. available over the counter and that daughters are better care- yy A mother has a set of X will initiate the abortion process, givers, which is more important chromosomes, it is the if to complete it. And the newest than a son who may or may not father’s X or Y chromosome in the possibility of sex selection help attain Nirvana. For emo- which decide the sex of the without abortion. Sophisticated tional and practical reasons, child. To blame a woman technologies used with in-vitro more married women continue for the sex of a child is thus fertilization or artificial insemi- to use their maiden name and baseless. nation can help select the sex of just hyphenate their maiden a baby before conception. name and just hyphenate their husband’s name to it. So they To Implement Women-Centric Schemes are equally capable of carrying Beti Bachao Beti the family name forward. Lastly, Although legislation re- scientifically speaking, daugh- Padhao, Here Are A mains the mainstay, it cannot ters are more reliable carriers of be the only cure of this problem. Few Simple Steps the genetic pool and propaga- The uplift of society in general tors of protoplasm. India Can Take and women in particular is an And although all the argu- imperative before any far-reach- ments listed above are sound, The Times of India, Mumbai ing results can be achieved. the only one which is worth 14 March, 2015 Women empowerment through making is this Even if daughters small measures like midday are a burden on the family and meals and toilets and bigger When PM Modi launched are not capable of doing much, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 97 programme earlier this year when they are born. And babies global development goals, to he sent a powerful message that start with a low birth weight which India will be a signatory to Indians that the future of the are less likely to achieve their This presents an opportunity for country depends on justice for full potential when they grow up. the Indian government to reaf- the girl child. There are a few Girls need good information firm its commitment to gender key steps we can take to make about how to plan their families, equality. sure that Women and girls are access to a range of contra- able to reach their potential. ceptives that meet their unique Tip The Scales In For example, India must do needs, and high-quality medical more to stop early and forced care to make sure they can fol- Her Favour marriage. Almost half of Indian low through on their plans safely women are married before the and with confidence. Hindustan Times, New Delhi age of 18; which leads to a In India, sterilization is the 22 March, 2015 Number of negative con- most common method of family Kumkum Dasgupta sequences. It’s especially planning and 77% of the women important to make sure that girls who get sterilized have never Future prospects There aren’t getting pregnant when used any other method, mean- are 113 milion adolescent their bodies aren’t yet ready for ing they did no planning until girls in the country. But the rigours of childbirth. they decided they no longer a large chunk of this wanted children. Desire for sons segment never realizes Very little violates the often results in young mothers its potential because of spirit of human potential being forced to have anoth- socio-economic barriers. more than a young girl er pregnancy soon after giving Development assistance who should be in school birth to a daughter But women has also historically by but is pregnant instead need to be able to space their passed adolescent girls. pregnancies several years apart The Dasra Girl Power In my travels to India over if they want to keep themselves Awards, which were given the years, I have met sever- and their newborns healthy. on march 19, honoured al very young brides. The first The Indian government and three projects that seek to thing these girls tell me is how many state governments are in- empower this marginalized sad they are that they have to creasing investments in family segment. leave school. There is very little planning not just in the quanti- that violates the spirit of human ty of family planning services The United Nations potential more than a young girl available, but in their quality Commission on the Status of who should be in school but is as well. But there is more to Women concluded its 59th an- pregnant instead. do. The number of young girls nual session in New York on Girls between the ages of reaching child bearing age is Saturday with an agreement by 15 and 19 are twice as likely as growing so fast that supply of the members – states on steps older women to die in childbirth, family planning information and to boost its efforts to advance India’s high rates of child mar- contraceptives is not keeping gender equality and women’s riage are one reason why risk of up with demand. empowerment. In fact, this is maternal death in India is 1 in The PM has made it abun- a special year for women it’s 190, compared to 1 in 7,300 in dantly clear that his vision for the 20th year of the landmark developed nations. Babies born India’s future includes women Beijing Declaration and platform to young mothers are not only and the girl child on equal for action which was adopted at more likely to die as children but terms, This September the the Fourth World Conference also more likely to weigh less UN will announce a new set of on Women. The focus for the

98 BUTTERFLIES just-concluded session was There are plenty of studies each year. “Working with ado- on the Beijing Declaration, in- that show healthy women and lescent girls addresses many cluding current challenges that children contribute to economic of the priority areas listed in the affect its implementation and growth. According to the part- companies act for CSR invest- the achievement of gender nership for maternal, Newborn ment and is a great investment equality and the empowerment and child health, hosted at the option for CSR funds,” added of women and girls. World health organization in Sanghvi. While children aged 0 to 5 Geneva, every dollar spent on Adolescent girls in India are years have receivd great focus key interventions for reproduc- constantly denied opportunities from the international commu- tive, maternal, newborn and to reach their potential. They nity, donors and governments child health, empowering ado- face challenges such as forced for decades, a girls gap still lescent girls (by giving them the early marriage, violence, poor persists development assistace opportunity to stay in school, nutrition, early child bearing and says experts has historically delay marriage and child birth ) lack of access to basic services. bypassed adolescent girls by adds $110 billion to the econo- There is an urgent need to in- grouping them with women or my in the lifetimes. vest in adolescent girls in order children, but not as a category The second edition of the to enhance their capacities and of their own. Dasra girl power awards, which bark the inter-generational cycle According to The Coalition were given in Mumbai non of poverty. for Adolescent Girls, which was Thursday focuses on driving entablished in 2005 by the UN greater corporate involvement Dasra Awards : Behind foundation and the Nike foun- towards adolescent girls issues. the scenes dation along with partners from “We see huge potential for In 2013, Dasra, a Mumbain- the International Women’s corporate to play a large role in based strategic philanthropy Heath coalition, International solving the many problems ado- foundation, launched a five- Center for Research on women, lescent girls face in India today,” year, $14-million initiative in and population council, adoles- said Deval Sanghavi, Founder collaboration with USAID and cence is a critical period, when and partner, Dasra. There are the Kiawah Trust, which seeks a girls future potential and op- three reasons for it: Corporate to achieve change by fos- portunities can flourish through have the resources, knowledge tering innovation, improving education economic opportuni- and expertise, which if invested outcomes and reaching scale ties and psychososcial support in adolescent girls could pro- to empower adolescent girls or that potential can be stunted vide exponential returns across in India. The second edition of and stifled by the irreversible a wide variety for social prob- the girls power awards focused effects of child marriage early lems; second, adolescent girls on driving greater corporate in- pregnancy, HIV, and other pre- from an important demographic volvement towards adolescent ventable hardships. for corporate, both as poten- girls’ issues. Here is the link to Fulfilling the rights of adoles- tial customers and employees. the organization’s several re- cent girls to health, education, Third, globally, many corporate ports on the issue. and protection from violence are taking up the cause of ad- and abuse-ensures they have olescent girls, creating a global The Selection Process the chance to achieve their momentum for the issue. physical, emotional, and social Moreover, the corporate so- Dasra reached out to over potential, and can go on to be- cial responsibility requirement 8,800 NGOs to encourage come empowered women who in the company’s act 2013 is es- applications for the awards can support their families, com- timated to release $1-1.5 billion through its outreach partner munities, and countries. in new CSR spending in India Guide star, as well as through

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 99 its NGO partners and online (photo), founder, Trustee and Vatsalaya’s breaking silence and social networks. The short CEO fof Arpan. We do about project is an initiative to em- listing process lasted over four four tos ix lessons with different power women and adolescent months. Dasra Received 151 age groups. Then the trainer sits girls for reproductive health by applications from organizations with each child and gives her a addressing menstrual hygiene working in 20 states. The or- chance to reiterate the messag- management. The project has ganizations were evaluated on es taught in the classroom”. been developed through a the basis for predefined criteria, Taparia would like to reach partnership of WaterAid and which included programmed im- out to more children. We plan to Vatsalya and targets adoles- pact, financial sustainability and work with another 46,000 chil- cent girls and women. The NGO organizational credibility and dren over the next three years. has set up community outlets management strength. The plan is to build long-term that act as resource centers run alliances with people who are by women that provide safe hy- Winners take it all already running schools so we gienic menstrual material and cantrain their teachers. These useful informational bout men- The Dasra Girls power teachers can then implement struation to adolescent girls. awards is an initiative that this plan in their schools added “Now, we want to expand this recognizes impactful and inno- Taparia who has over 8000 programme across the state” vatiove programmes that work hours working in the voluntary added Singh , an alumni of King with adolescent girls in three sector, mainly investing her George Medical College. time, expertise and resources distinct areas of interventions. EMPLOYABILITY The winner in each category with educational institutes. received Rs. 5 lack each, along SANITATION Medha is a social enterprise with capacity building support with a mission to better pre- from Dasra. Vatsalaya’s mission is to ca- pare youth for life after school. pacities through health package It supports college students Safety and Mobility training to basic health workers with employability training, ca- Arpan’s vision is to have a belonging to different NGOs, reer guidance, and placement world free of child sexual abuse. Indian system of medicine doc- service and aims to change the The NGO equips school chil- tors, traditional birth attendants employability training paradigm dren with information and skills and other service providers at in the country by integrating related to personal safety for the grassroots level so that they their approach into the existing preventing sexual abuse. It also can serve better with adequate public sector education sys- provides therapeutic support to knowledge and accordingly as- tem. The organization works children who disclose their past certain the continuity of these in collaboration with three key experiences or ongoing abuse services more appropriately, stakeholders employers, stu- to help them heal from its psy- thereby facilitating sustenance dents, and academia to close chological, social, sexual and of health services. We want the skills gap between educa- physical impact. Arpan also menstrual hygiene to become tion and industry. works with adults to minimize part of the water sanitation and “The girls we work with face the threat of re-victimization hygiene programmes. We also a number of challenges most and creates a safety net for chil- want to provide knowledge of them come from low-income dren. Reaching out to students about proper disposal of men- agricultural families and primar- is difficult, We go to schools and strual material said Neelam ily from the outskirts of lucknow teach students personal safe- singh (photo), Chief functionary most of them face opposition ty skills, : says Pooja Taparia of the Lucknow-based NGO. rom the parents when it comes

100 BUTTERFLIES to their careers, especially if of the challenges they face. of 63% they go for those in the private Investing in adolescent girls yy If as many girls as boys sector explained Christopher helps break cycles of poverty were part of India’s future Turillo who started Medha. The workforce, the country programmed begins with one Safety and Mobility would see an estimated –on-one counselling. It’s like 4.4% increase in its Gross yy 40% of the total victims selling the idea to the students of rape in 2013 were girls Domestic Product (GDP). and developing early relation- below 18 years, says NCRB Sanitation ships with them. Then general data assessments, self awareness yy 53% of children report yy 23% of girls drop out of personal swotanalysis is are having faced one or more school when they reach done to find out what they are forms of sexual abuse, and puberty due to the lack of interested in. In the internship 2 out of 3 are physically safe and clean toilets in stage. We get more industry abused schools and low awareness specific. Most young women about menstrual hygiene are interested in banking jobs Employability management. and a lot of them are passion- y of women and girls yy 30% of adolescent girls y 80% ate about the fashion industry in India use unsanitary added Turillo.” drop out of schools and start working due to economic material such as old rags, Numbers Don’t lie: Her pressures in urban areas husk, hay, ash and sand to manage menstruation. yy 33% of girls and women story so Far y (15+) are economically y 63 million girls in India live Millions of girls in India don’t active, as compared to the in homes without toilets. y get opportunities to live out their global average of around y $9 is added to the economy true potential. Here are some 50% and east Asia average for every $1 spent on sanitation.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 101 Article 13 Every child has right to access to information from the mass media.

CHILDRENCHILDREN PanelSocial Moots Media Age Dos Limit And forDon’ts Kids && MEDIAmEDIA onFor Reality Your ShowsKids

Panel Moots Age Limit for Kids The Times of India, New Delhi Social media dos and don’ts 10296 The Hindu, New Delhi foron Realityyour kids’ Shows Lachmi Debroy | The Hindu 3 March, 2010 The TImes of India Junk Food TV ads linked to 96 Aarti Dhar TipChild the Obesity scales in her favour 103 TheIndian Hindu Express Be a Positive Influence whole world.” Set a good ex- MCD Launches Online Maternity Limit children’s screen time, 10498 The National Commission for ample"Reality through shows areyour really own stressful virtual Info Portal When children hear and see expertAsian Age urges Protection of Child Rights (NCP- behaviour.for children." BBC News their parents being safe rather Film Puts Spotlight on Abandoned 98 CR) has recommended that chil- The age limit was suggested UsageChildren of social media in rural 105 thandren casualbelow the then age it translates of seven years into Avoidby child Usingpsychologists Controlling present at Asian Age india has grown by 100 percent theirbe not own allowed behavior to andparticipate choices. in Approachthe meeting. cky fQYesa cukuk pkgrh gS ljdkj The Huffington post 100 So,reality parents shows themselves on television should chan- gekjk egkuxj When social networking is benels. responsible on social media. concerned don’t try to control SaysThis educationist was decided Swati at a meetingPopat, Junk Food TV ads your children too much. Respect “Whenof Commission people here started on Tuesday. using linked to Child cars"The we final prepared decision our childrenon several your teen’s privacy Says psy- aboutother recommendationsroad and traffic safety, would sobe chologist ObesitySeema Hingorrany, similarlytaken in afor couple any newof days," aspect NCP- in “We see parents getting very ourCR liveschairperson we need Shantha to prepare Sinha our edgyIndian and Express,angry as New a result Delhi the childrentold The Hinduand make. them aware child spends12 February, more time 2010 on these of theThe good recommendation and the bad. would It starts be sites clandestinely.Vidya Krishnan Basic prem- withforwarded how ourto the children Union seegovern- us ise between child and parent is usingment withinthe Internetthe next andtwo weeks.social trust. The relationship takes a mediaThe NCPCR sites. hasWhen been parents working use on negativePULLING turn out when junk parents food adver- spy socialviolation media of child they rights should on reality talk ontisements the child’s on I-padtelevision, and laptops.at least aboutshows it for in theconversations past two years. that in- Monitorduring prime the time, child’s will help activities reduce clude"We comments have agreed like- ‘I on got fixing an whenchildhood he orobesity, she is says online. experts. Take invite,the age but at Iseven did not years accept and asthis I keenA newinterest study in whatpublished the child in the is waswould not be sureapplicable about only the for identi real-- upAmerican to and Journal who are of public your Health,child’s tyity andshows, want which to be are safe.’ run on ‘I a don’t daily friendswhich has online linked and such what advertise- your thinkbasis forI will long post stretches this photo of time, as un- I kidments is posting.”to childhood As youobesity, become has feellike init theis a serials little personaland films andwhere I friendsfound manydon’t posttakers embarrassing among doc- don’tthe roles want are to smaller,"share it Commis-with the commentstors in India and who be saytoo activethe study on sion member Sandhya Bajaj said. is “highly relevant" in the Indian,

102 BUTTERFLIES 96 l BUTTERFLIES his/her wall posts. At the same satisfaction from real people. available on the set time it is important to have a fair Encourage one-on-one interac- yy An hour of break for every knowledge about what your kids tion with friends.” two or three hours of are doing online. shooting must be given Be Friendly With Your Child Tips You Must Share yy A minimum of 50 percent Have a friendly chat with With Your Kids of the payment must be set your child everyday and bond aside in fixed deposits yy Don’t accept friend request with them. A healthy attach- Six-year-old B. Guru got his from strangers ment takes care of everything. first opportunity to perform be- yy Encourage children to play In fact children who don’t fear fore the camera when he was in the fields and parks their parents come and share barely three. He now tries to jug- yy Don’t share your date of everything with them, they don’t gle school, dubbing and acting. birth, address and phone feel the need to hide anything. While Guru sees it more as number or email id. Make them understand that a fun activity, his mother Pooja, yy Think before you bare your posting inappropriate photos who was a junior film artiste her- emotions can damage his/her reputation. self, says she introduced him to yy Be careful with the photos Tell them how important it is to movies to allow him to show- that you post have a clean reputation when case and hone his talent from yy Inform them about internet they are seeking admission in a young age. There are times related crimes college or looking for a job as when the mother and son dash yy Tell them not to defame any it is mandatory for all organisa- out of school in Tiruvottiyur to be organization/school/college tions to do a background check. on time for an audition or take that they belong to Have a healthy discussion with leave to attend a film shoot. your kid on inter-net related crimes and how it can damage Tip The Scales In Provisions in Act their future. Her Favour Though there are pro- Don’t Allow Him/Her To visions in the Child Labour The Hindu, New Delhi (Prohibition and Regulation) Act Spend Too Much Time 26 April, 2015 1986 and guidelines prescribed On Social Media K. Lakshmi by National Commission for Spending too much time on Protection of Child Rights to social networking can become protect the rights of children in- more like an addiction for kids. Safeguarding Child volved in entertainment media, Set some rules on the use of Artistes they are yet to be strictly moni- technology. Don’t allow them tored or implemented. yy When a child goes on leave to spend too much time on the To ensure the rights of chil- for more than two days, social networking sites. Keep dren engaged in television such the district elementary the computer in the living room as reality shows and films, education officer must be and don’t allow the child to take the Tamil Nadu Child Rights approached their smart phones or tablets Observatory, a voluntary organ- yy Every child participating in to the bedroom. Says psychol- isation, has come out with more a TV/Film programme must ogist Varkha Chulani, “Warn guidelines, be it ensuring defi- be certified by a medical them that there are imposters nite work hours or provision of practitioner on mental in the virtual world and not to counselling. and physical fitness. A believe everything that’s put Speaking to The Hindu on child psychologist must be up. Encourage your child to get the sidelines of a consultation

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 103 meeting held here on Friday, the guidelines must be made watching more screen media Saraswathi Rangasamy, chair- mandatory and the films must than ever, and starting earlier. person, Tamil Nadu State be given censor certificates after The average 10-year-old Commission for Protection of the authority concerned like the has access to five different Child Rights, said there are in- Child Welfare Committee pro- screens at home, he says. stances where children’s rights vides a no-objection certificate. And some are becoming ad- are violated on television or dicted to them or depressed as cinema. Limit Children’s a result, he warns. “We have not received any Writing in the Archives complaints so far. But, we plan Screen Time, of Disease in Childhood, Dr to incorporate the guidelines Expert Urges Sigman says a child born today brought out by the organisation will have spent a full year glued in the State Child Policy being BBC News, New Delhi to screens by the time they drafted,” she said. Hannah Richardson reach the age of seven. A draft committee meeting He adds: “In addition to will be held on April 29 to dis- the main family television, for Too much TV can change cuss the policy that will focus example, many very young chil- the amount of certain chemicals on education, healthcare and dren have their own bedroom produced in the brain representation of children in TV along with portable hand- The amount of time children entertainment media. It is ex- held computer game consoles spend in front of screens should pected to be implemented in six (eg, Nintendo, Playstation, be curbed to stave off develop- months. All media houses will Xbox), smartphone with games, ment and health problems, an also be informed. internet and video, a family expert says. Andrew Sesuraj. M., State computer and a laptop and/or a Psychologist Dr Aric Sigman convenor of the Tamil Nadu tablet computer (eg iPad). says children of all ages are Child Rights Observatory, said “Children routinely engage in two or more forms of screen viewing at the same time, such as TV and laptop.” ‘Facebook depression’ British teenagers are clock- ing up six hours of screen time a day, but research suggests the negative impacts start after two hours’ viewing time. Dr Sigman cites from a string of published studies suggesting links between prolonged screen time and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. But he suggests the effects go further than those simply as- sociated with being sedentary for long periods.

104 BUTTERFLIES He says prolonged screen becoming unequivocal - reduce on April 2015, says the ‘Social time can lead to reductions in screen time.” Media in India 2014’ report attention span because of its Developmental psycho- by the Internet and Mobile effects on the brain chemical pathology expert Prof Lynne Association of India (IAMAI) and dopamine. Murray, of the University of Indian Market Research Bureau Dopamine is produced in Reading, said: “There is a (IMRB) International. response to “screen novelty”, well-established literature There are 143 million so- says Dr Sigman. showing the adverse effects cial media users in India as on It is a key component of the of screen experience on the April 2015. The report stated brain’s reward system and im- cognitive development of chil- that the top four metros contin- plicated in addictive behaviour dren under three, and the US ue to account for almost half of and the inability to pay attention. Paediatric Association for ex- the social media users in urban “Screen ‘addiction’ is ample has recommended no India. increasingly being used by phy- screen time before this age. The report said the larg- sicians to describe the growing “If children do watch, howev- est segment accessing social number of children engaging in er, adverse effects are mitigated media consists of the college screen activities in a dependent by watching with a supportive going students with 34 percent manner,” Dr Sigman says. partner - usually adult, who can followed by young men at 27 scaffold and support the child’s percent. ‘Reduce screen time’ experience, and by watching School-going children con- stitute 12 percent of the social And there are other psy- more familiar material. media users. College-going stu- chosocial problems associated “A lot of screen material is dents and young men still form with excess screen time. These not well designed for a child’s the 60 percent of the social include “Facebook depres- cognitive processes, eg loud, media users in urban India. sion”, reported by the American fast changing stimulation - this The report further stated Academy of Pediatrics, which is attention grabbing, but does that 61 percent of these users develops when young people not help processing.” access social media on their spend too much time on social mobile device. media sites and then begin to Usage of Social “The fact that almost two- exhibit classic symptoms of Media in Rural thirds of the users are already depression. accessing social media through Dr Sigman says: “Perhaps India Has Grown their mobile is a promising sign. because screen time is not a By 100 Percent With the expected increase in dangerous substance or a vis- mobile traffic the number of ibly risky activity, it has eluded The Huffington post, New Delhi users accessing social media the scrutiny that other health is- on mobile is only bound to in- sues attract.” crease,” the report added. He says there are many Usage of social media in questions remaining about the rural India has grown by 100 precise nature of the association percent during the last one year between screen time and ad- with 25 million users residing in verse outcomes, but adds: “The that belt, a report said here on advice from a growing number Wednesday. of both researchers and medical However, urban India regis- associations and government tered a relatively lower growth departments elsewhere is of 35 percent with the total num- ber of users at 118 million as

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 105 Article 5 The state shall recognise the rights and duties of the parents and the community with the evolving capacities of the child and rights recognised by the convention.

