Status of Children Who Were Sent out from Government Homes
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Status of children who were sent out from Government Homes Report Submitted by Dr R Sujatha Director Karupa Institute of Development Initiatives CONTENT S.No Content Page No 1 Introduction 1 2 Condition of the Children 2 3 Housing conditions 3 4 Parents Education 3 5 Children’s Education 3 6 Food habits 4 7 Challenges faced while search of Children 5 8 Case Studies – Chennai, Kanchipuram & Thiruvallur 6 9 Recommendation & Conclusion 74 Acknowledgement At the outset, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Dr. M.P.Nirmala, I.A.S (Retd.) for providing me with this opportunity to undertake a study to look at the conditions of Children who were sent away from Government Homes. The experience in the field was challenging and tracing the children itself was a matter of challenge and we had a tough time trying to locate the children. I wish to thank the team of field investigators – Mr. Newton Durai in Tiruvannamalai District, Ms. Vidhyasankari in Cuddalore, Mr.P. Naresh, Ms. Shalini and Ms. Saranya in Tiruvallur District and Dr. Arun and Students from Nandanam College who supported us in the search for the children and also data collection. It is at the time of completion; I recollect with extreme gratitude the continuous source of support and strength offered by my friends Dr. R. Gopinath and Ms. D. Suvitha. The journey in search of the children who were sent away from the Government Homes made us realise that the life for these children was indeed tough. It makes us wonder whether some support system is possible for these children so that the quality of life of these children improve. - Dr R Sujatha - Director - Karupa Institute of Development of Initiatives - Introduction: The assignment was to study the status of the 220 notified children and their livelihood in Tiruvannamalai (6), Cuddalore (10), Chennai, Kanchipuram & Tiruvallur districts (204). As per the given mandate and given instructions, tried to locate and visited 220 notified children’s villages as per the addresses provided by the Commission. (Tables 1 & 2) A field based survey was conducted in which, we were able to