HEALTH A Question of Survival of Children HEALTH Gender Inequality and The Asian A Question of Survival of Children 101 GenderThe Sentinel inequality and the Asian EnigmaThe of Sentinel, High Guwahati Malnutrition ICDS short of funds, 44% children 22 January, 2010 enigma of high malnutrition 103106 Mint, New Delhi Mintstill malnourished Sunita Vakil The Times of India 04 March, 2015 Child vaccination declines in Child under nutrition 104 Pramit Bhattacharya someunderestimated? states 108 MintEconomic Times one third of the world's undernour- Low nutrition districts to be WidespreadUnder-nutrition malnutrition rates Indians.ished children First, theresiding average in Indiapro- Ekklweksa dks cpkus esa lcls fQlìh] 106109 mapped for surveillance canamong impede pregnant the socio-eco- women portionand its oftrack underweight record in reducingwomen fQjThe HinduHkh okgokgh nomicin India aredevelopment far higher thanand inmalnourishment India is higher is thanquite thepathetic. aver- jktLFkkuDelhi Kids if=dk Malnourished 106 The Hindustan Time productivityin sub-Saharan of Africaa nation. ageIndeed, proportion malnutrition of underweight is the un- Over 2 crore kids targeted in 109 Food for Thought: Malnourishment 107 Thus it is a major drain on womenderlying causein sub-Saharan of as many Africa.as half expandedSpreading Tentacles immunization in UP drive With nearly one in three And as chart 1 show, the differ- The Hindustan Times developing countries like the deaths of children under five. The Pioneer children in the country un- ence between the proportions 'India lags in mom, child India. Recent reports that malnutrition More malnourished in cities 108110 dernourished, India is widely of underweight women in the thanmortality in villages fight' has reached epidemic proportions The Times of India recognized to be a nutrition bas- Deccan Chronicle twoin most regions parts ofis Madhyahighest Pradeshamong eiz esa dqiks"k.k ls ,d yk[k ckbl gtkj ket case. What is less widely 109 Child malnutrition is the biggest youngresulting women. in a large number of Nols T;knk Nat’l cPpksa nutrition dh gqbZ vdkysurvey ekSr in 111 known is the high level of mal- last 10 yrs challenge our country is facing to- childSecond, and infant a greater deaths proporshould- tulŸkk nutrition among pregnant India The Times of India day despite a burning economy tionshock of a youngnation thatwomen aspires become to oc- Raise spending on children's health women, and how that adds to 110 that boasts of nearly 10 per cent pregnant in India compared to The Times of India India’s malnutrition burden. A cupy a larger global economic Coming, Health Cards for economic growth annually. For an sub-Saharn Africa. As chart 2 111 significant proportion of Indian space. It is deeply unfortunate School Children average Indian, development usu- shows, the distribution of preg- The Tribune women are known to be under that over 25 children have died of ally means providing a better life nant women is heavily skewed cPpksa esa c<+ jgs gSa ,M~l ds ekeys weight. But the proportion of severe malnutrition in two villages 111 for his children. But unfortunate- in the country, with most women nSfud HkkLdj pregnant women who are under of the Jhabua district in the past ly, as a nation, we seem to have giving birth at an early age. Poor Quality TB Drug puts 2 lakh 112 weight is significantly higher two months. Agasia and Madarani Kids at Risk turned our face away from the Given the lower age at which than the average proportion of villages of the Meghnagar block Mail Today millions of children who continue they give birth and the higher underweight women in India, have also registered as many to remain hungry, malnourished risk of being undernourished according to new research by as 27 deaths since October. The and sick in our country. Despite then, the average pregnant health economist Diane Coffey, numbers are certainly disgraceful the fact that the Prime Minister Dr woman in India is significantly published in the proceedings but what is more shocking is that Manmohan Singh has referred to worse off than her sub-Saharan of the National Academy of counterpart.most of these childrenCoffey wereestimates under undernutrition as "a matter of na- Sciences journal thatthe age42.2% of six. of SomeIndia womenreports alsoare tional shame", nutrition depriva- Two factors combine to cre- underweightsuggest that severewhen theymalnutrition begin atetion an among unfavourable Indian children situation con- for claimed the lives of 22 children tinues to remain Widespread with 106 BUTTERFLIES in 48 days since August 2009 in

MY NAME IS TODAY VOL XVIII, 2011l 101 Coffey’s research relies on CHART 1 : PROPORTION OF UNDERWEIGHT WOMEN data from demographic and The difference between the proportions of underweight women health surveys that were last in India and sub-Saharan Africa is highest among young women conducted nearly a decade India Sub-Saharan Africa (in %) ago. According to a 2013 nu- 45 trition survey conducted by the 40 35 42.6 ministry of women and child 30 29. development, the proportion of 25 underweight children has fallen 17.6 20 12.8 percentage points since 15 14.4 10 2005 to 30.7%. Given the lack 5 of detailed data on the recent 0 17 20 25 30 35 40 survey, it is impossible to con- The horizontal axis measures age clude whether the findings are comparable to past demograph- ic surveys, or to ascertain the CHART 1 : PROPORTION OF PREGNANT WOMEN precise change in the nutritional The distribution of pregnant women by age is highly skewed in India status of women in the country. India Sub-Saharan Africa (in%) But even if the progress in the 16 fight against malnutrition in the 14 country is real, India’s malnutri- 12 8.8 tion burden is still higher than 10 8 6.9 most other nations in the world. 6 And it is unlikely that Indian 6.4 4 women have been able to com- 2 0.4 pletely eliminate their nutritional 0 17 20 25 30 35 40 disadvantage vis-a-vis African The horizontal axis measures age Source : Diane Coffey, PNAS woman over the past few years. pregnancy, compared with poorer sub-Saharan nations. Coffey is of course not the 16.5% of African woman. To be sure, low birth weight first to write about the nutri- “In both regions, women explains only about half on tional disadvantage faced by gain little weight during India’s malnutrition burden. Indian women, although her pregnancy, but because of preg- Many children with normal birth work quantifies the disadvan- nancy deficits, Indian women weights falter in growth owing tage much more precisely than end pregnancy weighing less to illnesses such as diarrhoea earlier research. One of the than African women do at the that diminish their ability to ab- first scholars to identify gender beginning.” Writes Coffey. sorb nutrients. But while the inequality, which led to lower Greater under-nutrition absence of proper hygiene and food intake by women in South among pregnant women in sanitation, which drives such Asia, as key drive of malnutri- turn raises the risks of low birth diseases, is increasingly being tion in the region was Vulimiri weight babies, who start life with recognized as a major child-kill- Ramalingaswami, former direc- a nutritional disadvantage. The er the role of undernourished tor of the All India Institute of proportion of low birth weight women in perpetuating India’s Medical Science in New Delhi. babies as well as the proportion malnutrition burden across gen- In a widely cited 1996 ar- of undernourished children in eration gets less attention than ticle, Ramaligaswami and his India is higher than even in the it deserves. co-authors drew attention in malnutrition rates between

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 107 limited participation of women Populous States in South Asian economies, and Five of the eight states in this set have seen a declined in vac- their limited autonomy, as an cination rates. Of the two states where the pentavalent was first earlier Mint essay argued. introduced, Tamil Nadu has seen a sharp fall while Kerala has Government interventions been an increase. can help address these issues States 2007-08 2012-13 Change in % Child Population but such interventions may not In % In % (0-1 years) be adequate given the deep Tamil Nadu 81.8 56.2 -25.6 2,083,684 roots of patriarchy in our society. Himachal 82.3 63.0 -19.3 215,751 Correcting gender inequality is Pradesh not merely a public policy chal- Punjab 79.9 68.4 -11.5 844,573 lenge but also a civilizational Haryana 59.6 52.1 -7.5 935,260 one. Maharashtra 69.1 66.2 -2.9 3,701,902 Karnataka 76.7 77.6 0.9 1,951,319 Child Vaccination Kerala 79.5, 82.5 3 982,695 Declines in Some West Bengal 75.8 79.5 3.7 2,682,071 States Less Populous States Mint, New Delhi Seven of the 10 states in this set have recorded an increase in 30 March, 2015 vaccination rates. K. Lakshmi States 2007-08 2012-13 Change in % Child Population In % In % (0-1 years) Puducherry 83.5 66 -17.5 38,250 Several populous states Andaman and 84.5 75 -9.5 11,375 in India, an under-vaccinated Nicobar Islands country as it is, are showing a de- Goa 89.8 89.1 -0.7 40,220 cline in child vaccination rates. Manipur 48.5 54.1 5.6 94,685 Notable among them is Tamil Sikkim 77.8 85.2 7.4 15,871 Nadu, where the percentage of Tripura 38.5 48 9.5 120,383 children aged up to 23 months to have received full vaccination Chandigarh 73 85.8 12.8 31,477 has dropped from 82% in 2007- Meghalaya 33.7 48.9 15.2 167,555 08 to 56% in 2012-13. This Mizoram 54.5 71.2 16.7 52,644 alarming fall comes in the back- Arunachal 13.5 49.2 35.7 53,369 drop of the introduction in the Pradesh state government’s immuniza- children in South Asia and The low social status of tion programme, in December sub-Saharan Africa. Despite women in South Asia not only 2011, of the pentavalent vac- greater progress in the battle skews the distribution of food cine a new, more expensive against poverty, South Asia within the household against combination that claims to offer faces a greater malnutrition women but also leads to a dis- additional protection against burden than sub-Saharn Africa. proportionately higher workload Hepatitis B and Haemophilus One answer to the “Asian enig- for them, adversely affecting influenza B. A section of doc- ma” of high malnutrition could child care. Their social status is tors have been contesting the lie in the low social status of in turn tied to other unfavorable efficacy of, and need for, the women in the region, they wrote. gender outcomes, such as the pentavalent vaccine, citing

108 BUTTERFLIES post-immunization deaths and vjckas dk [kpZ LokLF; foHkkx the cost-benefit for a develop- ing country like India. As more eiz esa ;s gkyr rc gS] tc LokLF; foHkkx ds ftEes vLirkyksa esa izLko state governments make the vkSj efgyk cky fodkl foHkkx eka vkSj vk/kqfud uotkr f”k”kq bdkbZ pentavalent vaccine the new vkSj cPpkas ds fy, nks gtkj djksM+ dh cukuk FkhA izR;sd ftyk fpfdRlky; standard in their immunization ;kstuk,a pyk jgs gSaA esa vyx ls f”k”kq bdkbZ cuh gaSA bldk programmes, a conclusive an- swer has become an imperative. vyx ls ctV gSAaa ;gka f”k”kqvksa dks efgyk cky fodkl foHkkx eq¶r nokb;ka miyC/k djkus ds fy, gh Ekklweksa dks cpkus vkaxuokfM+;ksa ij foHkkx cM+k iSlk djksM+kas [kPkZ gksrs gSaA izkFkfed LokLF; [kPkZ dj jgk gSA ekrkvksa dks ran:Lr dsUnzkas ij 105 uotkr f”k”kq bdkbZ esa lcls fQlìh] djus ds fy, 500 djksM+ lkykuk [kpZ cukbZ xbZ gSaA foHkkx eerk vfHk;ku gks tkrs gSa] ftlls f”k”kqvksa dk tUe pyk jgk gSA fQj Hkh okgokgh detksj fLFkfr esa ugha gksA ,sls gh uotkr f”k”kq vkSj cky e`R;q nj jktLFkku if=dk] ubZ fnYyh iwjd iks’k.k vkgkj ls ysdj Vsd^Vw*gkse esa mYys[kuh; fxjkoV gqbZ gSA ljdkj 03 tuojh] 2015 jk”ku ;kstuk,a pykbZ tk jgh gSaA blds ds iz;klksa dk ifj.kke gS fd 3 vkSj 4 ckn Hkh detksj f”k”kq tUe ysdj ekSr vad dh deh vkbZ gS ckdh fdlh izns”k Hkksiky] uotkr vkSj cky e`R;q dk xzkl cu jgs gaSA cky e`R;q nj esa bruh deh ugh gqbZ gSA ekr` e``R;q nj esa rhu ls pkj vadksa dh fxjkoV de djus ds fy, ,d djksM+] lkykuk nj ds vkdM+s Hkh vkus okys gSa tks fd ij izns”k ljdkj okgokgh ywV jgh [kpZ gks tkrs gSa] ysfdu dqiks’k.k igys dh rqyuk esa dkQh csgrj gkssaxsA gSA tcfd] ns”k ds 20 vU; jkT;ksa dk;e gSA ,d yk[k cPps dqiksf’kr gSaA ds cfuLir ns[kk tk, rks ge ,dne Over 2 Crore fQlìh gSaA gels vkxs dsoy vle gSA gels rks ;s jkT; vPNs Kids Targeted ns”k esa cky vkSj uotkr f”k”kq e`R;q dgka fdruh uotkr dgka fdruh cky In Expanded nj dks ysdj jftLVªkj tujy vkWQ e`R;q nj e`R;q nj Immunization Drive bafM;k us o’kZ 2013 dk ,l-vkj-,l- 32 jktLFkku 57 jktLFkku cqysfVu tkjh fd;k gSA blesa izR;sd Mint, New Delhi jkT; ds lkyHkj ds fjdkWMZ dh rqyuk 31 NRrhlx<+ 53 NRrhlx<+ 04 April, 2015 dj fjiksVZ tkjh dh tkrh gSA 20 Sanchita Sharma jkT;ksaa ds cqysfVu esa izns”k uotkr vkSj 18 egkjk"Vª 26 egkjk"Vª cky e`R;q nj esa uhps ls nwljs uacj ij Next week, India will launch 35 mÙkjizns'k 64 mÙkjizns'k gSA fQj Hkh ljdkj bl ij okgokgh its expanded immunization pro- ywV jgh gS fd uotkr e`R;q nj igys gramme that targets to vaccinate 26 xqtjkr 45 xqtjkr 90% of India’s 2.7 crore children ds 39 izfr gtkj ds eqdkcys 36 izfr against seven life-threatening gtkj vadks ij igaqp xbZ gS] tcfd ns'k 28 uotkr e`R;q nj diseases. cky e`R;q nj 73 izfr gtkj ls 69 esa 49 cky e`R;q nj India’s Universal Immuniza- izfr gtkj vk xbZ gSA bldk lkekU; ---vkSj e/;izns'k esa ;g gky tion Programme (UIP) which uotkr e`R;q dk vk'k; tUe ds vaccinates children against vFkZ ;g gS fd izns”k esa tUe ysus okys 36 uotkr e`R;q nj rqjar ckn e`R;q ls gSA cky e`R;q esa 0&5 lky rd ds cPpksa dks diphtheria, whooping cough, izR;sd 1000 uotkr esa ls 36 dh ekSr 69 cky e`R;q nj 'kkfey fd;k tkrk gS tcfd f'k'kq ls vk'k; 0&1 o"kZ ds cPpksa ls gSA tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, gks tkrh gSA izns”k dh f”k”kq e`R;q nj measles fully covers only 65% Hkh 54 izfr gtkj gS] tcfd ns”k esa ;g children. vkaadM+k 90 gSA CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 109 Of the 89 lakh children that because of issues like lack of nutrients than green leafy vege- do not receive all the vaccines, access to vaccines, information tables or whole grains. 17 lakh do not receive any vac- or migration. Lack of awareness and ed- cination at all. Unvaccinated or ucation has led them to spend partially vaccinated children run Mission Indradhanush more on foods which do not a 3-6 times higher risk of death India’s Universal Immunisa- give them wholesome nutrition, as compared to fully immunized tion Programme currently fully leading to stunted growth, ane- ones. covers only 65% children mia and respiratory diseases. Beginning April 7, millions Deputy Director of National yy 2, 60, 90,000 Children of frontline workers vaccina- needing vaccination Institute of Nutrition Dr tors and community mobilisers Raghunath Rao said, “The yy 1, 06, 18,119 Immunization will start tracking and vaccinat- sessions in 2013-14 problem is that they consider ing close to one crore ‘missed’ highly advertised foods to be yy 65% Children who get all children in 201 high risk districts vaccines in first year of life very nutritional. But they are in the “polio mode” that helped also costly. In our various inter- yy 90% Full immunization by India eliminate polio despite 2020 vention programmes we have the virus thriving in neighbour- tried explain the importance of yy 40/1,000 Infant mortality ing Pakistan and Afghanistan. rate (deaths before age 5) green leafy vegetables, dals, India’s last polio case was re- whole grain foods and the af- yy 25% Unvaccinated children ported on January 13, 2011. are in 82 districts of UP, fordability factor of these foods.” “Although India’s immuni- Bihar, MP and Rajasthan zation programme is one of Statistics of Health the largest in the world, we still More Malnourished yy 25% Children below 5 years need to expand the scope to en- and stunting. sure that no child is left without In Cities Than In yy 75% Children between 6-59 this protection. It is the right of months have anemia. every child to be fully immunized Villages yy 53% Children between 10- against disease,” says Union 19 yrs have severe anemia. Health Minister JP Nadda. Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad yy 54.3% Anemic adolescents “Special; vaccination cam- 04 March, 2015 Kaniza Garari yy 72.8% Children have paigns will be conducted for respiratory diseases. seven days, starting April 7, yy 9.8 % Kids have cardio Malnutrition among the and will be repeated on the vascular diseases same date for four consecu- urban poor in both Andhra yy 25.5% Men consume Pradesh and Telangana is high tive months to cover all children alcohol less than two years of age and because they have too many yy 25.9% Children who are misconceptions about nutrition- pregnant women for the tetanus stunted (Below 5 Years) al foods. vaccine,” says Nadda. Another scientist explained, This was stated in a dis- Nearly 25% of unvaccinat- “When we take up programmes, trict-level household and facility ed children are in 82 districts the focus is more on the dis- survey by the Union ministry in four states-Uttar Pardesh, eases that have been caused. of health and family welfare in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and This has to change into making 2013-14. The survey is done Rajasthan. them understand how the rich every three years. A national level monitor whom they often tend to ape Most of the urban poor con- has been assigned for each of are also eating whole grains, sider chicken or non-vegetarian the 201 high-priority districts to fibrerich foods and more of ensure no children are missed food to be a complete source of

110 BUTTERFLIES micro-nutrients.” As an exam- the nutritional status of their Studies In Nations ple, a breastfeeding mother in population. The last nutrition urban slums does not have to survey done in India was ten Country Years of survey depend on protein-rich foods as years ago despite its unaccept- Bangladesh 2006, 2012 lactation is adequate if she con- ably high levels of malnutrition. Pakistan 2010, 2014 sumes green leafy vegetables Neighbouring nations have Nepal 2010, 2014 too. each completed two surveys India 1998, 2005 Nutritional and health each during this period. The Integrated Child co-workers have found that There has been no dis- Development Service (ICDS), it takes a lot of time to make trict level nutritional survey in a maternal and child nutrition- people understand and put it in India since 2002, more than 13 al programmes, is supposedly practice. The undernourishment years back. National Statistical on a mission mode in almost in children stands at 40 per cent. Commission chairman Pronab 200 backward district to ad- From the urban slums there Sen When speaking at a dress malnutrition. Districts are are hardly 150 households who round-table event on nutrition supposed to draw up a Project have taken it up. A senior horti- data said that there was “too Implementation Plan (PIP). But culturist explained, “There have little nutrition data” for policy district ICDS officers are ex- been regular classes held on makers and the new National pected to draw up the PIP on how to grow foods at home, but Family Health Survey (NFHS) the basis of 13-year old data. the response is very poor. We data would be crucial for rolling After NFHS 3 in 2005-06, are providing soil, pesticides out new policy programmes to the field work for NFHS-4 is and also manure. They just address malnutrition and other currently on. After data col- have to take care of them but health issues. lection there is the laborious that too is not coming across. “There is enough evidence and time-consuming process There has to be some benefits to show a huge variance in the of checking data quality, veri- attached to it and then it may status of nutrition of children in fying data, cross checking and generate interest in people.” tribal and non-accessible areas then analysis. The data is not in a state vis-à-vis urban areas. expected before the end of No Nat’l Nutrition For any nutrition or health this year and district level data scheme to be planned and from it might not be available till Survey in Last implemented, it is therefore es- well into 2016. The first round 10 Years sential to have the district level of NFHS survey took place in data. However, it is ironic that 1992-93, the second round in The Times of India, New Delhi the ‘latest’ government data for 1998-99 and the third round in 05 April, 2015 districts available is 13 years old 2005-06, after which there have Sanchita Sharma (DLHS-2, 2002). It is appalling been none. that the planning of our nutrition Data from the Rapid Survey related schemes is being done on Children (RSOC) carried out Neighbours Pakistan, primarily based on the state by Unicef and the women and Bangladesh & Nepal Have data, without taking into con- child development (WCD) min- Been Holding Regular sideration the critical variance istry in 2013 is yet to be made Audits within the states with respect available. The data was sent to They may have lower to the most affected and mar- the health ministry back by the growth rates than India, but ginalized,” said Komal Ganotra, WCD ministry, but nothing has Bangladesh, Pakistan and director of policy, research and moved since. Nepal are more prompt about advocacy in the NGO CRY Even the district level house- conducting regular surveys on Child Rights and You. hold and facility survey (DLHS)

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 111 in 2013 did not provide any countries with the support of surveys. “Standard gap for car- district-level nutritional data. Unicef for generating data on rying out such surveys is three Even if, as RSOC national level key indicators on the well-be- to five years to enable taking among children has fallen from ing of children and women, stock and to do mid-course cor- 48% to 39%, it is still very high and helping shape policies. rection,” said a public health and probably masks much high- However, India withdrew from expert. er levels of under nutrition at MICS in 2000 after two rounds. state and district level. This year the MICS programme Over two decades, close to completes 20 years of opera- 300 Multiple Indicator Cluster tion and five rounds of surveys. Surveys (MICS) have been Bangladesh, Pakistan and carried out in more than 100 Nepal are part of the MICS

112 BUTTERFLIES Article 24(a) The State shall take appropriate measures to diminish infant and child mortality.

DEMOGRAPHYDEmOGRAPHY Under-fiveYoung Wives, Deaths Young on Mothers the Rise

YoungUnder-five wives, Deaths young on the mothers Rise 114113 Thein Times the of India,Capital New Delhi Mintin the Capital The Hindu 11 June, 2014 Fewerf'k'kq e`R;q children nj esa jktLFkku born lclseach vkxs 116 The Hindu, New Delhi year; child sex ratio worsens 115 ubZ nqfu;k The Proportion of married7 April, women 2010 in the age group of 15 to The Hindu Madhya Pradesh Child Mortality 116 19 years has dropped by 8 percentage points between 2001 and HimachalRate is one amongof the Highest 10 states in 116 2011, according to a recently released Census 2011 dataset. Yet, withWorld, lowest says Report child sex ratio The number of children under five the practice of women marrying youngzz Mortality and having rate 34children per 1,000 young TheThe HinduIndian Express dying has been on the rise despite remains deep-rooted, entwined with lowlive birthsliteracy and social cus- CityjkT; Childljdkj Sexdks ugha ratio ekywe gets pkj lky 116117 the Capital being one of the fastest toms, and present in force in both rural and urban areas. betteresa dSls ejin x,5 yrs lok yk[k cPps growing cities in the country. zz Almost 20% of Delhi’s popu- DNAns'kcU/kq As the city prepares to observe lation lives in slums Fewer Children Dying in India The Big Picture *ykMyh* dk deky! csVksa ls 118119 World Health Day on Wednesday, The Times of India 2008 points out that one in four T;knk csfV;ksa dk tUe it alsoOne has out toof dealevery with five thewomen fact between 15 and 19 years of age yk[kksa f'k'kq igyk tUe fnu ugha households in Delhi does not have nSfud HkkLdj 118 is married. And 30% of the married ones have children. In the last euk ikrs that its infant mortality rate has in- piped water supply and one out of gfj Hkwfe decade, both these numbers have increased in urban areas. creased between 2003 and 2008 live households do not have a toilet. Child mortality among tribals 119 from 28 to 34 per 1,000 live births, exceeds national average Women aged 15-19 years who areOnly married 45.5 per (%) cent of children under The Hindu according to NGO 'Save the Chil- six have access to an Integrated dren'.29 Diarrhoea is the major cause xyr crk, ekSr ds vkadM+s Child Development24.9 Services Cen- 120 21.9 nSfud HkkLdj of death among children, account- tre. The percentage of underweight19.9 ing for 60 per cent of the deaths.15.2 and15.3 malnourished children among "There is a stark dichotomy Delhi's urban poor is almost double here. On the one hand, Delhi has than that among non-urban poor," good health infrastructure. Yet the said a release issued by the NGO. urban poorRural cannot access even Urban "Delhi is a critical Tcaseotal in point the most basic of health care facil- Women aged 15-19 years who areof why children the Government (%) must revive ities," said Save the Children CEO the30.2 now-shelved national urban 29.8 29.4 29.7 29.8 Thomas Chandy.28.6 health mission. India has made He said there was a tremendous a commitment to reducing the increase in the city's population under-five mortality by two thirds largely due to continuous migration by 2015. While the national rural from other cities. This has placed a health mission has made some huge pressure on social and health headway in tackling child mortality services. RuralMuch of the migrant' pop-Urbanin rural areas, the needTotal for a simi- ulation ends up in slums. lar programme for the urban poor "The Economic Survey of Delhi CHILDRENis immediate. IN NEWS VOLWe XXIV, cannot 2015 afford113

114 l BUTTERFLIES States with the highest percentage of married women in the 15-19 age group Young Wives Women aged 15-19 years who are married (%) 72.4 Female literacy (%) Female literacy rank (out of 35 states) There is some correlation 62.3 60.2 60.9 between female literacy and 56.4 56 52.9 young marriages : 18 of the 20 50.5 44.2 46.4 worst districts, with the maxi- 41.9 mum from Rajasthan, are in the

28.8 28.4 bottom 20% in female literacy. 26 25.7 25.1 22.7 Beyond female literacy, social 21.4 21 20.5 20.3 19.9 practices also play a part for

34 18 35 06 33 24 29 27 21 20 Instance, Jammu and Kashmir shows low incidence of young Rajasthan West Bihar Tripura Jharkhand Assam Madhya Andhra Karnataka Gujarat India Bengal Pradesh Pradesh women getting married, and certain districts show a high Districts with the highest percentage of married women in the 15-19 age group incidence even among their Women aged 15-19 years Female Female literacy rank District (State) who are married (%) literacy (%) (out of 640 districts) relatively more literate urban 50.6 population. Bhilwara (Rajasthan) 40.3 565 48.1 Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) 40.3 564 42.3 Rajsamand (Rajasthan) 41.0 549 42.2 Dhubri (Assam) 43.2 528 41.9 Jhalawar (Rajasthan) 39.8 573 41.1 Giridhih (Jharkhand) 39.6 575 41.0 Deoghar (Jharkhand) 42.4 536 40.6 Lalitpur (Uttar Pradesh) 42.0 542 40.1 Shravasti (Uttar Pradesh) 28.0 636 40.0 Jamui (Bihar) 38.4 587 19.9 India 56.0 0 20 40 60

Districts with the highest percentage of married women in the 15-19 age group in urban areas Urban female Women in urban areas aged Urban female literacy rank District (State) 15-19 years who are married (%) literacy (%) (out of 640 districts) 31.4 Bhilwara (Rajasthan) 62.5 469 31.0 Banswara (Rajasthan) 70.1 270 29.2 Goalpara (Assam) 61.7 488 28.5 Birbhum (West Bengal) 68.1 318 28.2 Malda (West Bengal) 36.5 446 27.4 South Tripura (Tripura) 82.4 21 27.1 Sheohar (Bihar) 42.2 636 26.8 Murshidabad (West Bengal) 57.7 554 26.6 Purba Medinipur (West Bengal) 74.8 156 26.2 Karauli (Rajasthan) 51.0 616 15.3 India 70.1

114 BUTTERFLIES States with the highest percentage of married women in the Young Mothers 15-19 age group having children Women aged 15-19 years who are married (%) 75.6 Female literacy (%) Female literacy rank Rajasthan sees the high- 72.4 (out of 35 states) 67.4 est number of early marriages, 62.3 63.1 59.1 but it does not even feature in 56.4 56 52.9 48.7 the top 10 states in terms of 46.4 43.2 42 young births. Instead, It’s the 401 39.6 38.1 34.4 north-eastern states that dom- 33.6 32.4 32.2 32.1 29.8 inate, including districts with comparatively high levels of fe- male literacy. 06 04 18 22 12 33 24 16 30 27

Tripura Mizoram West Meghalya Sikkim Jharkhand Assam Manipur Arunachal Andhra India Bengal Pradesh Pradesh Districts with the highest percentage of married women in the 15-19 age group having children Married women aged 15-19 Female Female literacy rank District (State) years with children (%) literacy (%) (out of 640 districts) 54.6 Mamit (Mizoram) 65.5 146 50.6 Longleng (Nagaland) 57.2 275 47.0 Lawngtlal (Mizoram) 46.1 477 45.7 Koch Bihar (West Bengal) 60.1 229 45.6 Jaintla Hills (Meghalaya) 50.4 406 45.4 Ri Bhoi (Meghalaya) 59.3 242 45.1 Dhalai (Tripura) 67.8 112 44.2 The Dangs (Gujarat) 55.6 297 44.1 Birbhum (West Bengal) 55.9 294 44.1 West khas (Meghalaya) 59.7 233 29.8 India 56.0 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 Districts with the highest percentage of married women in urban areas in the 15-19 age group having children Urban female Women aged 15-19 years with Urban female literacy rank District (State) children in urban areas (%) literacy (%) (out of 640 districts) 63.7 Mamit (Mizoram) 80.1 40 50.4 West Khasi Hills (Meghalaya) 70.2 262 50.0 Kurung Kumey (Arunachal Pradesh) 48.7 262 54.0 Anjaw (Arunachal Pradesh) 76.2 105 47.9 Champhai (Mizoram) 81.3 29 47.1 Dhalai (Tripura) 83.1 18 44.1 West District (Sikkim) 76.0 108 43.9 Birbhum (West Bengal) 68.1 318 North and Middle Andaman 42.9 (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) 69.7 280 42.5 West Tripura (Tripura) 82.7 20 15.3 India 70.1 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 115 Fewer Children the family’s third, fourth, fifth in contrast, as child born to a or so on children. In fact, the woman in the age group 30-40 Born Each Year; absolute number of first and was most likely to be her third Child Sex Ratio second-borns only increased child, and one born to a woman between 2000 and 2010, while aged 35 to 39 was most likely to Worsens the number of later-born chil- be her fourth child, the Census dren declined. numbers show. The Hindu, New Delhi The two processes de- The data also shows that 05 March, 2015 clining size of families and just 2 percent of women under Rukmini S preference for male children the age of 18 are now married are going on simultaneously, in Idia. Statistics on marriage The number of children born Dr. P. Arokiasamy, noted de- released showed that 72 lakh every year is declining rapidly in mographer and fertility trends people under the age of 18 were India, but the slowdown is fast- expert and professor at the married as of 2011, 70 percent er for baby girls as against baby Mumbai-based International of them girls. boys, according to new data Institute for Population from the 2011 Census. Sciences, told The Hindu. While India’s poor sex ratio Himachal Among for children under the age of six THE POPULATION SLOWDOWN 10 States With is well-known, data released THE MORE FIRST-BORNS, FEWER THIRD-BORNS by the office of the Registrar- NUMBER 1,00,00,000 Lowest Child Sex OF 1 2010 2000 CHILDREN 75,00,000 General of India on Monday 2 BORN Ratio gives an indication of the situ- EVERY 50,00,000 YEAR IS 3 ation at the time of birth. Just DECLINING 4 25,00,000 5 The Indian Express, Chandigarh RAPIDLY 6 7+ under 2.1 crore children were IN INDIA 27 March, 2015 born in 2010, the year before Total women Married Male births Female births 2011 2011 2010 2010 Himachal Pradesh gov- the latest Census was con- 587,584,719 293,077,472 11,004,520 9,893,708 ducted. In the year 2000 in ernment Thursday shared its 5.44% 4.69% comparison, 1.98 crore children concern on the declining sex 496,453,556 273,405,276 10,436,903 9,450,152 were born. However, the growth 2001 2001 2000 2000 ratio in the state, which now in the number of male children has shockingly been bracketed born was higher at 5.44 percent “Fertility is declining fast- among 10 states having Worst while the growth in the num- er than expected in India, and sex ratio in the country. ber of girls born was far lower when fertility declines, we see Health Minister Kaul Singh at 4.69 percent. The sex ratio an increase in the intensity of Thakur said 24 panchayats in at birth as a result was slight- preference for male children, Una district, bordering Punjab, ly worse in 2011 than it was in “he said. This can be through have child sex ratio (0-6 years) 2001. sex-selective abortion, or the below 500 mark while the over- The numbers also clearly in- stopping principle, where fam- all sex ratio of 875 in the district, dicate that couples are choosing ilies stop having children as is also lowest in Himachal to restrict the size of their fami- soon as they ve had a boy, Dr. Pradesh and needs immediate lies; nearly half of the children Arokiasamy explained. steps to arrest the trend. born in 2000 were the third, In a given year, a child born Thakur was replying in the fourth, fifth and so on in the fam- to a woman under the age of 24 Assembly during the question ily, fifth and so on in the family. is most likely to be her first child, hour when Kuldeep Kumar, In 2011, just a third of children and one born to a woman aged a Congress MLA from Una, born in the preceding year were 25-40 her second child. In 2001 and BJP MLA Ravinder Ravi

116 BUTTERFLIES wanted to know the reasons why punish those having low sex in the city and state. Himachal Pradesh was slipping ratio by denying development The standard CSR at birth into the category of states hav- grants. Incentive for the family is 951 girls per 1,000 boys. ing low sex ratio. having single girl child or two With the improvement now civic Kuldeep Kumar pointed girls will be raised to Rs 40,000. health officials are positive of out that two gram panchayats The state has the overall achieving the standard ratio. of Una have sex ratio as low sex ratio of 909 against 1000 They say that while the city has as 111 and 167, respective- female as Una district have a long way to go in changing ly The National Human Rights 875, Kangra-876, Hamirpur- the mindset of people towards Commission had already sent 887, Solan-899, Bilaspur-900, the girl child, the constant notice to the state government Mandi-916, Shimla-925, Sir- awareness drives and strict seeking a report on the issue. maur-928, Chamba- 953, enforcement of law has contrib- The Health Minister con- Kullu-962, Kinnuar-963 and uted to the upward change in firmed that the sex ratio of 24 Lahaul Spiti-1033, minister said. the sex ratio. gram panchayat was very low Dr Padmaja Keskan exec- and the state government has City Child Sex utive health officer; BMC said: taken note of it. After NHRC “Though the CSR of 2013 and sent the notice, the Supreme Ratio Gets Better 2014 are almost the same, the Court took cognizance that the in 5 Years rise shows that we are on the situation was alarming. right track. We are doing our The state government has DNA, Mumbai best to improve the ratio by con- submitted its report inform- 16 April, 2015 ducting regular meetings with ing the NHRC about the steps Somita Pal doctors, and awareness drives.” being taken in this regard. While the BMC is patting its However, Ravi and former While civic body pats its back for the improved data, ex- health minister Rajeev Bindal back, experts warn of perts working in im- proving the (BJP) raised concerns on slow threats to the achievement CSR in the state think otherwise. implementation of the mother After extensive efforts to im- What is child sex ratio : tracking scheme and lack of prove the falling child sex ratio interstates coordination to ad- (CSR) in the city data collated It is the number of females dress the issue. by the BMC shows an upward per 1000 males in the 0-6 age Here, the Health minister swing in the figures; in 2014, group. CSR is principally deter- sought cooperation of elect- Mumbai’s CSR was 931 girls mined by the sex ratio at birth, ed representatives to tackle per 1,000 boys. This was a mar- but is also influenced by a num- the problem and advised them ginal improvement from 2013’s ber of other factors such as not to put pressure on medical statistics - 930 girls per 1,000 under registration of girls, child authorities to withdraw action boys. mortality and age misreporting. against those having non-reg- However; in 2011, the city’s istered ultra sound units. There dipping CSR was in the spot- Ratio of last 5 years are 260 ultrasound units work- light, for the ratio stood at 917 2010 919 ing in the state, including 86`in girls per 1,000 boys. Several 2011 917 government sector and 174 in concerns were raised among 2012 922 private sector. government officials to strength- 2013 930 The Minister said an incen- en the preconception and 2014 931 tive scheme for the panchayats prenatal diagnostic techniques have been announced to reward (prohibition of sex selection) act those having best sex ratio and

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 117 Advocate Varsha month and found glaring loop- Explaining why genet- Deshpande who runs Lek Ladki holes in implementation of the ic counselling centres and Abhiyan A Satara based NGO PCPDNT Act, referred Mumbai infertility centres need to follow which has been working against as a hub of genetic business. PCP- DNT law a senior health prenatal sex determination said: “It won’t be fair to judge the official said that certain proce- “The CSR in Mumbai is at risk. government monitoring sys- dures in vitro fertilization like Genetic labs and counseling tem for CSR in the city as there the pre-implementation genetic centers are yet to be registered are women who go out of the diagnosis procedure may reveal under the PCPNDT Act and city to deliver. Such deliveries the sex of a foetus. thus are neither maintaining (Where couple knows the sex of ‘Another test, ‘Cell-free fon- the mandatory forms D, E, G, the child) will affect the national tal DNA testing’, a screening nor reporting to the concerned CSR, or that of the place where test, indicates if a woman is at authorities.” the child is born. It is found that an increased risk of having a Deshpande, who is part of 80% of the babies born Where foetal with Down syndrome. the National Inspection and genetic counselling is involved, Through this test, a doctor can Monitoring Committee (NIMC) are boys,” she said. know the sex of a foetus.” said team Which visited Mumbai last the official.

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CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 119 Article 23 The mentally and physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life.

DIFFERENTLYDIffERENTLY In India,Differently-abled High Percentage Children of Kids With ABLEDABLED DisabilitiesDemand Still Out their of DueSchool : UN Firstpost.com, CHILDRENCHILDREN The21 Hindu, January, New 2015 Delhi 14 February, 2010 Differently-abled Children 121 InDemand India, their high Due percentage of 120 United Nations: India has 6 to 14 years (34 percent) are kidsThe Hindu with disabilities still out beenDrawing able to attention decrease to its lack num of- outany ofstaff school. to take care of the edu- ofInsurance school: for UN Parents of 122 Firstpost.comSpecial Children Soon berfacilities of out-of-schoolthat prevent differently-children cationalThe percentagesneeds of the differently-are even The Hindustan Time Give differently abled children 121 byabled nearly children 16 millionfrom integratingbetween higherabled childrenamong studyingchildren in withtheir Government Promises Better 122 extraEducation chance, for ‘Challengedsays child Kids’rights panel 2000with the and mainstream, 2012, driving a march the to intellectualschools." said disabilities Association (48 presi- per- TheMail IndianToday Express progressParliament in was South organised Asia, on but Sat- it cent),dent Ashok speech Agarwal. impairments (36 ChildrenCourt Allows with Dyslexic disabilities Child to in 123122 stillurday has by 1.4 the millionAll-India children Parents' notAs- percent)Demanding and thatmultiple no government disabili- india:Attend fromClasses commitments to sociation. or private school deny admission The Hindu attending primary school, a ties (59 percent). outcomes Alleging that over two crore to children with disabilities, the IndiaEarly ability.orgDetection of Disabilities 124 United Nations report said. “India has made tre- in Children Stressed children with disabilities have Association has also sought more The majority, 31 million of mendous efforts to make its ParentsAssam Tribune want to euthanize 124 been denied the right to educa- basic facilities. theirReinventing six disabled Arpit’s Wheel children: 125 the 58 million out-of-school education system more in- Mint tion, the Association submitted “i’m tired of taking care of them” children,that differently-abled were girls. children India has are clusive. Under the Right to LifeUse News.comLatest Technology in 126 Autism Research, says Abdul Kalam 58.81the worst million sufferers girls asand they 63.71 are EducationMY NAME Act,IS FARMAN all children AND FacilitiesThe Hindu for Differently Abled 125 milliondeprived boys of all of human primary and school funda- have theI rightNEED to HELP:go to school... ChildrenADAPT for in a BetterSchools Tomorrow 126 age. As of 2011, 1.4 million BusinessDNA Standard mental rights. To"My accommodate name is Farman. a Igreater can't childrenIn a letter of primary addressed school to Prime age numberspeak. Thereof children are no facilitieswith dis - didMinister not goManmohan to school Singh, in India, the abilities,available further for my education"progress is

withAssociation 18 percent claimed girls that childrenout of needed,”reads one it said. of the many post- schoolwith disability and 14 who percent are in boys. schools ersThe being biggest carried decreaseby different- in fare no better since they are de- The report said that while thely-abled number children of out-of-school who, along nied facilities like special teachers, India has made significant childrenwith their was parents, seen took in Southout a aids and appliances, reading and improvement in primary edu- Asia, where their numbers fell learning material, barrier-free en- protest march for protection cation enrolment, the figures vironment, special toilets, ramps by of23 the million right to between education 2000 of forand childrenthe like. with disabilities and such2012, children according under to thea new are"Even staggering. a premier Out institution of 2.9 mil like- jointbanner report of ‘Fixing All India the Parents Broken lionKendriya children Vidyalaya with disabilities Sangathan in PromiseAssociation, of Education at Jantar for India,has admitted 990,000 before children the agedDelhi All: FindingsMantar infrom New the Delhi Global High Court that they do not have on Saturday.

120 BUTTERFLIES MY NAME IS TODAY VOL XVIII, 2011l 121 Initiative on Out-of-School programmes in ensuring more Education for All by 2015. Children was produced children attend and stay in The report added that by UNESCO and the UN school. “business as usual” has not Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’. The largest school feed- worked and there has been al- Much of the global prog- ing was implemented in India most no progress in reducing ress since 2000 in decreasing with 120 million school chil- the number of adolescents out the number of out-of-school dren benefiting by 2006 and of school since 2007. Children children has been driven by has been credited with a sig- living in conflict, child labourers a small number of countries, nificant positive effect on both and those facing discrimina- with India alone decreasing school enrolment and atten- tion are most affected. And its number of out-of-school dance rates. without major shifts in policies children by nearly 16 million The report further said that and resources, previous edu- between 2000 and 2011. one in five adolescents world- cation gains may erode. In relative terms, 42 coun- wide is not in school, which “If current trends continue, tries were able to more than means that some 63 million 25 million children, 15 million halve their numbers of pri- young people between the girls and 10 million boys, are mary out-of-school children ages of 12 and 15 are denied likely to never set foot inside between 2000 and 2012, their right to an education, a classroom,” it said. For a including Algeria, Burundi, mainly because they are mar- concrete policy shift, the study Cambodia, Ghana, India, ginalized and poor, the joint calls on governments to pro- Iran, Morocco, Mozambique, UN agency report said as vide robust information on Nepal, Nicaragua, Rwanda, pressure mounts to include marginalised children. Viet Nam, Yemen and Zambia. universal secondary educa- However, despi te such tion in the post-2015 global Give Differently impressive progress in many development agenda. countries, about nine per- “This report serves as Abled Children cent of all children of primary wake-up call to mobilize the Extra Chance, Says school age worldwide, which resources needed to guar- Child Rights Panel accounts for eight percent of antee basic education for all boys and 10 percent of all every child, once and for all,” Indian Express, Mumbai girls, were still out of school in UNESCO Director General 10 April, 2015 2012. Irina Bokova said. Mihika Basu The other countries with The data found that as chil- more than half a million out- dren get older, the risk that MSCPCR says the of-school children include they will never start school or Secondary School Code Indonesia, Bangladesh, will drop out increases. One in should be in consonance Nigeria, Pakistan and Sudan. ten children of primary school with RTE & Disabilitie India had 14 percent of chil- age is out of school compared Differently abled children dren in the 7-14 years age to one in five adolescents. The may get more chances of com- category involved in child study also found that in total, pleting secondary education labour. 121 million children and ad- until the age of 18 on failing The report credited ini- olescents have either never to clear examinations, if the tiatives such as abolition of started school or dropped out government accepts a recom- school fees, cash transfer pro- despite the international com- mendation by the Maharashtra grammes and school feeding munity’s promise to achieve State Commission for Protection

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 121 of Child Rights (MSCPCR). detained in Class 9 during 2013- Children with In a March 30 order, which 14 and 2014-15. She said he could have a far-reaching im- was issued a leaving certificate Disabilities in pact on education policy in the and the school also advised India: From state, MSCPCR have recom- them to consider a “special set- mended the state to amend the up” for her son. Commitments to Secondary School (SS) Code in “In case of child defined in Outcomes case of a RTE Act, age criteria is 6-14 They commission has said years. However, in case of dis- India ability.org, the code should be in con- abled children, age criteria is 18 12 January, 2015 sonance with the Right to years. Therefore, under RTE Aparna Gupta Education (RTE) Act and the Act, if a child is disabled, then According to the Child Persons with Disabilities (Equal age limit will be extended from Rights Information Network Opportunities, Protection of 14 to 18 years…So far as SS (CRIN), 150 million children Rights and Full Participation) Code 1997 is concerned, this worldwide have a disability. Act, 1995. Code cannot overrule the provi- Shockingly, 90 per cent of them The Disabilities Act says, sion of RTE Act, which says that are denied the basic right to go “The appropriate governments a child cannot be detained in any to school. In 2002, the Indian and the local authorities will class till the completion of ele- Parliament passed the historic ensure that every child with a mentary education… Therefore, 86th Amendment of the Indian disability has access to free SS Code can be modified by Constitution which made pri- education in an appropriate en- the government, keeping the mary education a fundamental vironment till he attains the age interest of a child with disabili- right. But 12 years after guar- of 18 years”. According to the ty and extra chances should be anteeing this right, 28 per cent Code, applicable from Class 5 given to disabled children… ,” of children with disabilities in to 9, “failing twice, the pupil has observed the Commission. The the age group of 6-13 years are to discontinue studies in the commission has directed the out of school. And this is just school”. government to consider amend- Government estimates. The The order was given in ing the SS Code to align it with status of education for children a case where a 16-year-old the RTE Act in case of different- with mental disabilities is even student suffering from Down ly abled children. worse with 36 per cent of them syndrome at Indian Education “This is a first-of-its-kind being out of school. Society or IES’s Manik order, where we have asked the These numbers are not mere statistics. Each rep- Vidyamandir,Bandra (West), state to consider amending the resents a child, bogged down, was issued a school leaving SS Code,” said MSCPCR sec- not by her physical or mental certificate last year for failing retary A N Tripathi. condition, but by infrastructural in class 9 for a second year in - See more at: http://indi- bottlenecks, policy failures and succession, according to clause anexpress.com/article/cities/ apathy of governments around 56.3 of the Secondary School mumbai/give-differently-abled- the world. Code. children-extra-chance-says- The child’s mother — the child-rights-panel/#sthash. UN Convention complainant — said he was ad- iywRvfZR.dpuf Recognises the Right to mitted to the school under the 3 Inclusive Education per cent reservation quota for children with disability, and was Despite such dismal

122 BUTTERFLIES realities; it is heartening to note Home Based Education: only force many people to opt that policy makers across the Does it give a Choice? for home based schooling, even world, and in India, have taken when they do not need it. some cognizance of this con- For instance, the Right to stant denial of rights to a large Education Act was amended Existing level of part of their population. in 2012 in order to correct the Inclusion in Schools: In 2007, India signed and oversight in this crucial legisla- The huge gap that still ratified the UN Convention on tion, which had left millions of persists Protection and Promotion of the children with disabilities out of Rights and Dignity of Persons its purview. While the amend- The fear is that this provision with Disabilities. Among other ment brought some salutary will lead to the state abdicating things, the Convention makes provisions such as explicitly itself from its responsibility to in- it obligatory for state parties to mentioning that a child with dis- clude children with high support ensure the full enjoyment of all ability has the right to free and needs into the mainstream. human rights and fundamental compulsory education in a The existing level of inclu- freedoms by children with dis- neighbourhood school (Section sion in the institutes of learning abilities, on an equal basis with 4(a)), it contentiously provided reflects that these fears ex- other children (Article 7). Further, that a child with multiple disabili- pressed by Disability Rights Article 24 of the Convention rec- ties or severe disability may also Groups are very real. According ognizes the right of the children have the right to opt for home to a sample survey conduct- with disabilities to inclusive edu- based education (Section 4(c)). ed by the National Centre for cation. It makes it a duty of state A move, that Disability Rights Promotion of Employment of parties to ensure that children Groups feel, worked towards Disabled People in 318 schools with disabilities receive the sup- legalising exclusion of chil- across the country, 0.5 per cent port required, within the general dren with severe and profound of the total student population education system at all levels, disabilities, instead of being a consisted of disabled students. to facilitate effective education. progressive step towards inclu- 20 per cent of the schools ad- Although India is not under any sion. Children with severe and mitted that they do not admit legal obligation by ratifying the multiple disabilities are already students with disabilities, thus convention, it does have the vulnerable because the com- openly flouting the Right to moral obligation to align its pol- munity and society do not see Education Act. icies and laws with the spirit of the point of the child going to Therefore it is evident that the Convention. school. The support for families existing policies have been un- However, while the UN who insist on sending their child successful in bringing inclusion Convention categorically sup- to school might now diminish in its true sense. It’s time that ports inclusive education for further. Indian law makers, the society children with disabilities, the On the surface, the provision and every individual, introspects plethora of laws and policies provides a choice to the parents on whether India can progress governing the issue in India and the child to opt for home when 26 million of its citizens have developed a multi-option based schooling. However, are rendered invisible due to delivery system which includes choices have no meaning when the barriers created by us every integrated education, home people exercising those choic- day. based learning and special es have an unequal relationship schools. with the system. In a country From medical model to where social exclusion of peo- Social Model ple with disabilities is extremely prevalent, such a provision will It’s time, that we shift from

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 123 the ‘medical model’ to the ‘social euthanasia. Their state of dis- reports: model’ of disability and remove tress seems to have led the Mohd Nazir, who has eight the attitudinal and environmen- family to believe that directly children, said that he wanted tal hurdles that have hindered killing their children would be euthanasia for six of his kids the full and effective participa- better for them than to suffer — five sons and one daugh- tion of persons with disabilities indefinitely. ter — who are suffering from in the society. “I am tired of taking care a rare neurological disorder of my children,” said the fa- which has almost paralysed Parents Want to ther. “I’m a normal sweet shop their lower body and affected Euthanize Their Six owner, there’s only so much I their voice and vision as well. can do for them. That is when I Nazir, who is a resident of Bada Disabled Children: decided to write to the President Ghalibpura, while submitting his “I’m Tired of Taking of India, pleading euthanasia for letter to the district administra- my children.” tion, requested that it may also Care of Them” The children’s mother be forwarded to the president, agreed, saying that her children Pranab Mukherjee. “It’s after Life News.com, New Delhi want to live normal lives but exhausting all options that I am 19 June, 2015 they are confined to home due forced to take this decision. I A desperate couple in India to a lack of treatment. simply cannot bear to see my believe they are faced with an Although the children’s diag- children suffering since I am impossible predicament: watch nosis has not been confirmed powerless to help them,” the their children (pictured above) by a second opinion, doctors distraught father told TOI. suffer from a rare neurologi- in New Delhi believe they are The most gut-wrenching fact cal condition for years until the suffering from a neurological of the story is that their chil- disease kills them or end their disorder called ‘tropical spastic dren’s condition is treatable, children’s suffering through paraplegia.’ The Times of India but the impoverished family has

124 BUTTERFLIES no way of obtaining or paying raised questions of whether the barrier free access. for the treatment. The parents government will take the allow- As per Unified District have petitioned the government ance further, extending the law Information System for for permission to euthanize their to permit active euthanasia. Education (UDISE) data 2013- children. As we see time and again, 14, 25.03 lakh CWSNs were The leader of an Indian the instigation of anti-Life pol- reported to be enrolled in NGO, the Institute of Child icies for the sick and dying schools. Through home-based Development, is speaking out precipitates a slippery slope to education, SSA has been able in the wake of the euthanasia greater offenses against the dig- to cover 1.28 lakh CWSNs. 36 request. nity of Life. Communities must States/UTs have appointed Dr. Mansoor Alam said: provide aid and encouragement 21,056 resource persons. 764 “The family should not feel de- – not a death sentence – in cir- NGOs in 31 States are cur- spondent and contemplate cumstances where suffering rently involved in the Inclusive extreme steps. Proper med- seems insurmountable. Education (IE) programme ical management can ensure under SSA. 2.60 lakh CWSNs that the children are able to Facilities for were provided assistive devices lead dignified lives. There are through various modes in 2014- a number of organisations like Differently Abled 15. 82.33% schools have been ours which can guide the family Children in Schools made barrier-free. Besides, in this regard.” 14.82% schools have also been However, whether such aid Business Standard, provided disabled friendly toi- is actually accessible to the New Delhi lets. 53.60% teachers were family is unclear. imparted a specific 3-6 day ori- The children’s father has entation to Inclusive Education The Government of India is said that if the president will (IE). 1.26 lakh teachers were assisting States/UTs to imple- not grant permission for him to trained on how to undertake ment the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan actively euthanize his children, curricular adaptations in an in- (SSA) as a programme for then he asks for the financial clusive classroom in 2014 -15. universalising elementary edu- assistance necessary to pro- 42594 Braille books and 39283 cation for all children in the 6-14 vide them with treatment. A large print books were given years age group. SSA provides government official in the fam- to the visually impaired chil- Rs.3000/- per child per annum ily’s district said that the family dren. Apart from this 1,43,211 for the interventions related to was visited by a team, and that CWSNs were provided trans- education of children with spe- the process of creating identifi- port support and 1,32,400 cial needs (CWSNs). The major cation cards and BPL (“below CWSNs were provided escort interventions under SSA for the poverty line”) cards for the fami- support. Therapeutical sup- education of CWSNs are iden- ly to receive aid has begun. port was provided to 1,61,144 tification, functional and formal Passive euthanasia was le- CWSNs, while surgical support assessment, appropriate edu- galized in India in 2011, and the was provided to 13,535 CWSNs cational placement, preparation government there defines this under the SSA. of Individualized Educational act as the withdrawal of medi- This information was given Plan, provision of free aids and cal treatment directly intended by the Union Human Resource appliances, transport and/or es- to end the Life of a terminally-ill Development Minister, Smt. cort support, teacher training, person. The father’s petition Smriti Irani in a written reply to appointment of resource teach- to euthanize his children has the Rajya Sabha question. ers, therapeutical support and

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 125 Article 2 All Children must enjoy equal rights irrespective of their race, colour, national, ethnic social origin or disability.

CHILDRENCHILDREN OOFf USigys To Be gh Minority jVk fn;k Children tkfr dk Nationddgjk By THETHE DISADVANDISAD- - 2020 FreenSfud Press fgUnqLFkku] Journal, ubZ Mumbai fnYyh VANTAGEDTAGED GROUP 0722 March,tqykbZ] 20152010 Seemaijost Hakhu vgen Kachru GROUPigys gh jVk fn;k tkfr dk ddgjk 128 nSfud fgUnqLFkku More than half of the US one racial or ethnic group will USHkw[k tols beyM+rs minority gSa] i<+rs gSa children vkSj fo'o 126 tcju feM&Ms ehy f[kyk;k tk,A os 129 childrenvfHkHkkodksa will be us fromcPpksa minoridks - dominate the US in terms of nationpSafi;u Hkhby gSa 2020;s cPps ugha [kk jgs rks ge D;k djsa\* feM&Ms FreenSfud Presstkxj.k Journal ty communitiesle>k;k&Å¡ph bytkfr 2020 ds gks] and size, “the report said. “Overall, whites will no longer make up theehy rS;kjUS populationdjus ds fy, izR;sdis set Ldwy to RoadmapHkw[ks cqansyksa ds to gd improve ij vehjksa tribaldk Mkdk 129127 u [kkuk nfyr ds gkFk dk cuk children’snSfud tkxj.k health the majority of the population, growesa vuqlwfpr more slowlytkfr dk over ,d the jlksb;k next The Statesman according tofeM a Msnew ehy US Census few decades partly because Hkw[k ls yM+us ds fy, bafXy'k 130 j[kus ds vkns'k ds ckn jekckbZ uxj] vkfnoklhlh[k jgs gSa cPps ydM+h cspdj 127 Bureau report, America is head- of declining fertility rates. It’s expectedvkSjS;k] dUukSt to hitlesr 400 dbZ million ftyksa byesa ikyubZ nqfu;k jgs ifjokj dk isV ing izkbejhtoward ikB'kkyk the day HkkÅiqj when QaQwn whites dh ;qukbZVsMTwo Years Hkkjr Later, Still no Anganwadis 131 will no longer make up the 2051,gaxkek lk“it said.cji x;k gSA bl laoknnkrk DNA d{kk rhu dh Nk=k gS euksjekA mls Odisha schools will face 128 majority of the population, ac- us cq/kokjThe forecastdks vkSjS;k listsftys dsseveral 25 ls action if minors get pregnant cordingigkM+k Bhd to PTI.ls ;kn ugha] ij ;g jVk changesvf/kd izkFkfed America Ldwyksa will ds undergocPpksa ls Mail Today gS fdUS *eSachildren Å¡ph tkfr will dhget gw¡A* there blh inckrphr the nextdhA HkkÅiqj]45 years. [kxhiqj Another Ldwy esa No dignity for jaipur dalit girls 129 soon.Ldwy esa The d{kk agency nks ds Nk= also jkds'k says dqekj the finding states that from 2014 to Mail Today overall US population will grow 2060,d{kk rhu] “ the pkj working esa i<+ jgs –age cPps viukpop- olderdks Hkh and;g grow;kn gks more x;k slowlygS fd ogin ulationuke rd is ugha projected fy[k ik tojgs decrease Fks ysfdu comingnwljksa ls years,*Å¡pk* gSA the report said. frommuesa 62ls dbZpercent ;g cs/kM+d to 57 percentcrk jgk ofFks euksjek“By around vkSj jkds'k2020, tSlsmore vkSj than Hkh thefd mUgsatotal feM&Mspopulation.” ehy ugha [kkuk gSA halfcPps ofgSaA the?kj nation’sokyksa us bUgsachildren fgnk;r are ns The Census Bureau empha- expected to be part of a minori- sizedmldh otgin their nfyr report jlksb, that dk Hkkstutheir tyj[kh race gS fd or*uhph ethnic tkfr okyksagroup, ds gkFk “the dk datacukuk doesgSA bu not eklweksa include dks *Kku* “ factors muds Censuscuk feM&Ms Bureau ehy ugha said, [kkukA* putting ekLVjksa that?kj okyksa might ;k influencefQj v/;kidksa the us levels fn;k gSAof Americansdk ,d oxZ Hkhunder bl thejk; ageds lkFk of 18gSA populationizkFkfed fo|ky; components. eejst vky PolicyvNYnk aturhtru the front vkSjS;k of ftys a trend ds ntZuksa that Ldwyksa will decisionsesa d{kk rhu foresa i<+us example, okyh uUgh “such 'kkfyuh as seeds lSdM+ksa the overall cPpksa us population feM&Ms ehy follow [kkuk President Barack Obama’s ex- suit some 20 years later. ecutivefrokjh us actionjVk&jVk;k on tokcimmigration fn;k fd NksM+“When fn;k gSA that vf/kdkjh shift forpqIih the lk/ks US gSa –mls which feM&Ms may ehy prove vPNh to ugha skew yxrk] fu- asvkSj a wholeiz/kkuk/;kid takes dgrsplace gSa by fd 2044, *ge tureblfy, statistics. ugha [kkrhA According tjk ls I;kjto the ls the'kklukns'k census dk Bureauikyu dj predicts jgs gSa ysfdu no report,iwNus ij the cksyh&igys total US nknh&eEeh population us 126 BUTTERFLIES dgha ;g rks ugha fy[kk gS fd cPpksa dks euk fd;kA fQj vkSj nwljs yksxksa usA

128 l BUTTERFLIES is projected to increase by 98.1 or stunting which contributes Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya million between 2014 and 2060, to one-third of under-five child Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, from an estimated 319 million to deaths in India. Rajasthan and Telangana. 417 million respectively. A national conclave, orga- By 2030, all baby boomers nized by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, will have reached age 65 or government of Odisha and vkfnoklh cPps older. The percent of foreign UNICEF, would be held to work born in expected to increase out strategies for properly nour- ydM+h cspdj each decade, its rate of growth ishing tribal children who suffer projected to outpace that of from chronic under-nutrition. iky jgs ifjokj natives. The conclave will be held dk isV By 2044, the US popula- at Bhubaneswar on 15 Jan tion as a whole is expected to and 16 Jan. The conclave will ;qukbZVsM Hkkjr] bykgkckn become majority-minority. The bring together frontline workers, 12 ekpZ] 2015 native population is expected to practitioners, State and District increase by 62 million, or 22 per- officials from Departments cent between 2014 and 2060, of Scheduled Caste and xzkeh.k fodkl ds uke ij dEiuh whereas the foreign-born popu- Scheduled Tribe, Women and ds vf/kdkfj;ksa esa /kM+Yys ls lation is expected to increase by Child Development, Health canjckaV 36 million, or 85 percent, reach- Ministry, Representatives from jsuqdwV ¼lksuHknz½] ÅtkZ uxjh ing approximately 78 million, it the Tribal Research Institutes of said. By 2060, the nation’s for- various states. “Together they ls fo[;kr tuin lksuHknz fofHkUu eign born will reach nearly one will take stock of the nutrition uSlfxZd lq’kek ,oa vkfnoklh laLd`fr in five of the total population, situation of India’s tribal chil- ds fy, fof”k’V LFkku j[krk gSA ;gka from 13 percent in 2014 to 19 dren, discuss “what works and ij xksaM+] cSxk] psjks] /kkaxj] vxfj;k] percent. how” and how departments of ?kfl;k] dksy] ifudk] [kjokj] /kjdkj] Also by the year 2060, an various states can coordinate, dsoV o eka>h vkfn tkfr ds yksx fuokl estimated 36 percent of chil- contribute and collaborate for dren (People under age 18) will reducing stunting in India’s trib- djrs gSaA bu ouokfl;ksa ds thou ;kiu be “Single-race non- Hispanic al children. ds vkfFkZd vk/kkj ls ysdj ifj/kku o White,” compared with 52 per- The conclave will chart a J`axkj rd dh lkexzh miyC/k djkus cent today, the report added. road map for these states for dh ftEesnkjh Hkh LFkkuh; ouksa ij gh improving access to food, nu- FkhA lksukapy esa vk/kqfud m|ksxksa dk trition, Health and sanitation Roadmap To izos”k fcUnq cuk ;g lR; gSA m|ksxksa services for children in tribal Improve Tribal pockets and solidify all stake- ds fodkl ls yksxksa dk fodkl gks jgk Children’s Health holders commitment toward gS ;g Hkh loZFkk lR; gSA fdUrq ;gka nourishing India’s tribal children, ds tuinokfl;ksa o ewy fuokfl;ksa dk The Statesman, New Delhi “ said a statement by ministry of fodkl ugha gks jgk gSA fofnr gks fd 13 January, 2015 Tribal Affairs. xzkeh.k fodkl ds uke ij vkS|ksfxd Also, there will be efforts to laLFkkuksa ds vf/kdkjh Hkys gh viuk iwjk identify implementation chal- Government will prepare a lenges in the National Tribal dk;Z vkl&ikl ds xkoksa ds fodkl roadmap for improving access Policy and ensure better utiliza- ds fy, dkxtkrksa esa ys[kk&tks[kk iw.kZ of tribal children to food, health tion of Tribal sub plan budgets. j[krs gksa exj xzkeh.k] fodkl ds uke and sanitation in view of high The states are Andhra level of chronic under nutrition ij ywV&[klksV pje lhek ij gSA Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 127 vf/kdkfj;ksa ds xSj ftEesnkjkuk joS;s dh Odisha Schools ever since she had gone to her otg ls vkt Hkh vkl&ikl ds xkaoksa Village during the Christmas ds ifjokj taxy ls ydM+h dkVdj Will Face Action holidays in December. js.kqdwV uxj o vkl&ikl ds uxjksa esa If Minors Get Move after four tribal csprs gq, ns[ks tkrs gSaA ets dh ckr rks Pregnant girls became pregnant ;g gS fd fodkl ds nkos Bkasdus okys She complained of abdomi- vf/kdkjh Hkys gh mPpkf/kdkfj;ksa Mail Today, New Delhi nal pain late on Thursday night ls vius ihB FkiFkiok ysa ysfdu 10 March, 2015 Rakesh Dixit following which her family called tehuh lPpkbZ vyx gh gSA laLFkk ds an ambulance to shift her to ihvkjvks Hkh c<+p<+dj vius pkVqdkjksa Rattled by cases of unwant- boipariguda hospital. “ But she ls lekpkj i=ksa esa ;su dsu izdkjs.k ed pregnancy among tribal girls delivered a boy on her way to tqxkM+ yxkdj dEiuh ds dk;ksaZ dks in the state run Kanyashram hospital,”said Koraput district schools, the Odisha government welfare Trinath Rao. fnXHkzfer djus esa lQy jgrs gSaA is mulling strict action against Her parents have lodget a crkrs pysa fd dkQh rknkn esa principals and other higher of- complaint at Boipariguda police vkfnoklh efgyk,a ,oa ukckfyx cPps ficials of school: from where station and the district admin- isV dh vkx cq>kus ds fy, gj rjg such incidents are reported. istration has started an inquiry. dk dk;Z djus dks foo”k jgrs gSaA “Principals of schools reporting Sources said that efforts are on nks twu dh jksVh ds fy, such cases will be immediately to trace the man who made her suspended and action will be pregnant. ek=&34&40 :Ik;s ds fy, gjs&Hkjs taken against others, especially Department officials admit- taxykas esa lw[kh ydfM+;ka dkVdj xëj hostel superintendents,” said a ted that at least four cases of cukdj uxjksa dh vksj cspus gsrq pyh senior official of the Scheduled schoolgirls becoming pregnant vkrh gSaA fnuHkj ifjJe dj ydM+h Castes and Scheduled Tribes have surfaced in various ash- cspus ds ckn mlds eqrkfcd ewY; ugha welfare department’ which ram schools of the state. On fey ikrk gSA fQj Hkh cscl gksdj bl runs the Kanyashram schools. February 4 this year, a 12- year- Minister Lal Behari Himirika, old tribal girls student of class VI dk;Z esa yxh jgrh gSaA ;gka dh ewy himself tribal, refused to divulge studying in Umuri Sevashram of fuoklh vkfnoklh] cuoklh rks vkt the government plan to pre- Koraput district gave birth to a Hkh fodkl ls dkslksa nwj gSaA tks fdlh vent such incidents but Warner boy at the hostel. rjg ls viuk thou ;kiu dj jgs gSaA Wrongdoers of action. “They The headmaster of a govern- will not be spared and school ment-run school in Koraput has authorities where such cases been suspended while a show- occur will also have to face the cause notice has been served music,” he said. The latest case to a hostel warden for allegedly was reported on Friday from suppressing the pregnancy of a Gupteswar Sevashram (a res- tribal student who delivered a idential school for SC and ST baby at the district hospital on students) at Kandulbeda under January 24. the Boipariguda police station of The girls was a class VIII Koraput district. A 15-year-old student at the Kasturba Gandhi tribal girl, a student of class VIII Balika Vidyalaya, Koraput. and a resident of Purunaguda Koraput collector Yamini village under Ramagiri pancha- Sarangi Said: Action will be yat was not corning to school taken against, the hostel war- den after we receive the reply of

128 BUTTERFLIES the show-cause notice issued to children from the SC commu- the survey, it was found that her.” nities to clean toilets. These girls were paid at least Rs. 50 children face discrimination to clean the staff toilets in one No Dignity For because they belong to the sc school. communities, thereby reinforc- When an attempt was made Jaipur Dalit Girls ing the evil of untouchability and to contract state education caste roles of traditional societ- Minister Vasudev Devnani, his Mail Today, New Delhi ies,” the report underlined. staff said that he was away to 19 February, 2015 It was observed that 47 Ganganagar for PM Narendra Sudhanshu Mishra schools do not have any toilets Modi’s visit on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra for boys (36 percent) while 74 Komal Srivastava, president Modi’s much-hyped Swachh schools have only one toilet for of the NGO told mail today that Bharat Abhiyan has gone for boys (54 percent). they have recommended con- a toss in Rajasthan, as in the Shockingly, 24 schools ( struction for toilets and urinals absence of sweepers in gov- 20 percent of total schools) in all schools change in urinal ernment schools of Jaipur have no toilets for girls while 94 design, ensuring running water district students belonging to schools (67 percent of the total) and drainage besides clean- the Scheduled Castes (SCs) have a single toilet. liness. The report has also clean the toilets. Similarly, for boys, 41 (30 suggested regular monitoring In response to a public in- percent) schools have no urinals by district and block officials. terest Litigation (PIL) by one and 43 (30 percent) schools Radha Shekhawat, the Rajsthan have no urinals for girls. Sorry State of Affairs High court had authorized NGO For staff, 75 percent schools yy In an upper primary school Bharat Bal Vigyan Samiti to sur- have no urinals. More over, 67 in Vatika, Sanganer there vey schools in Jaipur. The report (48 percent) schools have no are 56 SC or OBC students, was submitted on Tuesday. separate toilet for them. The including 38 girls. There Of the 138 schools in 10 ed- norms of the Water Sanitation are one girls, toilet and girls ucational blocks of Jaipur 24 Hygiene programme for urinal and a staff toilet which have no toilet for girls while 75 schools (WASH) are one toilet is locked. There is no toilet percent lack sanitation facilities. each for 80 boys and 40 girls, for boys. There is no water A total 23,102 children with respectively. for drinking or for toilets. 56.1 percent girls are enrooleld The Findings show that 68 yy In village Ramnagariya in in these 138 schools. percent schools fulfill the norms Sanganer block, there is an In another break-up, 31.77 for boys while only 28 percent upper primary government percent are scheduled castes, meet the criteria for girls. school with 92 student 15.94 percent Muslim minority, No wonder, boys answer school with 92 students, 12.71 percent scheduled tribes, nature’s call in open space near including 53 boys. It has one 26.55 percent other backward the school or its walls. toilet for girls and one for classes and 13.04 percent from Moreover, water in toilets staff besides three urinals the general catergory. is available only in 67 schools for boys and four for girls. The survey found that safai *(48.55 percent) while for uri- A tank is there for drinking karmachari is not appointed in nals, it is only in 72 schools water but there is no water most schools. “A serious con- (52.15 percent). in the toilets. None of the cern we would like to highlight During menstruation, girls, toilets and urinals has any is that teachers and the school don’t come to school where roof. administration force girls and the toilets are dirty and there is no running water. During

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 129 Article 36 Every child has a right to protection from all forms of exploitation.

CHILDCHILD LABOUR Most Child Labourers' Found Give Back Their Childhood Most Child Labourers' Found 132 in Asia-Pacific: ILO LABOURin Asia-Pacific: ILO The Times of India The Times of India, New Delhi 23 February, 2015 GiveChildhood back Lost their in childhood 133130 The Times of India, New Delhi TheRat HoleTimes Minefields of India Kailash10 May Satyarthi 2010 Mail Today Child labour:the lost innocence 131 Himanshi Dhawan Kids in the Pits Kashmir Times 134 The Hindustan Times There must be a complete estimates. The biggest travesty ChildCapital labour Shame: and60,000 laws Kid-helps 135133 banChild on labourers child labour may be up declin- to ismillion the fact in 2004. that Indiathere has are 445 almost mil- Thein Homes, Assam Eateries Tribune The Tribune ingthe in age sheer of 14numbers yet more equallion children, numbers Bangladesh of adults 64 who mil- A total ban child labour is a 135 are unemployed. It has been Child Labour Props up Country’s 136 children are at work in the Asia- lion, and Pakistan 70 million, as mustSeed Industry: Satyarthi Any society’s future will be proved beyond reasonable TheMail TodayHindu Pacific region than the rest of the compared to, for example, China only as good as the way it treats doubt that these unemployed JChild & K labour sleeping widespread over directions in 137136 andworld nurtures combined. its children today. 's 348 million. "In sheer numbers, Kashmir: Study adults are the very parents of of Apex Court on prevention Greater Kashmir This A isglobal a much report talked has aboutnoted theseIndia childand Pakistanlabourers. have Isn’t bythis far a of child labour issue.that while Sociologists there was anda 26% econ de-- the largest out-of-school child DailyckyJe Excelsior jksdus dks [kqysxh gsYiykbu 138 sheer waste of human capital? 'kkg VkbZEl omistscline in Modi the numberhave emphasized of children populationChild labourers in the world," are deprived the re- Inland 137 this repeatedly. Millennium,ulhihlhvkj Postdh ekax] cky Je 139 employed (between the age ofport their said. fundamental rights many dkuwu dk nk;jk c<+k;k tk, groupGiven of 5-14 the years)pace fromof socio 122.3- of themThe studybeing victimssaid there of traffickwas a- fcjkV oSHko economic development that million to 96.4 million across the ing,"stark prostitution, contrast in forcedpolitical beggary, commit- Govt plans boarding schools for we are eyeing, it is imperative 139 world, but in absolute terms, illiteracyment" to universaland subjected education to andthe children withdrawn from labour to proportionately augment Indian Express Asia-Pacific region had the most worstpoverty forms reduction. of exploitation. While China In budgetary allocation to ensure their formative years they miss ckyJfedksa ds iqu okZlu dh 140 thechild overall labourers development at 113.6 millionof our took more people out of poverty, dk;Zokgh dh tk,% dfe'uj out on education and then they children(aged 5-17 and years) ensure compared their pro to- than any other country since 1979, 'kkg VkbZEl sub-Saharan Africa (65.1 mil- driftand putinto most a vicious of its children circle of into illiter ba- tection. Responsibility to meet acy and poverty. Role for Residents' Groups in 141 lion) and Latin America and Ca- sic education, this goal had often Curbing Child Labour on Cards this challenge vests on the I would like to raise two very The Hindu ribbean (14.1 million). proved elusive in South Asia. shoulders of our policymakers. important concerns. First, there Therefore,The International it becomes Labour incum Or-- hasFor been one, an India inordinate still devotes delay bentganisation's on Parliament Accelerating to address action inabout passing the same pending proportion legislations of na- theagainst issues child that labour' confront report children said thattional will income make to a educationremarkable (about dif- inthat the 42% session of these beginning children today. were ference3.5%) that to itthe did lives in the of mid-1980s. crores of employedToday inthe hazardous numbers work. of child The ourThe childrenreport also and pointed adolescents; out that labourersglobal estimate in India for childvaries labour from- andinstitutional secondly, capacity a perpetual to implement ne- 50 lakh to 5 crore in different ers according to ILO is about 215 glectpolicies in appropriateand programmes budgetary and million in 2008, down from 222 enforce legislation remained a 130 BUTTERFLIES 132 l BUTTERFLIES allocations for the welfare of our ruining childhoods. child labour – National Child children. Given the pace of socio- Labour Project scheme-wit- It is nothing short of political economic development we are nessed a decrease of 12.5% in apathy on the part of our law- eyeing, it is imperative to pro- allocation. Now it becomes our makers that the Child Labour portionately augment budgetary moral duty and utmost respon- (Prohibition and Regulation) allocations to ensure the overall sibility to give children in need Amendment Bill has been wait- development of our children of care and protection a safe ing to be take up in Parliament According to Census 2011, life by ensuring adequate fiscal since 2012. 41% of India’s population is investment. When we all know that child under 18. Yet only 4.5% of the I see a wide scope for trapped in labour is in need of total budget is earmarked for comprehensive convergence care and protection, and cannot children. Expenditure on edu- and cooperation among dif- afford to wait for a single day, cation was just 3.3% of GDP in ferent stakeholders like the why has this bill been gathering 2013-14. With 1.4 million chil- government, corporates and dust for over two years now? dren between the ages of 6 and civil society to collectively work Neither the previous govern- 11 still out of school in India, an towards the protection, devel- ment nor the new one could find increase in education’s budget- opment and overall wellbeing time to table it on the floor. ary allocation and expenditure of our children. As we brace for For several years now I have is a must. While the total Union this budget session, I earnest- been continually requesting our Budget went up by 7.78% in ly call upon our lawmakers to presidents, prime ministers and 2014-15, the budget for children fulfill the promises made to our MPs to intervene and ensure increased by a mere 4.97%. children. expeditious passage of this Finally, average budgetary It is high time India passes child labour amendment bill and allocation for child protection the Child Labour (Prohibition bring the law in sync with other related schemes was just about and Regulation) Amendment progressive legislations. We 1% Needless to mention, this Bill and it must also increase have particularly asked for com- allocation in utterly inadequate budgetary allocation for the plete prohibition of child labour and is bound to jeopardize the development and protection of at least up to age of 14 and of very objective of sustainable our children in the fiscal year. the worst forms of child labour development for children. This will be the best investment or hazardous work up to the age Child health is another area towards a better today and a of 18. that needs serious attention. In promising tomorrow for India. We have also demanded the current budget where edu- that tenets related to economic, cation receives the maximum Child Labour: The social, psychological rehabilita- share of social allocations, tion and reintegration of child health continues to be at the Lost Innocence labourers should be embod- margins with a minimal share of ied within the law itself. We allocations. Half of the children Kashmir Times, Jammu have further emphasized and in India are chronically malnour- 14 March, 2015 Farzana Syed demanded fixing the account- ished and around 43% children ability of law enforcement under 5 years are under weight On a cold winter morning a agencies. Making the offence for their age. In spite of this the shabbily clad child near a cross- cognizable under the law and National Nutrition Mission saw ing in the city carries a carton of also increasing the penalty and no change in allocation. car mop cloths. Shivering in chill punishment for offenders will India still has a large number the boy who barely seems 7 or act as a socioeconomic deter- of working children. Yet, the only 8 years old goes to every pass- rent to employing children and national scheme for addressing ing vehicle and requests people

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 131 132 BUTTERFLIES to buy the mop cloth from him. including carpet weaving, as of their childhood, their poten- This kid named Irfan leaves daily labourers, in agriculture tial and their dignity and that his home every day at 7 in and any more. is harmful to their physical and morning and sells different kind The social experts in valley mental development. It refers to of stuff on city streets to earn hold multiple reasons including work that is mentally, physical- few bucks. Besides, at times government apathy responsible ly, socially or morally dangerous he worked at automobile work- for the growing child labour in and harmful for children and shops to do the part time for Kashmir. interferes with their schooling earning some extra money. “Child labour in valley is and education, obliging them to Irfan’s innocence is lost to undoubtedly the outcome of leave school abruptly or prema- the vigorous work he does every poverty. But the fact is that the turely. The ILO sees poverty as day. At a time when he should successive government have the greatest cause behind child be playing or going to school his failed to put curbs over this ever labour. In India, employment of shoulders too meager, share growing menace,” Prof Dabla children is more of an economic the burden of labour. noted sociologist of valley said. problem than anything else. When asked he says his However, the labour com- The year 1979 was declared parents cannot afford to send missioner says, “We conduct by the UN as the International him to school and he works to inspections every month to Year of the Child and de- offer some financial support to check on it. Inspections are car- liberated exclusively on the his family. ried out in all districts of valley. elimination of child labour. The He says, “Yes I want to go Wherever we find the law is ILO, in its convention in 1999. to school. But schools are not being violated we do take action Identified the followings as the for poor kids like me. My par- against the involved people. worst form of child labour: (a) ents cannot afford to send me to Wherever required we send the All forms, of slavery or practices school. My father also works as cases to court and leave it up to similar to slavery: (b) procuring a labourer and my elder brother law it is for the law to take its and offering a child for prostitu- too works. I have to earn some course.” tion or pornography: (c) using, money so that I can support Though the officials at the procuring or offering a child for them financially.” labour department claim of illicit activities such as traffick- Irfan is not the only child with making genuine efforts to reign ing: (d) the work likely to harm childhood vanished into the per- in the menace yet ironically the health, safety or morals of ils of rigorous work. Indeed this thousands of innocent children children. Therefore, the rec- is the story of thousands of chil- continue to remain trapped in ommendation of the ILO urges dren in Kashmir who have lost the nuisance which continues to the member states to take im- their childhood to the dark alley go unimpeded. mediate and effective steps/ of child labour. measures to prohibit and elim- Though there are laws which Child Labour and inate such practices. Over strictly prohibit child labour yet the period of time, regulations the nuisance goes unabat- Laws were introduced regarding en- ed in valley. Across the valley gagement of child workers in thousands of under aged kids The Assam Tribune, Guwahati dangerous or, machines, pro- continue to work as labourers. 08 April, 2015 cesses, etc., and also regarding In city they work as bus conduc- Pranab Kumar Barua rest period, night work, etc. tors, at automobile workshops, According to the International In India, the Child Labour as roadside vendors etc. in Labour Organization, the term (Prohibition and Regulation) villages thousands of such chil- ‘child labour’ is often defined Act was enacted in 1986. The dren work in handicraft sectors as work that deprives children objective of adopting this Act

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 133 was to prohibit engagement of explicit and the basic objective exposure to synthetic materials, children in certain employment of the Act is to prohibit engage- chemicals and leather, in stone and to regulate the conditions ment of child labour. Moreover, crushing, in agriculture where of work in certain other em- there are a number of Acts tractors, thrashing and harvest- ployment. However, the Indian which prohibit employment of ing machine are used, etc., is Factories Act which was intro- children below 14 years in cer- seen. duced in 1881 prohibited the tain specified employments. Child labour is one aspect employment of children less However there is no proce- of world poverty; 30,000 chil- than seven years of age in fac- dure laid down in any law for dren die as a result of extreme tories. Later on, this Act was deciding in which employments, poverty. Ending poverty in a amended and gradually the occupations and processes, the generation is a global concern minimum age of employment employment of children should of today. Every day we see was raised to 14 years and their be banned. Also there are more young boys and girls being en- daily and weekly hours and their laws to regulate the working gaged in jobs injurious to their daily and weekly hours of work condition of the children in most health and mental makeup. A were also reduced. of the employments where they new study has revealed that As per this Act, no child are not prohibited from working. children working in the coal de- shall be engaged and employed The objective of the Act is there- pots of Beltola in Guwahati are to works as listed in Part A of fore to regulate employment of at risk of developing lung dis- the schedule or any of the pro- children, to ban employment orders, bronchitis and asthma. cesses as enumerated in Part of children who have not com- Moreover, Assam has emerged B of the Act. Briefly, no child pleted the 14 years of age, to as a major source area, transit shall be employed in transport regulate the condition of work route and destination for child of passenger goods by railway, where they are not prohibited, to trafficking during the past few building operation, work relat- lay down penalties for employ- years. NGOs like the Bachpan ing to selling of crackers and ment of children in industries in Bachao Andolan have done fireworks in shops with tempo- violation of the provisions of the commendable works locates rary licenses, slaughter houses, Act and other related Acts which awareness about child labour automobile workshops and ga- for bid employments of children. and trafficking. Engagement rages foundries handling of toxic If you look into the appli- of child worker is prohibited in or inflammable substances cation, control and regulation domestic sector also, particu- or explosives, handloom and of the provision of these Act, it larly engaging young boys or power loom industries, mines, is observed that there is gross girls as domestic servants. In collieries, plastic and fiber glass violation going on. But the ap- spite of the existing laws, the workshops. propriate authority in inactive in practice are going on and there Part B of the schedule of the respect of the violation of the are instances of exploitation of Act species the processes in provision of the Acts, especially these child workers in terms of which children under 11 years in respect of transport of passen- their quality of life, health, med- are prohibited. Some of these gers particularly taxis, goods by ical treatment during sickness, processes are bidi making, car- trucks, bus or railways. There is number of working hours, etc. pet weaving, bagging of cement, prohibition of engagements of there is no institution or autho- manufacture of explosives and children in bidi making, but large rized agency to check except fireworks, construction of build- scale engagement of children some NGOs. ing including polishing granite, in this industry is a fact known The absence of a strong jute, textile and choir making. to all. Large scale engagement government authority to check Automobile repair and main- of child labour in the manufac- engagement of child labour tenance etc. the list is quite ture of sports goods involving and penalty to impose on

134 BUTTERFLIES the agencies responsible for Six key demands Amendments engaging child labour, in con- Mr. Satyarthi Wants travention of the provisions of Mr. Satyarthi said: “Between the Act of 1986, is the reason 2010 and 2012, my team and yy All forms of child labour for the ongoing malpractices. I undertook a study to under- should be prohibited, up to One are where we see that pro- stand the quality of conviction the age of 14. visions of the Act is violated in in crime against children. Of the yy Up to the age 18, no child the transport section, the local 45,269 cases of child labour re- should be employed in Trekker service in Guwahati. ported between 2008 and 2012, the worst forms of child Where you often find that young only 3,394 cases, i.e., seven per labour, such as begging and boys below the age of 18 years cent, reached conviction. What prostitution. being engaged as ‘handyman’in that shows is laws to protect the yy Increase in fine amount and the market for carrying heavy rights of children, which are al- period of imprisonment. loads of goods or travelling ready weak are not enforced at yy Enforcement agency carts in transportation of goods. all.” employs should also be Keeping this in mind, Mr. held responsible if children A Total Ban Child Satyarthi has made the follow- are found working in their ing demands to be incorporated jurisdiction. Labour is a Must : in the amended law: yy Child labour must be made a Satyarthi cognizable and non-bailable Giving Teeth To The Law offence. y The Hindu, New Delhi As per 2011 census, india y Rehabilitation should be 19 April, 2015 has over four million working made an integral part of the Vidya Venkat children in the age group of law. 5-14 years First, all forms of child labour When the Constitution of should be prohibited up to the India was adopted in 1950, it What the bill provides age of 14. promised to safe guard the rights As of today, child labour is y of children, and protects them y Child labour is prohibited prohibited only in select indus- from economic exploitation. in only select industries tries identifies as hazardous. However, 65 years later, it is identified as hazardous. Second, up to the age of 18, y still perfectly legal to employ a y No adolescent shall be no child should be employed in six year old child as a helper in employed in hazardous the worst forms of child labour, an agricultural field. As per the occupation or processes. such as begging. y Census 2011, India has over y Six, months to two years’ Third, the law should be four million working children in jail and fine of Rs. 20,000- made more deterrent by in- the age group of 5-14. 50,000. creasing the fine amount and y In an exclusive interaction y Only employers who violate period of imprisonment. with The Hindu, joint winner of the law are to be held Fourth, the law must ad- the Nobel Peace Prize Kailash accountable. dress the accountability of those y Satyathi, spoke about the ur- y Doesn’t specify that child employed in enforcement agen- gency of passing the Child labour is non-bailable. cies, such as factory inspectors y Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2012 y No provision for and labour inspectors, and if in the coming parliamentary rehabilitation. children are found working with- session. in their jurisdiction, they must be held responsible. It is not the employer alone who is culpable.

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 135 Fifth, child labour must premised on care and protec- Reliable sources told be made a cognizable and tion for children under 18, have EXCELSIOR that in the writ non-bailable offence, so that been ignored. “Next time when petition titled Bachpan Bachao even the common man can re- you see a child begging on the Andolan Versus Union of India, port such cases and action can street, remember that under the the Supreme Court issued vari- be taken immediately. Juvenile Justice Act they are el- ous directions from time to time Sixth, rehabilitation should igible for rescue and protection. most notably the directions con- be made an integral part of law But how many of us even know tained in the orders dated July on child labor. Rehabilitation that?” 30, 2008, January 22, 2010, measures should be included in April 4, 2011 and September government schemes, and must J & K Sleeping 23, 2011. address economic rehabilitation In its order dated July 22, of parents where necessary. Over Directions 2010, the Supreme Court had Of Apex Court On directed for implementation Failure of RTE Prevention Of Child of the provisions of Juvenile Expressing concern over the Justice Act to all the State by commercialization and privat- Labour constituting Juvenile Justice ization of education in India, Mr. Board and Child Welfare Satyarthi identified it as a hur- Daily Excelsior, Jammu Committee in every district dle to realizing children’s right to 10 February, 2015 within a period of six weeks. education. Mohinder Verma However, there was no se- rious attention from the Social “The RTE Act of 2009 may Only superficial step initiat- have helped improve school en- Welfare Department in this re- ed by framing ‘Apex Committee’ gard on the pretext that the law rolment rates, but we have to Prevention of child labour aim at improving the quality of governing the subject in J&K and rehabilitation of such ju- was not in consonance with the education,” he said. veniles is an important issue He drew attention to the bu- Central law and amendment countrywide but not for those was required to be conducted in reaucratic hurdles presented at the helm of affairs in state by multiple agencies handling the State law, source informed. administration despite sev- Though law was amended RTE. eral glaring instances of the “While the Education albeit with much delay in the same in different parts of year 2013 and the J&K Juvenile Ministry implements the law, Jammu and Kashmir. monitoring its enforcement is Justice (Care and Protection of This can be gauged from the Children) Act was enacted but the responsibility of the National fact that directions issued by Commission for Protection of still no attention was paid to- the Apex Court of the country wards either implementation of Child Rights [NCPCR]. And several years back have not re- the NCPCR doesn’t have the provisions of this Act or direc- ceived any serious attention of tions of Supreme Court, they wherewithal to get cracking on the Social Welfare Department, violations of the law…” regretted. which has an important role to Like Apex Court direc- JJ Act and concerns play for implementation of the tions, this Act provides for same. Only a superficial step establishment of Juvenile Expressing concern over the has been initiated that too in the Justice Boards and Child recent debate to make juvenile recent past by constituting an Welfare Committees but lit- crime punishable for serious Apex Committee only to make tle attention was paid on the offences such as rape, he said mention of the same before the Act were to be framed, source the enabling aspects of the law, Supreme Court. said, adding “the intensity of

136 BUTTERFLIES non-seriousness towards the and discharging the duties of the maids are forced to live grave issue can be gauged conferred on such Boards in re- an insecure life despite their in- from the fact that even after lation to juveniles in conflict with dustrious temperament. formulation of Rule several the law under the Act. months back implementation However, due to non imple- Orphaned Placement of the Act and directives of mentation of these provisions Agencies Apex Court have not received and the direction of the Apex The root cause of exploita- due attention”. Court child labour continues tion of tribal people (mostly When non-implantation of to remain unchecked and their women/children) and those hail- its directives by some States rehabilitation remains a distant ing from rural areas who turn to including J&K was brought be- dream. domestic works is that there is fore the Supreme Court in the no hold on the placement agen- month of December last year, Inland cies running in the national the latter asked Union Ministry capital. Delhi has emerged as of Child Welfare to summon Millennium Post, New Delhi a hub and transit point for child meeting of concerned officers 15 February, 2015 and human trafficking through of States to ensure implementa- Chayanika Nigam placement agencies. Around tion of directions. 2,500 placement agencies are Following this meeting, Surging demand for operating in the city, out of which the State Government in domestic help is fuelling only countable agencies, about order to avoid strictures from a business that thrives 370 are registered under the the Apex Court, ordered fram- on human trafficking by Delhi Shops and Establishment ing of an Apex Committee on unregulated placement Act and remaining agencies are January 27, 2015 by men- agencies, reports flourishing illegally. tioning that this committee I am not a woman, neither Hence the remaining 2,100 will implement the directions a daughter nor a mother. I am agencies could strongly be of Supreme Court regarding a maid, who is someone else’s doubted for being “trafficking prevention of child labour. property. I work to make other’s agencies”. In India, domestic Had there been any se- lives easier. But look at my life, work is not recognized as ‘la- riousness in checking child how I have been caught in the bour’ and hence they have labour, the State Government net. No timely money, no job se- no rights such as fixed work- should have constituted such a curity, no health aid, no leaves ing hours, weekly offs, medical committee much earlier and it and no respect,” said 35-year- benefits or paid leaves. They should not have waited for the old Babita, who is a domestic are not included in any labour intervention of Union Ministry help for past 15 years. She is a law or Bill that include The that too on the directions of the divorcee and has an eight year Workman’s Compensation Act Supreme Court, source said. old boy who wipes cars as his of 1923, The Weekly Holiday According to the laid down part-time job. She was trafficked Act of 1961, The personal Injury law, the Government was re- from Jharkhand and has been Act of 1963, and Gratuity Act of quired to constitute within a through several tough phases 1978, Minimum Wages Act, etc. period of one year from the of life. Lakhs of such others are date of commencement of the taken to cities like Delhi on the Nexus With Delhi Police J&K Juvenile Justice (Care and false promise of good jobs and Protection of Children) Act, for later live lives of endless com- It has been learnt the Delhi a district or a group of districts promise, Millennium Post tried Police is well aware of these one or more Juvenile Justice to unearth the reason why most agencies which are registered Boards for exercising the power on Just Dial and other social

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 137 networking sites which supply maids to Delhi. the employers. The girls find domestic workers with lucrative The affiliated “agencies” in themselves in a situation. The deals. In most of the cases it the metros collect placement girls find themselves in a situ- has found that many agencies fees up to Rs. 50,000 per maid ation of bonded labour. Some do not have registered offi- from the house hold that hires agents arrange with the em- cers, they are being operated them. In between the point ployers that the girls’ salaries be from a single room. Also, these of “recruitment” and the point paid to the agents. The money agencies do not mention their of placement there are inter- is then held for a year and de- address on the contact details mediaries that “sell”, transfer, posited in the agents’ bank option as they keep changing and move the young, vulnera- accounts, depriving the girl of their places. The beat constable ble person through the supply her money and the opportunity take bribe on a monthly basis chain. Money is exchanged at to earn interest. They are forced and ensure them safety. each stage. to work under the recruiting Places like Sangam Vihar agent, who does not follow up and Ambedkar Nagar are the Chain Connection on the girls’ situations one jobs hub of these illegal agencies. Increasingly, these agencies are secured. So far no action has been taken have become a very significant Urge for 21st century against the cops involved in in encouraging internal migra- camouflaging them, and the tion. In the arena of domestic Maid agencies that are violating the work, organized trafficking takes The nuclear family and laws. place villagers living in the cit- the working wife are the major A senior police officer said, ies are returning to their native reasons why a family needs a “There is no law to regulate the places to bring more women, domestic worker. With the av- maid placement agencies. So girls and children into this la- erage Delhiite travelling more even if we are aware of them bour sector. and being exposed more, the we cannot book them under any In Delhi, hundreds of agen- requirements have changed. section of Law or Labour Act. A cies which sell domestic workers These days, there is a high case against these agencies or exist. Once the girls arrive in demand for well trained do- a person is framed only when the city, their wages are typical- mestic help. The customers are the maid complaints about it. In ly locked or they go unpaid in ready to pay extra for maids most cases, the maid does not order to pay the traffickers a fee who understand English, care seek the help of the police.” for securing placement. for hygiene, cook continental Trafficking Via NGOs If the girls decide to migrate food and handle hi-tech home on their own, they are still in appliances, to mention a few. Certain NGOs are running danger of falling into the clutch- The average pay is between Rs human trafficking industry in es of agents. In Delhi, scores 9,000-Rs 18,000 per month de- the capital. One reason for this of recruiting agents wait at the pending on skill sets, locations conspiracy of silence is that the railways station for the girls to and working hours. Salaries traffickers are linked with some arrive from villages. They either for workers with better skill set powerful people owned NGOs employ the girls directly or they ranges between Rs 12,000- Rs that make noise in the metros hand them over to local agents 25,000. ostensibly on behalf of the vic- for a commission. The girls are “It is a very difficult task to tims. It helps in covering up the often locked in a dark room select a maid, as in some way sinister role of NGOs in this in- without ventilation until a job is it influences children. A maid dustry that brings people from found. These agents then take spends more time with the child remote villages in exchange for commissions from the girls and as compared to the parents.

138 BUTTERFLIES They must take pride in their ap- and party skills,” he added. free themselves from this racket pearance as it helps maintain a often flee from the houses and pleasant atmosphere at home,” Crime World take away some cash or other said Anuradha, an architect. Cruelties on domestic valuables or to start a new life. She had recently hired a well workers always make news. Commission Tricks trained 25 year old domestic Ironically, the atrocities against help after rejecting half a dozen the domestic helps in most of It was shocking to learn that of maids. these cases are committed by there are many illegal place- Demand and Supply Gap those enabled for social and ment agencies who train their upward mobility. With the rapid maids to make handsome com- There is a huge gap be- increase in the demand for full- missions. In many cases, one tween demand and supply of time maids, the crime graph single maid is transferred to domestic workers. Thus, this against theses live in domestic many houses and is being ad- is where exploitation and cor- helps has also gone up. As per vised to run aways from each ruption begins. According to a the recent data of Delhi police, house after two months. survey done by an NGO, more in 2014 more than 63 cases Whenever a customer, in than 85,000 maids are required of assault with domestic helps search of a domestic help, ap- in Delhi NCR. To fill the demand have been registered at various proaches placement agencies, and supply gap few players are police stations. they are supposed to give com- trafficking children, mainly fe- According to official esti- mission to the agent along with males, from their native places mates provided by the NGO an advance month salary. But if by making false promises. Shakti Vahini there are nearly the maid leaves the house, the On the other hand, there are 13.2 million child workers, of agent does not return the token many more people associated to whom 20 per cent are engaged money and commission. various NGOs in Delhi and other in household chores. Poor fam- However, they provide an- neighbouring states who work ilies often sell their children to other maid at a discounted day and night to turn this largely agents and placement agencies, price. As it is pre-planned the unorganized home staff indus- which place them in households maid returns to the agency and try into professional work force. and charge a one-time fee as repeats the act elsewhere. Ratan Singh, of perfectdomes- high as Rs 25,000 in addition tic.com said, “Our mobilization to claiming their monthly pay- teams working villages and ments over a certain period. slums. Trainers provide lessons ‘Domestic workers, espe- in soft-skills, personal hygiene, cially the full-time maids, are etiquette, communication skills, often treated as “sub-human” and personal security to ensure beings. That is why their em- they are ‘work-ready’. We test ployers behave with them in an their aptitude and document abnormal manner’ said Pooja, a their specific skill sets.” student of psychology. “For experienced domestic On the contrary, in many workers we provide courses cases, crimes are done by designed to help increase their maids themselves. Several skills such as housekeeping, times, maids are caught in con- childcare, cooking, kitchen hy- nection to burglary, robbery giene and safe food storage, andmurder4 cases. At times, events training, besides butler the trafficked girls who want to

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 139 Article 36 Every child has a right to protection from all forms of exploitation.

CHILDRENCHILDREN IN Educated50 gtkj Youth cPps Militate QqVikFk Againstij] ESPECIALLYESPECIALLY 'ksYVjKashmir flQZ Serenity50 ds fy, Pioneer, Lucknow DIFFICULTDIffICULT CIR- 15 February, 2015 Rahuljk"Vªh; Datta lgkjk] and Mohit ubZ fnYyh Kandhari CUMSTANCESCUmSTANCES 27 tuojh] 2010 50 gtkj cPps QqVikFk ij] izHkkr dqekj Educated youth militate 142140 Security forces are One of them was active in 'ksYVj flQZ 50 ds fy, against kashmir serenity concerned over the new phe- the area since 2012 while an- jk"Vªh; lgkjk Pioneer nomenon of local educated other had recently joined ranks Delhi abandons 300 babies 143 elys dks xaHkhjrk ls ysrs gq, eq[; Childevery yearsoldiers of yemen are 141 youthfnYyh joining cky terroristvf/kdkj outfitslaj{k.k in oflfpo a militant ds vykok outfit lfpo] after snatchingefgyk ,oa fightingThe Hindustan to Timesprotect country Kashmir. There are about 80 the service weapon of a junior The Statesman vk;ksx us Hkstk eq[; lfpo dks cky fodkl ea=ky;] fnYyh uxj nks n'kdksa dh fgalk esa ,d yk[k vukFk 143 to 100 such militants in south police officer. The duo was also ChildrennSfud tkxj.k at the heart of 142 Kashmir,uksfVl Including areas like instrumentalfuxe vk;qDr in ,oamotivating vU; lEcaf/kr local armedStarvation conflict Deaths of Kids Haunt 144 pulwama, Srinagar and sopore. youthfoHkkx lsto cPpksajoin dshands fy, vyxwith them'ksYVj TheRural Tribune MP Mail Today Significantly,jkt/kkuh esa there50 gtkj young cPps mencs?kj tods widenckjs esa thetokc network nsus dks ofdgk local gSA- vkradh xqV cPpksa dks fl[kk 146 Orphaned children in Orissa live 145 traingSA ;s withincPps fnu the Hkj state lM+dksa to ij carry Hkh[k ly-trainedmUgksaus tqosukby militants. tfLVl ,DV dk jgkon thegS brinkccZjrk of starvationdk ikB out terrorist attacks, unlike in Elaborating upon the emerg- Asian Age gokyk nsrs gq, lHkh dks vkB Qjojh ubZ nqfu;k theekaxrs past gSa] whenxfy;ksa theyeas dpjk used churs to ex gSa- ing trend, officials said more Floods Interrupt Children's Future 146 in North Karnataka filtratevkSj jkr todks PakistanQqVikFk ijoccupied lks tkrs thanrd tokcone nsusdozen dks dgkyouth gSA hailingJh daB Deccan Herald KashmirgSaA rckg (PoK)gksrs bu to gtkjksa learn handlingeklweksa dh fromus dgk South fd ljdkjh Kashmir vkadM+ksa and ds fglkcparts Kids’ induction follows Naxal raid? 147 The Times of India oflq/k weapons ysus ds fy, in terroristljdkj ds training ikl u ofls Northgh jkt/kkuh Kashmir esa ipkl enrolled gtkj them cPps- camps there. selves with local organizations cPpksa ds ne ij lŸkk ikuk pkgrs gSa 148 rks le; gS vkSj u gh dksbZ mfpr cs?kj gSaA ljdkj dh ftEesnkjh curh ekvksoknh ;kstukAThis ljdkjalarming us flQZ fact 50 came cPpksa tods andgS fd took bu upcPpksa guns dks lHkhduring lqfo/kkvksa the last ls tulŸkk lightfy, vyxwhen 'ksYVj the cuk;k Commanding gSA cPpksa ds severalySl 'ksYVj months. eqgS;k djk,A gkL;kLin Officer of the 42 Rashtriya Rifles Security forces are close- Colonelbl ukjdh; MN thouRai was dks killedfnYyh incky a ly;g tracking gS fd 50 funeral gtkj processionscs?kj cPpksa ds gunfightvf/kdkj laj{k.k with vk;ksxlocal ¼Mhlhihlhvkj½militants in offy, such ljdkj slain us militantsflQZ 50 ascPpksa local dh Tralus xaHkhjrk area lsof ysrs Pulwama gq, fnYyh districtljdkj commanders,{kerk okyk Qrsgiqjh feeling esa the,d pinch'ksYVj lastds eq[; month lfpo thels tokc&ryc two militants fd;k ofcuk;k militant gSA vk;ksxcadre, ds tend v/;{k to poachus dgk killedgSA vk;ksx in the us ljdkjensuing ds encountereq[; lfpo onfd vulnerabletqosukby tfLVl youth ,DV and esa molkQ- werels ;g sonsiwNk gSof fda servingbu gtkjksa police cs?kj tivatedgk x;k them gS fdto ljdkjjoin their cs?kj ranks cPpksa Officer and a State Government cPpksa dks vyx 'ksYVj eqgS;k djkus after complete indoctrination. In employee respectively. fact,dks vyxmore 'ksYVjthan teneqgS;k young djk,xhA men ds fy, D;k mik; fd;s tk jgs gSaA 'ksYVj esa [ksy&dwn ds vykok i<+kbZ vk;ksx ds v/;{k veksn daB us dh Hkh lqfo/kk gksuh pkfg,A 140 BUTTERFLIES

142 l BUTTERFLIES were reported missing after the exploiting this factor under of February including seven funeral of terrorists killed in the the garb of religion, they said. in south Kashmir and three in tral encounter and it is feared Terming the security situation North Kashmir, They added. that they have joined terrorist as Fragile in these areas, of- ranks. ficials said security forces are There are about 80 to 100 The trend of local “boys” battling these home-grown mil- such militants in south becoming militants gained mo- itants but the long-term solution Kashmir, including areas mentum in the last two to three was in the realm of political like pulwama, Srinagar months and security forces, in- framework. Northern Command and sopore moreover, cluding the Army, are alarmed Chief Lt. General DS Hooda re- these young men train over the development as re- cently shared his concern over within the state to carry cruitment of local youth into the development and termed it out terrorist attacks, unlike various terrorist organizations as the biggest tragedy and also the past when they used like Hizbul Mujahideen had called for working together to to exfiltrate to Pakistan nearly come down to nil over address the issue. It is a matter occupied Kashmir to learn the last few years. It forced of huge concern not only for the handling of weapons in Pakistan to push in foreign mil- armed forces but also for the terrorist training camps itants gained momentum in the local people he said. there last two to three months and Elaborating on the modus security forces, including the operandi of these young re- Army, are alarmed over the cruits, Hooda said they are Child Soldiers of development as recruitment getting killed within two to three Yemen are Fighting of local youth into various ter- months and even after only rorist organizations like Hizbul weeks of turning militants. “I To Protect Country Mujahideen had nearly come think it is a big tragedy. We all down to nil over the last few need to work together on this The Statesman, New Delhi years. It forced Pakistan to push issue. Not only the Indian army, 15 April, 2015 in foreign militants to sustain the state and parents of these Charlene Rodrigues and Moham- terrorism in the State and nearly boys have to come together to med Al-Qalisi 400 militants are now active in address the issue,” he added. Charlene Rodrigues and both North and South Kashmir. Former chief Minister Omar Mohammed Al-Qalisi, in While the counter-insur- Abdullah had also raised serious Sanna, talk to the boys gency grid comprising Army, concerns over the issue On infil- who- with schools forced Border Security Force (BSF) tration by militants from across to close – have forsaken Central Reserve Police Force the LOC in the first two months books for Kalashnikovs. (CRPF), local police besides of this year, they said so far no the Intelligence set-up is ac- bid had taken place as most in- At the entrance of Bab tively engaged in neutralizing gress routes are blocked due to Al- Yemen, Old Sanna, a waif- the threat posed by foreign mili- snow. However, things will start like Hassan, dwarfed by his tants, officials admitted here on hotting up once snow melts in Kalashnikov, Inspects vehicles Friday the involvement of edu- late march and highly trained at the checkpoint with his dark cated boys is a cause for worry. militants will try to sneak into brown eyes. The Possible reasons for locals Kashmir officials said. The army Like most seven-year olds, resorting to violence includ- killed ten militants in January Hassan spent his time at school- ed disillusionment stemming and the frist week of February or playing table football with from lack of development and including seven in south his friends in the old quarters jobs and terrorist organizations Kashmir and the the first week of sanaa. That was until three

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 141 weeks ago. others seeking for the separa- Children At The “Now my school is closed, tion of the south from the rest of “ he says, carefully scrutinizing the country. Heart of Armed the white Toyota Yaris enter- There is also the presence Conflict ing the old city. In less than a of al-Qaida’s franchise in the week, Hassan went from being country- Al-Qaida in the Arabian The Tribune, New Delhi a pupil in class to manning the Peninsula (Aqap) – which is 23 February, 2015 capital’s checkpoints, he say on looking to take advantage of Ramya Subhahmanian behalf of the shia Houthi rebels, the power vacuum and which whose takeover of Sanaa last has made some gains in re- year – eventually leading to the cent days – and the potential for Consequences of conflict on president of Yemen fleeing the the involvement of groups that children are manifold, be it as city pushed the country down might look to align themselves observers, Participants or tar- the path towards the current with Islamic State (IS), with re- gets. Their vulnerability leads clashes around the nation. “We ports that some have already them to being subjected to ho- are fighting to protech our coun- done so. Jamal Al-Shami, chair- micide, violent discipline and try from the enemies, “ Hassan man of the Democracy School abuse of all kind. says indignantly. for children, a local NGO based Mute Witnesses:- More than 700 people are in Sanaa, tells the Independent believed to have been killed in on Sunday that the respon- yy Six grave violations recent weeks, including dozens sibility lies not only with the experienced by children of children, as they get caught government, but also with the include: Recruitment and up in the fighting. Thousands Houthis is and southern militias use of children during have been injured and more who have been encouraging conflict. Killing or maiming than 150,000 people have been young children to take up weap- them. Sexual violence and displaced around the country, ons. Children who can be drawn abduction. Attacks against according to the UN. in by money and a sense of duty schools and hospitals, and The Fighting between the to defend their tribal factions. the denial of humanitarian Houthi rebels and the forces of “Schools are closed and access. Saudi Arabia-backed President children have easy access to yy In India a total 197 out of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in- weaponry,” he says. “All parties the country’s 640 districts tensified in March – leading to to the conflict have welcomed remain officially designated Saudi Arabia launching an in- them with open arms.” Hassan, as “disturbed” under the tensive campaign of airstrikes who lives in the safiya district AFSPA. At least 3,000 with a number of other Sunni of south-east Sanaa, has no children –about 500 in the allies in the region against formal training, but says: “My North-East & J&K and about the Houthi at the end of that father teachers me to use the 2,500 in Leftwing extremism- month. That campaign, which Kalashnikov.” Another combat- affected areas are involved has involved targets across the ant is 11- Year old Asif Since in conflict. country, continues-with clash- he was six, he has been visit- yy At least 545 children were es in the city of Taiz Yesterday, ing Saada, in northern Yemen, killed and 1149 injured in following coalition airstrikes the to train with the Houthi rebels. 790 documented incidents in night before. Hadi fled the capi- “I will only do what is said in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is tal earlier this year to Aden. This Koran,” Asif says “I’he never an example, where children picture has been complicated been to school. I enjoy fighting were found to be not just by independent tribes, some for my Country.” recruited as soldiers but also aligned to Hadi, some not – and detained in juvenile centers

142 BUTTERFLIES for indirect involvement of children worldwide. violence to entire communi- (including as couriers and Recent assessments sug- ties and countries drawn into messenger), increasing gest that civilians, and amongst brutal civil conflicts in several their vulnerability to further them children, are increasingly parts of the world. This presents abuse whilst in detention casualties of armed conflicts. a significant challenge to ac- The pre-meditated mur- Estimates from almost a decade countability, within states using der of over a 100 children in ago, cited in the Grace Michel paramilitary and proxy forces to an armed attack on a mili- report; Children and conflict in deal with armed conflict. tary school in Peshawar in a changing world, published in Humanitarian law has over December last year shocked 2009, suggest that more than 1 time established basic principles the world. Images of children billion children under the age of to ensure children are protect- filling Gaza hospitals during the 18 were living in areas in con- ed during conflict, and the UN shelling of Palestinian villag- flict or emerging from war, 300 Secretary General’s Special es and town last year invoked million of whom were under age Representative on children and a similar sense of outrage and five, with a further 18 million Armed conflict has indentified despair. Boko Haram conduct- children internally displaced or six grave violations which are ed a widely reported attack on a refugees. The changing nature experienced by children. These school in North-eastern Nigeria of warfare, however makes the include the recruitment and use leading to over 200 girls being scale and impacts of conflict of children during conflict, an abducted to serve as “brides” hard to estimate. under reported but disturbing- for their cadres. In many ways, ly prevalent issue; the killing 2014 showed to the world the A global perspective or maiming of children sexual ugliest side of human nature. Major inter-state armed con- violence and their abduction. It is important to acknowl- flicts are observed to be on the Alongside are two equally im- edge at the outset that violence decline, yet there are intractable portant and interlinked violations experienced during armed con- and prolonged conflicts within which impact children dispro- flict is at one egregious and states and across borders, in- portionately attacks against extreme end of the spectrum of creasingly involving a variety of schools and hospitals and the violence that is encountered and non-state actors. The Machel denial of humanitarian access. endured by millions of children. report cited above also noted Reports from around the Children are not only vulnerable both that armed conflict had world in 2014 have demon- to attack during extreme conflict become both fluid and less eas- strated that all of these grave situations. Children’s vulnerabil- ily defined than previously, with violations have occurred in ity leads to them being subjected armed groups moving between some form or another, in some to homicide, violent discipline criminal and political activities, place or another. The Special and abuse of all kinds even out- and that strategies adopted by Representative on children and side of conflict situations. Much such groups deliberately and Armed conflict noted in a report of this is hidden in palin sight” systematically engaged civil- to the UN General Assembly’s as a 2014 UNICEF report aptly ians more directly. 68th session last year that over reports. This report notes that Motivations are often linked 4,000 children were recorded to homicide is a leading cause of to resources and opportun- be recruited directly into com- preventable injury and death ism. Indeed, the spectrum and bat in 2013 and this of course, amongst children, especially opportunism. Indeed the spec- is also known to be a huge boys, particularly in the second trum of armed conflicts today underestimate. decade of their lives. Violence cover a wide span, ranging from Take the case of Afghanistan as a tool of “discipline” is a sig- the street in the form of gang as an example, where chil- nificant aspect of the daily lives dren were found to be not just

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 143 recruited as soldiers but also terrible depths to which conflict, to school, and the experience detained in juvenile centers for whatever its sources, can drag of impoverishment and dete- indirect involvement (including humanity. The consequences rioration in basic services – all as couriers and messengers), of conflict on children – wheth- these impact on children’s lives increasing their vulnerability to er as observer, participant or in multiples ways. Conflict – af- further abuse whilst in deten- target-beyond loss of life, are fected societies tend to remain tion. Add up the numbers in increasingly well-understood poor and require concerted ef- conflict affected situations in to include not just the loss of fort, as in the case of Rwanda, Syria, the democratic republic livelihood and home but the far Post genocide, to get develop- of Congo and central African more entrenched psychological ment processes back on track. amongst others and the totals effects of trauma. Children caught in conflicts are staggering. do not just lose out on years Life in refugee camps of schooling but are actively Shattering Studies of children in ref- pushed in to the workforce at consequences ugee camps reveal pervasive young ages, thereby perpetuat- ing child labour. Conflict has long-lasting effects of depression, anxi- Worldwide, the develop- impacts on societies, the after- ety, grief, fear and resentment. ment of jurisprudence and focus math of which entails decades The destruction of the social on protecting children within of rebuilding – economic, social, fabric of communities, the di- conflict has led to increased physical and most importantly, rect witnessing of death and monitoring and reporting from psychological. The killing of chil- dismemberment, negotiation conflict –affected countries dren is seen as a symbol of the of conflict zones on the way on measures to ensure that

144 BUTTERFLIES children are not affected. Eight Urgent need to monitor on field visits to Dantewala dis- conflict-affected countries have and assess how internal trict of Chhattisgarh, where the signed up to cooperate with a strife is taking toll of impact of conflict on schools UN global campaign called chil- and on ‘conflict “children left dren, not Soldiers,” that aims to children in India in behind by parents fleeing the end the recruitment and use of various ways bullets and explosives of an un- children by government security India’s own internal conflict declared civil war” are clearly forces in conflict by the end of zones reflect many of the haz- documented. Instances where 2016. There has been a report- ards faced by children elsewhere schools have been taken over ed increase in the number of in situations of armed conflict. by the CRPF for use as bar- non-state armed groups issuing The Asian Human Rights Centre racks were also recorded - with public statements and com- (2013) in its shadow report to children being made to sleep on mand orders issued by armed the Convention on the Rights the floor of nearby school build- groups prohibiting the recruit- of the Child committee states, a ings in a “pitiable condition”. ment and use of children The total 197 out of the country’s 640 Such field-based insights are global Arms groups prohibiting districts remain officially desig- invaluable snapshots into the the recruitment anduse of chil- nated as “disturbed “ under the undocumented and severely dren. The global Arms Trade Armed Forces Special Powers underestimated toll that con- Treaty adopted by the General Act (AFSPA), 1958, and as flict takes on children’s lives, Assembly in April 2013 in aimed leftwing extremism affected. Children are often pushed out at keeping in April 2013 is Within many of these, children of school and into work outside aimed at keeping armed groups have been recruited mostly affected districts and villages in from acquiring arms and ammu- by armed opposition groups, their efforts to seek greater se- nition. Many experimental pilot though there are instances curity. This has led to child out initiatives are being trialled on where state police forces have migration and worse still, the the ground across counties to also recruited boys under 18. suggestion of active trafficking address psycho-social harms The report estimates that at of girls as domestic workers or caused by conflict on children least 3,000 children - about 500 into the sex trade. UNODC es- and their families and to support in North East India and Jammu timates suggest that over 3,000 reintegration and regenera- and Kashmir and about 2,500 in children were trafficked out of tion. the Leftwing extremism affected Chhattisgarh in 2013. In a 2013 These are all important areas are involved in conflict. report on Juvenile Justice in steps to begin to ensure that all However, as the report also conflict situations, the Asian parties to conflict recognize the notes, the Government’s refus- Centre for Human Rights also importance of keeping children al to name these conflict zones points out that 151 of the 197 out of harm’s way. Yet protect- as such severely hampers the conflicts effect elides tracts in ing children in all the different ability of civil society groups India lack Observation Homes ways required fundamentally to monitor the situation of chil- and Special Homes, implying requires conflicts to end and dren involved in these conflicts. that under- 18 year olds are long-term measures to be put Estimates of impacts on children likely to be taken into custody in in place to reduce inequality, and their families are based on either police, military or paramil- promote human security and a few studies which can be, itary centers) in violation of their human development. The world and often are, conveniently ig- rights. Efforts to understand has long way to go to ensure nored. A report for the National conflict with in the broader that the horror in Peshawar is Commission for the Protection framework of social justice are not repeated. of Child Rights in 2008 draws imperative to lead to lasting reductions in armed conflict in

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 145 ;k=k ds nkSjku mudk csVk ykirk gks x;k FkkA igys Hkh tuojh esa ,d cPPks us nks yksxksa dks ekjh Fkh xksyh ;g igyh ckj ugha gS tc vkbZ,l cPpksa dk iz;ksx dj jgk gSA tuojh esa vkbZ,l }kjk tkjh ,d ohfM;ks esa ,d cPpk nks yksxksa dks xksyh ekjrs utj vk;k FkkA India. For instance, a report to cPps dks fn;k xksyh pykus the Planning Commission in vkradh xqV cPpksa 2008 on “Development chal- dk vkns’k lenges in extremist affected dks fl[kk jgk gS vkbZ,l ls tqM+s lks”ky ehfM;k areas “notes that “...While not condoning the radical violence, ccZjrk dk ikB vdkmaV ij eaxyokj dks tkjh 13 feuV ds ohfM;ks esa ,d dejs ds Hkhrj an honest response to it must, ubZ nqfu;k] ubZ fnYyh therefore, begin by ameliorating eqlYye ukjaxh jax dk tai lwV igus the structural violence in the so- 12 ekPkZ] 2015 ?kqVuksa ds cy cSBk gSA ,d o;Ld ciety.” Such a response must, vkbZ,l ds ohfM;ks esa cPps dks vkbZ,l vkradh vkSj ,d cPpk nksuksa however, be based on rigorous onhZ esa eqlYye ds vkxs [kMs+ gaS o;Ld assessments of the impact on xksyh nkxrs fn[kk;k vkbZ,l vkradh Ýkalhlh Hkk’kk esa cPps conflict on children across the vkradh laxBu bLykfed LVsV dks vkxs c<+dj eqlYye dks ekjus dk country, in the NE states, J&K, ¼vkbZ,l½ eklweksa dks Hkh tqeZ

146 BUTTERFLIES Article 2 All Children must enjoy equal rights irrespective of their race, colour, national, ethnic social origin or disability.

STREETSTREET Education:Street KidsA Distant Get Home,Dream For CHILDRENCHILDREN HopeStreet from Children DMRC The Statesman, New Delhi Education:Street Kids Get a distantHome, Hope dream 150147 from DMRC The Times28 March, of India, 2015 New Delhi forThe street Times of children. India 15 AbhayFebruary, Singh 2010 The Statesman Ambika Pandit LVªhV fpYMsªu le> jgs gSa 151 Street children demand 148 iqfyl flLVe Though free and compulso- therefore available easily. educationuoHkkjr VkbZEl and protection The Statesman ry educationEight-year-old is aRahul fundamental can’t for- LCDTalking TV, an about amphitheatre life at railway and a Child Ragpickers; Story of Lost 152 CMChildhood, urged Governmentto implement Neglect 148 rightget the of everyday when child, his yet schoolbag, for street platforms,computer room,the amongstreet otherchildren fa- schemesKashmir Times for street kids childrenuniform andit is booksa distant were dreamstolen saidcilities. that DMRC their said life theat shelterplatform is The"Street Tribune Children are Especially 153 as they are unable to cross the become vulnerable in night as Vulnerable to Abuse" near Hanuman Mandir in Con- chairman E Sreedharan's way of people under the influence of StreetThe Hindu children have high 149 hurdlenaught ofPlace. drug Foraddiction. this street kid, giving homeless children a better hopesdkSu ls vkns'kfrom lsnew tkxsxh govt. ljdkj “We want to change our life liquorlife. usually harass girls and The Statesman 153 it was like his only hope of a bet- gfj Hkwfe but education for us is a distant small children. ter life being snatched away. But While the building and all in- Street children give their take 150 No school is ready to en- A Ray of Hope for Destitute 154 dream,” said street children who frastructure was given by DMRC, onStreet juvenile Children justice system workthe incident as a rag now picker seems at like different a bad roll us and if, somehow, we got The Pioneer the NGO is responsible for run- The Hindu railwaydream, asstations. he prepares to enroll in enrollment, the teachers and Non-poor out of Food Security Law 155 ning the home providing care and StreetThe Hindustan children Times suggest ways 150 a schoolThe Streetagain afterchildren Holi. said that student passed bad comments, for better living conditions protection, education, training and Survey Reveals Poor Health What changed it all for Rahul claimed the street children. The Hindu 155 education was the only way to Conditions of Street Children. - and 89 other children living on extra -curricular activities. The Statesman change their life but their lean- The poor economic condi- ingthe towardsstreets —was drug gettingaddiction shelter and tionBecause of street of Home, children Kids forced theat Arman, mentality a children's of the society home built to- themWork to Towards arrange theirGoals livelihood. wards them become a hurdle “When I asked my parent by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation The state-of-art shelter-cum- from getting them educated. that can I go to the school they and being run by the NGO, Sa- protection home, which turned “I want to make good friends told me that their economic laam Baalak Trust. The state-of- functional in January, is built on butart shelter-cum-protectionno one ready to be home,friend conditions is very weak so in- with me because I am not ed- steadDMRC of land going next to schoolto pillar I numbershould which began functioning in Janu- ucated as well a drug addict, work,65 on “YounisMetro line (name 1 near changed), Tis Hazari ary, is built on DMRC land next to “said 15- year-old Sanjay (name astation. rag picker, The building said. has been let Changed).pillar number 65 on Metro line 1 out Theby DMRC street on achildren five year com lease- nearMany Tis Hazari street station. children rued plainedto begin that with andsociety Metro did officials not thatThe they three-storey are likely tored-brick gravi- recognizewould be themvisiting it regularly. In tate'Bal Greh'toward has inhalants well furnished because dor- fact,“Society with the does home not located recognize along they’remitories forcheap 120 children,and legal,large us.the Ourmetro condition line, DMRC is worse also plansthan classrooms, an activity hall with to take the kids for a ride soon. CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 147 150 l BUTTERFLIES that of dogs. A dog at least gets give a louder voice to the millions The second demand of the to eat every day,” said 16 year- of street children all around the street children is right to safety old Raju (name changed), a rag world, the International Day for and protection. Children claimed picker. street children was launched. that every day they have to fend With the help of NGO Chetna According to them, on this for themselves and fight the de- and Plan India, Street children day they have an opportunity mous surrounding them. are making an action plan which to send a message to gov- “No one thinks about our they will send to central govern- ernments that this extremely safety . No one takes us se- ment. In the plan, they have vulnerable group needs priority riously when we complain. In stated their main problems and in policies. this big city, poor children have the demands from government. Talking about demands, the no dignity,” said 13-year-old Street children state that street children said that they Aayesha (name changed). government should open some wanted proper education with Street children are not part separate schools for them so training and safety. of the government’s rehabilita- that they get proper education Many street children are tion programmers, with no proof and also restrict the selling of breadwinners for their family. of identity and no voice, they inhalants to the minor children So, if they start going to school continue to remain “invisible”. so that they can’t get addicted. their family can’t survive. So, According to children, gov- “Street children are the most they want the government to ernment should make an effort vulnerable to all forms of ex- set up schools where they can to enroll them in the aadhaar ploitation. The action plan is a get not only education but also programmer, which will allow way that the street children can training in laptop and mobile them in principle to obtain express their obstacles in front of repairing through which they school admission, open bank government. In the Past despite can earn livelihood rather than accounts and secure govern- various Government schemes picking up garbage or shoe ment welfare. and work by non-government polishing. “Street children are the most organizations for Delhi’s street Sixteen-year-old Abdul has vulnerable. Dedicating one day children, we haven’t been able a garbage dump for home, no for them give them visibility,” to streamline efforts in an effec- health care, little to eat. “I want said Mr. Sanjay Gupta of NGO tive manner,” said Sanjay Gupta to study but I am the only bread- Chetna. of CHETNA. winner in the family. So, I have to pick up rags from different CM Urged To Street Children railway stations and sell them to the Kabariwallah. I wish that Implement Demand Education the government opened some Schemes For and Protection schools of voluntary training,” said Abdul. Street Kids The Statesman, New Delhi Talking about the right to The Tribune, New Delhi 13 April, 2015 education, Shaswati Sain, who 16 February, 2015 Abhay Singh works as a counsellor for street children said that under the right “We demand proper ed- ‘Badhte Kadam’, a federation to educational, every street child of street and working children, ucation and safety from the should be in school, but millions government, “ said the street today urged the newly elected live on footpaths. Chief Minister to implement the children on the occasion of The only way to take them the International Day for street government schemes meant for off streets is to put them in shel- underprivileged children. Children. On 12 April 2011, to ters and schools.

148 BUTTERFLIES Demanding a legal status Arvind Kejriwal on his victo- letter addressed to the Chief for street and working children, ry, Assocham President Rana Minister’ss office, the street and member organizations have Kapoor has expressed con- working children outlined their asked Kejriwal to include their fidence that the Aam Aadmi problems and requested Mr. concerns into the government’s Government will be able to make Kejriwal to solve them on prior- agenda. the national Capital as a glob- ity basis. Among the demands put al city harnessing the strength “We had earlier send a let- forth is ensuring legal identity city harnessing the strength of ter to Arvind Kejriwal on 28th to them, implementation of all the common man whose power December 2013 to appraise government schemes for un- and potential has not been fully him on the issues and prob- derprivileged children, giving tapped. lems faced by us, but due to the opportunity to them to partici- Kapoor hoped that the short tenure he was not able pate in child-related government Central and the state would to address our issues, “said meetings, and ensuring action work together for the common 16-year-old Chandini, a street against all those involved in welfare irrespective of the party child, adding. “Now, we are child labour. affiliations. hopeful that he will complete The federation has pressed “Governments can tap to his tenure successfully and ad- for five directives before the new vast powers of a common man dress our issues. Jyoti, another Delhi government, said Jyoti,the only by empowering them by street child, said: “We have federation’s district secretary. education, Health, better life put forth five demands before “We had earlier sent a letter standards. Kejriwal’s connect the new government of Delhi. to Arvind Kejriwal on December with the ordinary man would go 28, 2013 to appraise him of the a long way in harnessing the The street and working issues and problems faced by people power which makes a children outlined their us, but due to the short tenure, huge difference to the industry problems and requested he was not able to address our and economy,” Kapoor Said. CM to solve them on issues,” said federation’s na- priority basis tional secretary Chandni. Street Children Director of Childhood The demands include ensur- Enhancement through Training Have High Hopes ing legal identity to street and and Action (Chetna), Sanjay From New Govt. working children, proper im- Gupta, said, “Children have a plementation of all government schemes for underprivileged lot of expectations from this this The Statesman, New Delhi government and I hope this gov- children, ensuring the partici- 15 February, 2015 pation of street children in all ernment will take up their issues Abhay Singh on a priority basis.” children-related government The federation’s Delhi Like other Delhi’ites, street meetings and proper legal secretary Vikas said, the dis- children also have high hopes action against all those who advantaged section has pinned from Arvind Kejriwal. They con- are involved in child labour.” hopes on Kejriwal who has veyed their demands along with According to the street children, brought a revolution in Indian congratulatory message to the from being a common man to politics and shown the power of Aam Aadmi Party leader who becoming the Chief Minister of the common people. was sworn in as chief Minister Delhi, Kejriwal has revolution- of Delhi today. ized Indian Politics. ASSOCHAM Lauds The Street children sent “Children have a lot of hope Kejriwal their message through a letter from this government and I sent by fax at 12:20 p.m. In the hope this government will take Congratulating AAP chief

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 149 up their issues on priority basis,” gearing up to give inputs for the Street Children said Sanjay Gupta from NGO meeting,” said Sanjay Gupta of Chetna CHETNA. Suggest Ways Forty percent of 60 children, For Better Living Street Children who attended the consultation, where not aware of age of child Conditions Give Their Take On and said a child is 14 years old. Juvenile Justice Sixty percent of them where The Hindu, New Delhi of opinion that 14-18 years of 30 March, 2015 System age is the age when children Kritika Sharma Sebastian have great chances to slip into The Hindu, New Delhi crime. 25 January, 2015 Problems Faced by Twelve-year-old Shambhu, Children Bindu Shajan Perappadan a ragpicker in Lajpat Nagar, Ready to give inputs for Said, “There are people who yy Harassment by cops at World Congress in Geneva threaten children to kill their par- railway station. They are ents if they don’t work for them apprehended merely only Lack of parental support, and steal things.” on the basis of suspicion being politely engaged at home, Jyoti, a 14-year-old tea sell- yy Peer pressure to begin not being allowed to go to school er, said, “most of the children substance abuse and hunger – these according learn bad habits from parents. yy Passengers, porters and to children living on the streets Peers are the main source of vendors often harass are the major ones why children getting into substance abuse. children are forced into crime. Children who are into substance yy Girls living at the station At a unique gathering where abuse are more likely to get into have also complation of children were brought together crime.” She said that even the sexual harassment by a non-government organi- local police aid the acceleration zation childhood Enhancement of children into crime. Solutions through Training and Action “I think the police are respon- yy Apprehend drug peddlers (CHETNA), which works for sible, as they do not catch the yy Government should the empowerment of street real culprit, and book children, arrange facilltless to provide and working children, the chil- and once they are released they education, vocational dren were asked to share their become system rebels,” said training opinion on reasons of children 14-year-old Shakeel, a bottle yy Facilitate a child’s return slipping into crime and how picker at the New Delhi railway by counselling through could they be prevented, thus station. government agencies or strengthening the juvenile jus- When asked how the juve- NGOs tice system. nile justice system can work in One of the biggest problems “Increasing crime against favour of children, 15-year-old that the children living on plat- children and failure of juvenile pinky, a domestic help from forms of railway stations across justice system is discussed al- west delhi, said I think the best the Capital face is harassment most every day. The children would be to consult children I by passengers and station staff, are never consulted on this am happy that this issue is con- reveals a report compiled by issue. In Geneva, a world con- sulted with children. two non- profit organizations gress on juvenile justice system working for street children - is going to be organized soon CHETNA and Plan India. ln the and street Children in Delhi are

150 BUTTERFLIES report, the children have shared the roadside or in some nearby some people from an NGO in- their experience of living on night shelters. Most of the chil- tervened that I was let off.” The platforms every day, the prob- dren, left with no other option to NGOs are now planning to send lems they face, and how they earn their daily bread, are forced the report to the government so think they can get out of these. into rag-picking. Surender. a l7 that they can help create better This is an exercise to suggest year-old boy who lives on plat- living conditions for these chil- ways of rehabilitation of chil- form, said, “My parents used to dren. “This report or “plan of dren to the government. A pilot abuse me and behave badly. action” compiled by the children project to rehabilitate the chil- So l left home around five years in association with CHETNA dren living on railway platforms ago. Children living on plat- and Plan India is probably the is already being run across 20 forms and streets have to face first such initiative by street stations in India. According to a lot of problems. Everyone children in India. We want to the report, around 200 children abuses us; everyone thinks we take this plan to the National live at major railway stations are criminals. Last week, a man Commission for Protection of like New Delhi and Nizamuddin. got me arrested thinking that I Child Rights (NCPCR) and seek Out of them, around l80 children stole his money. The constable an appointment from Maneka take intoxicants. Thirty-five out whom he approached also be- Gandhi,” said Sanjay, founder, of the total sleep on platforms, lieved him and took me to the CHETNA. while others either sleep by police station. it was only after

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 151 Article 3 All actions concerning children, undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, should be in the best interest of the children.

WELFAREwELfARE PM to LaunchChild ‘Beti Safety Bachao’ not, With A Bang a Priority with Northern States PROGRAMMESPROGRAmmES A Bang on January 22 AND POLICIES TheThe Times Tribune, of India, New New Delhi Delhi AND POLICIES 1529 January, June, 2010 2015 Child Safety not, a Priority with 156 PMNorthern to launch States ‘Beti Bachao’ 152 Aditi Tandon withThe aTribune bang a bang on Jan 22 Scheme to Focus On Low Development (WCD) in coor- The'Matri' Times to protect of India rights of the child 157 Assam Tribune Child Sex Ratio dinationing the defaulterswith the ministriesto get going of Children abandoned on rly 153 cky ;kSu 'kks"k.k Chandigarh, Punjab, Hi- healthon the front.and AmongHRD. Auditsthe lagging are premises to be protected 157 After Swachh Bharat and jksdus ds fy, 'kq: gksxh gsYiykbu machal, Uttarakhand top expectedstates/UTs toare be Punjab, done Himachal by civil The Statesman make in India, the Modi gov- nSfud tkxj.k defaulters societyPradesh, and Chandigarh, the CAG to ensureUttara- National Body to Help Curb 154 ernment’s big bang flagship Panchayats key to curbing 158 thatkhand, targets Uttar arePradesh, met. Jharkhand, Humandropouts Trafficking scheme will be ‘Beti Bachao, TheThe Economic Times of India Times Child protection continues to be Maharashtra,The launch Arunachal, is expected Anda- to Beti Padhao’ (BBBP), which will beman a andhigh-wattage Nicobar, Damanaffair withand OrphanedtYn [kqysaxs &cky homeless Jfed Ldwy 154159 helpthe lastaddress of political the priorities.country’s First low it ns'kca/kq took the government four years to UnionDiu, Lakshadweep ministers, andchief Puduch- minis- Mail Today child sex ratio. The scheme will lsDl odZlZ ds cPpksa ds fy, cus approve the Integrated Child Pro- terserry. ofChandigarh West Bengal, along Rajasthan, with other Rajasthan govt. signs MoU to 156159 be launched by PM Narendra eq¶r cksfM±x Ldwy tection Scheme (ICPS), the first GujaratUTs has and failed Haryana to comply and despite senior improve maternal, child health Modi on January 22 and will Thejk"Vªh; Hindu lgkjk Business Line ever centrally-sponsored scheme officialsthe Home attending Ministry it.writing to the Maternal, child welfare info system focus on a multi-sectoral ap- respective administrators to en- Securing a better tomorrow 156160 for protection of children trapped launched proach to tackling the problem MillenniumThe Statesman Post in difficult situations. Now, several Targetssure action, For which Girl has Child become ofstate the vanishinggovernments girl arechild. dragging Campaignurgent. The US placed India on its cs?kj cPpksa ds fy, cusaxs 'ksYVj 160 jk"Vªh; lgkjk theirA feettoilet on in its every implementation. girls’ school second worst category on human in 100 vulnerable districts, an 1.trafficking Improve for sex the ratioseventh at birthconsec in- Standard norms for child welfare 161 Over a year after the Union committees innovationCabinet on fund February at state 26, levellast ap- to utive100 year, gender saying criticalchildren districts in India The Hindustan Times encourageproved the bestICPS, practices 10 states in andim- wereby still 10 highly points vulnerable. in a year (all- ;kSu dfeZ;ksa ds cPpksa dh f'k{kk 162 provingthe UTs child are yet sex to ratio initiate (CSR the andpro- AtIndia a meeting, CSR iswhich 918 thefemales WCD dh fpark Ministryto 1,000 called males of the according state minis- to tulŸkk gendercess ofinequities, rolling the district-levelscheme - a awardsmust to toprotect school over strengthening 20 crore vul- tersthe for 2011the child census) welfare, rolling girlnerable child children education in India. are The some first 2.of theReduce ICPS wasgender a major differentials agenda ofstep the towardstargets thatoperationalisation the scheme item.in WCDunder Minister five child Krishna mortality Tirath hopesof the toICPS accomplish involves bythe 2017. signing soughtrate states' from cooperation59:51 for girls for the vs of anThe MoU Rs between 100-crore the statescheme and ICPS,boys which in 2011 will provide to 55 forpreven- girls isthe expected Centre. to be monitored tive,in statutory, 2017. care and rehabili- by theTen Manekastates and Gandhi-headed UTs are yet to 3.tation Improve services nutrition to all childrenstatus inof Ministrysign MoUs, of Womenwith the Centreand Child urg- needgirls of careunder and 5 protection by reducing or in

156 l BUTTERFLIES 152 BUTTERFLIES number of underweight and Initiatives will be taken to Maneka Gandhi today launched anemic girls (Currently, 7 of encourage girls to express their the revised “standard operating 10 children are anemic and views and to be heard, to help procedures” (SOP) to ensure 42.5% underweight) them participate actively, effec- care and protection of children 4. Ensure universalization of tively and equally at all levels of found on railways premises. ICDS, girls’ attendance and social, economic, and political “There are not hundreds or equal care monitored, using leadership, long-term interven- thousands but three to five lakh joint ICDS NRHM mother tions for gender equality would children who are constantly child Protection Cards. focus on creating enabling en- on the move all the time. They 5. Increase girl’s enrolment in vironment. The objective will be are either trafficked, or they secondary education from achieved through convergence leave homes, get lost or are 76% in 2013-14 to 79% by and coordination with con- abandoned. We are now in part- 2017. cerned ministries, departments nership with railways officially to 6. Provide toilet for girls in and district administration. safeguard right of these children every school in 100 districts The decline in the CSR, arriving at and living on railway by 2017. defined as number of girl per station till they are reunited with 7. Promote a protective 1,000 boys between o-6 years, their families or sent to shelter environment for girls children has been unabated since 1961. homes,” she said. through implementation of The decline from 945 in 1991 to Protection of Children from 927 in 2001 and further to 918 Helping Hand Sexual Offences (POCSO) in 2011 is alarming. yy They are either trafficked, or Act 2012. they leave homes, get lost 8. Train elected representa- Children or are abandoned. tives/grassroots function- Abandoned On Rly yy Railways have identified 20 aries as Community Champ- railway stations where these ions to mobilize communities Premises To Be SOPs will be implemented to improve CSR & promote Protected to start with education for girls. The Minister was speaking The objective of the scheme after releasing SOPs on the 8th is to prevents gender biased The Statesman, New Delhi 06 March, 2015 foundation day of the National sex selection by stringent en- Commission for Protection of forcement of laws, especially Child Rights (NCPCR). by strengthening the implemen- Railways to make arrange- Railways have identified 20 tation of Pre-Conception and ments for their food, railway stations where these Pre-Natal Diagnostic clothing and medicine SOPS will be implemented to Techniques (Prohibition of Sex needs start with. Selection) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT “But I want the number of Runaway children or those Act) with strict punishments for railway stations to add up to found abandoned or lost in trains violations. 200 in the next two months and and railway premises will now BBBP will also ensure ac- more later,” said Gandhi. be protected with the Women cess and availability of essential As per the SOPs as soon as and Child Development Ministry requirements related to nutri- a child is spotted at a station or and the railway deciding to take tion, healthcare, education of train, the Government Railway care of them and make arrange- discrimination against a girl child Police (at stations) and the ments for their food, clothing which can lead to low self-es- Railway Protection Force (on and medicine needs. teem, lifelong deprivation and trains) or the Station master will exclusion from the mainstream. Union WCD minister

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 153 try to obtain his personal details. body will work in close coordi- who was arrested by Delhi po- The concerned station mas- nation with state police and CBI, lice few years back. ter will make announcements said a senior official. The anti-human traffick- on public address system of the However, it is still not clear ing body at the Centre will railways station with respect to how the cases will be taken up also coordinate with various the child found there and inform by this Central unit from the agencies including the border the local police station. State and whether it will also forces, National Commission for require an amendment in CrPC Women, National Commission National Body to and IPC. At present, CBI probes for the Protection of Child Right several of these high profile and NHRC and the state law Help Curb Human human trafficking cases either enforcing agencies to deal with Trafficking on the orders of the court or on the menace. Till 2014, Home the request from the States. The Ministry spearheaded 4,200 The Economic Times, New Delhi agencies though have failed to rescue operations, rescuing 30 March, 2015 identify the real culprits so far. 13,742 victims and arresting Rahul Tripathi Explained as senior official,” 7,087 traffickers. Despite setting up a dedicated Will work on enhancing cell to probe human trafficking Orphaned & the relief ops being run by cases, CBI has not been able Min of Women and Child to deliver. At times, they do not Homeless development want to take up probe citing Mail Today, New Delhi The Narendra Modi led NDA shortage of man power.” 21 April, 2015 government is all set to set up a Investigations and trends Rakesh Ranjan national body to combat human emerging from some of the trafficking that will be controlled cases that seem to have by the Ministry of Home Affairs. networks extending beyond ju- With adoption rate in India The proposal, opposed by cur- risdictions are also pointing to going drastically, govts rent nodal agency CBI, was a nexus between petty criminal are skill turning a blind eye mooted after the government and organized gangs. “A local to misery of abandoned realized that there is little effort gang engaged in trafficking kids could easily be used as courier by the cops to nab members Abandoned by their par- of gangs active on the borders or to supply women to an orga- nized syndicate. ents and now neglected by with Bangladesh and Nepal. governments there is no end Home Ministry officials said Co-ordinated Effort to the suffering of over 50,000 that the new body will not only orphans in India. The adoption take up the investigations of high The national body will have rate within the country as well profile cases, but will also work separate wing for investigations as those by foreign nationals in out a mechanism to enhance and intelligence and will work India has gone down by nearly the relief and rehabilitation ef- with State police 50 per cent in the last five years. forts of the Ministry of Women We have comes across sev- What adds to the grim situation and Child Development. It is eral such cases where human is the disparity between South also proposed that the addition- traffickers are also being used Indian states and the rest of the al secretary (Centre State) will for criminal activities and hawa- country in terms of adoption of head the body that will haves la transaction. “A case in point children. separate wing for investigations is that of trafficker, Kanwaljit, While South Indian states and intelligence. The proposed such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra

154 BUTTERFLIES Pardesh, Karnataka and Kerala license to the applicants since per cent of cases pertains to girl have still maintained relative- 2003. Due to this, the agen- child which deters the adoption ly high rate of adoption, states cies have not been able to agencies from being pro-active, like Bihar, Jharkhand, Goa and facilitate adoption. Such is “said a social worker associat- Uttarakhand, along with the the government apathy that ed with ‘SOS Children Villages seven North Eastern states, children adopted in Bihar in of India’, a registered adoption have recorded abysmally low 2007-08 have not been issued agency in Delhi. number of child adoption. certificate by the local courts,” According to the RTI reply, As per government records, said Rajesh Kumar, who runs Maharashtra has the high- 6,231, children were adopted Shanti Niketan Vidya Mandir, est rate of adoption despite in 2010. However, the num- an adoption agency in Patna in the downward trend. While ber of adoptions came down Bihar. 1,606 children were adopted in to 4,354 in 2013. “ Only 1,622 Experts said tedious adop- Maharashtra in 2010, the figure children were adopted during tion norms and slow judicial came down to 1,212 in 2013. April-September in 2014, “stat- process further slowed down Similarly, Tamil Nadu was on the ed an RTI reply by the Central the adoption process. They said second spot with 693 adoptions Adoption Resource Agency FIRs are registered in nearly 80 in 2010. However, the figure (CARA). Which is the nodal per cent of the cases and hence, came down to 216 in 2013. On agency for in country and inter adoption cannot be done with- the contrary, only four children country adoption of children in out getting clearance from the were adopted in Meghalaya in India local courts. the last five years. “Since FIRs are registered in The Union Territory of RTI query 80 per cent of cases, it is man- Chandigarh, too, performed Through the RTI queries, datory to obtain the consent of poor with just nine adoptions Delhi based activist Narendra the local courts. Also, 70 to 80 during 2010 to 2014. The hill Sharma had sought information Global Adoption Chart pertaining to children adopted A look at the figures of the past few years in some countries within India and by the foreign Country 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 nationals. The records show US 221 207 104 140 that 21,736 children were adopt- ed in India in the last five years Italy 105 133 54 94 while 2,156 kids were adopted UAE 43 25 05 17 by the foreign national. Officials Sweden 33 20 04 05 said the low rate of adoption UK 23 25 05 07 in North-Eastern states was Canada 19 43 07 01 primarily due to absence of government-recognized adop- State-Wise Adoption tion agencies. States like Bihar, Place 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 (Apr-Sep) Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya Maharashtra 1606 1483 1124 1212 352 and Arunachal Pradesh do not Tamil Nadu 693 711 467 216 89 have any registered agency due to which adoption of children Andhra Pradesh 500 496 370 287 142 has taken a hit in these states. Karnataka 499 448 360 335 187 “There is no registered Kerala 310 259 329 198 95 adoption agency in Bihar. The West Bengal 656 598 388 399 86 government has not issued Bihar 61 199 69 66 24

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 155 Lowest Adoption immunization. Place 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 The programme will deploy Meghalaya 0 2 0 0 2 interventions that could greatly Arunachal Pradesh 2 2 0 0 0 reduce the level of malnutrition Chandigarh 0 0 0 0 9 among children under the age of five, according to an official Uttarakhand 6 3 5 12 0 spokesman here. Himachal Pradesh 6 5 1 11 2 In the beginning, the pro- Nagaland 0 0 9 8 21 gramme will focus intensively in Jhalawar and Sirohi districts, he state of Uttarakhand also re- Minister Vasundhara Raje said said. corded only 26 adoptions in five in a statement here. The innovations, once suc- years. “Proud Moments” cessful in these districts, will Among the foreign countries, be replicated, amplified and the US has adopted 672 chil- The MoU was signed in the rolled our across the State, the dren from India in the last five presence of Raje and Ratan spokesman added. years. Of these, 221 children Tata, Chairman of Tata Trust, it were adopted in 2010 while the said. Securing A Better number reduced to 140 in 2013. “The signed in of the MoU with Tata Trust and Antara Tomorrow Rajasthan Govt. Foundation in the presence Signs Mou To of Rata Tata was a proud mo- Millennium Post, New Delhi ment for the State and we are 17 March, 2015 Improve Maternal, excited about the programmer,” Union Minister of Women Child Health Raje said. She said “the willing- & Child Development ness shown by the Tata Trust Maneka Sanjay Gandhi The Hindu Business Line, Delhi Chairman for improvement in speaks to Tania Ameer 03 March, 2015 maternal and child health in about the ministry’s vision, Rajasthan is a welcome step.” its exemplary initiatives Rajasthan government on and achievements Monday signed a memoran- Addressing problem dum of understanding (MoU) How has your experience “The Tata Trust’s new initia- with Tata Trust and Antara been in the ministry till now? tive in addressing the problem Foundation to improve the It is a challenging ministry to of malnutrition among mothers health of women and children in handle because it had no pre- and infant children will have a the State. set parameters when I joined positive impact on millions of “There is plenty of scope and therefore nobody had done children in terms of their im- to improve the health status of any notable work in it for ages. proved health and resistance to women and young children in the Basically this was a ministry illness and physical and mental State. We believe that private which existed only to give salary deformity at birth,” said Ratan partnership in the programmer to women anganwadi workers. Tata. for improving maternal and child We then had to map out what it The programmer ‘Akshada’, health and bettering the nutri- is that this ministry had to do to for which the MoU has been tion status will take Rajasthan change India which is the core signed, will focus on areas such a long away in emerging as purpose of a ministry. Therefore as maternal anaemia, neo-na- a State with health indicators I made a strategy board (which tal mortality and improving on par with India’s best,” Chief you can see in the image on the

156 BUTTERFLIES right), after consulting all stake- any crime, should be sent to problems. holders on what I will do while the adult criminal justice sys- Tell us about your per- I am here. That board has be- tem. In effect we bring it done spective on Zero Tolerance come about 70 things that we completely. This demarcation of for Delays in the Adoption are working on currently. We age in many counties has come Process and how do you plan are making incremental chang- down to 12 years, including the make process hassle-free es on everything ranging from US, which implies recognizing and faster? small to big in every conceivable adolescents as adults for many When I came here, there area that we cab bring about a crimes. The second view is that were Central Adoption Resource change for the betterment of children are children. No mat- Authority (CARA) reforms, which women and children. ter what they do they should be had made a complete mess of Tell us more about this vi- treated as children. The third the issue over so many years. sion board. view is the current status quo, We have reformed it and made This board is based on what i.e. if a 16 year old commits a the process very simple. It will Indian women and children heinous crime that has been be further simplified once the need, with inputs from experts codified specifically as one, he act is passed. It gives specific who have been working in this will appear before the juvenile responsibilities and punishment field. We have also clarified justice board. They will then de- protocols to adoption centers. what the powers of the minis- cide whether he committed this Now we are even having adop- try are and which areas need crime with an adult or a childish tion workshops all over India. change. The vision board is an bent of mind. If it is found that There will also be a new foster alchemy of all theses aspects. he committed it with an adult care scheme. The government What are the new ini- bent of mind then he goes into will pay you to take care of the tiatives taken up by your the adult legal system. But even child. Under this scheme one ministry in this government? in that system if he is convicted can foster up to two to three (Explaining on the board) or waiting as an under trial, he children. We will keep a strin- We try very hard in this minis- will go in the children’s section gent check on people who opt try to make things happen. We and not the adult one. If he is for this scheme so that children work relentlessly on clearing convicted he stays there till he is are not treated like servants by files, removing the fake appli- 21. Again when he is 21, he will them. cations etc. we were the first to be re-examined to see whether In the ministry how do take up the Juvenile Justice Act he has reformed he will be let you plan to take up the issue and work on it. out and if not then he will con- of employment of women Taking about the Juvenile tinue to complete his sentence. and especially keeping in Justice Act (JJ Act) what What have been your mind PM’s vision of skill are the recommendations or achievements in the ministry development? changes you have in mind for till date? For this we invented the it? There are various issues Step programme for which have This was the first Act to be on which my ministry is keenly received around 3000 applica- placed before Parliament. The working on. One issue I have tions for skill development in the JJ Act is complex act and con- talked about is the JJ Act, the last two weeks. We give money tains three salient points. This is other one is adoption, as well as to anyone who wants to train regarding the change in our atti- relevant issues like skill devel- 2000 women at a time. After tudes towards 16 year olds who opment, nutrition, crime against that we will help these women commit heinous crimes. The women, safety and security of get loans so they can start work- first view on the issue is that all women, one stop crisis cen- ing independently as well. We those 16 years old, who commit ters and various other pertinent have the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 157 (RMK) and through that we will monitoring and tabulating all up by a gang of children. Now be working towards giving them their work every day. every compartment will have loans at reduced rates. The es- Is the ministry taking up two to three permanent posters sential focus of this programme the issue of Complaints of telling passengers that if they is to generate self employment Sexual harassment of women notice a child who is unaccom- for women who live in village at workplace? If so, how? panied then they should inform and can work from there. This is a major area of con- the concerned authorities. The Tell us about the ministry’s cern for us although we have numbers are printed on those initiative to deal with malnu- not been very successful in it posters. Also booths are being trition among children and till now but now we are working put up across railways stations women? Also tell us about very energetically on changing which will allow the child to use the ministry’s initiative re- it. If workplaces do not constitute the helping number-1098 so garding anganwadi centers? a sexual harassment committee that designated NGOs will come Nutrition is one big focus then action will be taken against help and rescue them. We have area for the ministry. It ties them, both in the private sector agreed on a Standard Operating up with the Beti Bachao, Beti as well in government. Procedure with railways, which Padhao programme and many How is the ministry ad- ensure that all railways per- more factors come into play. dressing the issue of missing sonnel will be trained and We invented the concept of children in the country? sensitized for this programme. anganwadis and around 24 We are working with the rail- They will give a monthly report lakh workers across India get a way ministry for the imitative on how many cases of missing basic pay of Rs 3000 plus the and this is perhaps for the first children were reported by them. state gives them at each state time since Independence (after It is a reward and punishment level varies; for example Uttar railways were set up) that such scheme. We are also stationing Pradesh gives them Rs 12000. a step has been taken. We dis- NGOs and paying them to look It is highly uneven. Their job is covered that the 5 lakh missing into this issue. We are focusing to look after pregnant women children in our country could on 20 stations to begin with and and children from the time they be divided into runway children then we will expand to say 200 are born to three years of age. and missing children. Both cate- more. This project is on a trial Till now they have never been gories of children travel by train. run. Very soon it will be imple- trained and there has been no The railways do not check for mented on a nationwide scale supervision over them, so the ticketless passengers because once we assess its functionality. standard has really suffered they have Travelling Ticket when it comes to food and child Examiner (TTE)s who check care. This has resulted in cre- for passengers in the reserved ating high malnutrition levels compartment and do not go to which is currently 47 per cent in the unreserved compartment India which is very dangerous as if there is a runaway child who it causes an impaired brain. We is travelling it is very difficult to are also doing substantial food track them. In one month alone reforms. We have also handed we have picked up about 700- them instruments like weighing 800 such children. The minute machines which will be con- such children arrival at a railway nected to a Global Positioning station they either have people Monitoring system. They have waiting for them to take them to update it on tablets given to away as labour and then pay them on daily basis. We are them in drugs or they are picked

158 BUTTERFLIES Index

A G Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) 35 Global Monitoring Report (GMR) 87 Adolescent 15, 98 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 100 Affordable housing 8, 12, 27 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 75, 85 H Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 144 Haq Centre for Child Rights 30 B HIV/AIDS 18 Homelessness 2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 22, 26, 28, 34, 40 Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) 51 Homeless Resource Centre (HRCs) 35 Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) 9 Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign 90 I Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 14, 18, 20 Inclusive Education (IE) 124 Border Security Force (BSF) 140 Indian Education Society 121 BPL (“Below Poverty Line”) 124 Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) 104 Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) 26 Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) 14 C Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) 19, 62 Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme Care and protection of Children 58, 59 (IHSDP) 9 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 140 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Child Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) 58 Cultural Rights (ICESR) 11 Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action Islamic State (IS) 141 (CHETNA) 149 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) 102, 130, 132 J Child Marriages 45 Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Children with special needs (CWSNs) 124 Mission (JNURM) 9 Child Right Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) 54 Joint Apex Advisory Committee (JAAC) 29 Child Rights and You 31, 110 Juvenile Justice 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 135, 136, Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) 121 144, 149, 156 Child Sex Ratio (CSR) 116 Composite Gender Index (CGI) 86 M D Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) 120 Delhi Development Authority (DDA) 28 Malnutrition 16, 105, 109 Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) 28, 35 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 155 DIET 78 Midday Meals 31, 96 Disability 8, 122 Migration 12, 27, 52, 80, 109, 137, 144 District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS) 110 Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) 85 Domestic violence 8, 13 Mission Indradhanush 109 E Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) 104 Mother NGO (MNGO) 29, 35 Economically Weaker Section (EWS) 12, 84 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) 111 Education Development Index (EDI) 83, 86 Evictions 12, 13, 19, 20, 28, 29 N Exploitation 15, 51 National Capital Territory (NCT) 34 F National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 54, 61 National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 110 Foeticide 51, 89, 90, 94, 95 National Food Security Act 65, 66 National Inspection and Monitoring Committee (NIMC) 117 National University of Education Planning and Administration Survey (NUEPA) 82

CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 159 NCERT 3, 78 United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child. 46 NCPCR 53, 135, 150, 152 Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) 108 NCTE 78 UNODC 144 New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) 17 Upper Primary Schools (UPS) 86 P W Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) 139 Water Sanitation Hygiene programme for schools (WASH) 128 People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) 33 Women and Child Development 54, 62, 70, 126, 151, 152, 153 Population Foundation of India (PFI) 92 World Bank 78 Pre-Conception 152 World Food Security (CEF) 64 Pre-Natal Diagnostic 152 World Trade Organization (WTO) 64 Primary Lending Institutins (PLIs) 9 Primary Schools (PS) 86 Project Implementation Plan (PIP) 110 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) 152 psychiatric disorders 16 Pupil-Teacher Ratios (PTR) 82 R Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) 9 Rapid Survey on Children (RSOC) 110 Rapporteur 11, 12, 14, 19, 21, 22 Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) 156 Rehabilitation 13, 20, 21, 32, 58, 69, 73, 130, 134, 135, 136, 147, 150, 153 Rights to Education Act (RTE) 81 Rural Poverty 30 S Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) 83, 124 SCERT 78 Scheduled Castes (SCs) 128 Sexual Violence 15 Shahri Adhikar Manch : Begharon Ke Saath (SAM : BKS) 28 SOS Children Villages 154 South Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements (SICCFM) 66 Standard Operating Procedures” (SOP) 152 Station House Officer (SHO) 49 Substance Abuse 8 Supreme Court Commissioner’s Office (SCCO) 35 T The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 11 Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) 65 Trafficking 15, 34, 37, 50, 51, 52, 129, 132, 133, 136, 137, 138, 144, 153 U Unemployment 8, 11, 14 UNESCO 85, 88, 120 UNICEF 3, 52, 66, 67, 85, 120, 126, 142 Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 124 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 3, 66

160 BUTTERFLIES CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 161 ii) What three things can be incorporated in Children in News to make it more useful to the reader?

162 BUTTERFLIES Delhi Child Rights Club

The Delhi Child Rights Club (DCRC) was launched by BUTTERFLIES in 1998. There was a need to have a children's forum in Delhi where children could articulate their issues and collectively take action to get their entitlements which is rightfully theirs.

BUTTERFLIES invited children of NGOs working with children based in Delhi to be part of this forum. The response to this invitation was encouraging. Today there are children from 15 NGOs who are members In the little world in which and in recent times children from various neighbourhoods have attended DCRC meetings. The primary objective of DCRC is to have children's voices heard by civil society and policy makers, their views on issues children have their existence pertaining to their lives be taken seriously, and to consult them on all issues related to their welfare, development and protection. DCRC is open to all children of Delhi under 18 years of age whether from working whosoever brings them up,there is class, middle class or upper class background or a child living in an institution. A city-wide Child Rights Club is one mechanism where by children can work together towards the creation of a child safe and nothing so finely perceived and so friendly city. The children envisage a city where children's rights to respect, dignity, opportunities, growth, development and protection are ensured. DCRC enables ongoing opportunities for all children in Delhi to finely felt as injustice meet together to find ways to increase awareness and action about their rights. Moreover, DCRC seeks recognition as forum of children who should be consulted whenever city policies or decisions are being made that affect them.

Child representatives from a number of NGOs currently meet together Charles Dickens for regular monthly sometimes bi-monthly meetings. Through discussions, research, their own newspaper “Delhi Children's Times” and street theater they have continued to share their experiences, plan and undertake actions which promote their rights. DCRC members have given their suggestion on various government policies and very recently on National Policy for Children.

"We discuss all problems that children face and the points that come up are shared with officers of the government and also with municipal councillors”.

The Delhi Child Rights Club welcomes all children to join them. If you are interested in knowing more about DCRC please contact :

Delhi Child Rights Club C/O Butterflies, U-4, Green Park Ext., New Delhi-110016 Tel : 011-26163935, 26191063 CHILDREN IN NEWS VOL XXIV, 2015 163 HOMELESSNESS ABOUT BUTTERFLIES Children in News Homelessness

VOL. XXIV, 2015

HIS NAME IS TODAY

Years V

1989 -2014 OL. XXIV , 2015

U-4, Green Park Extension, New Delhi-110016 164 BUTTERFLIES Tel.: 26163935, 26191063 E-mail: [email protected]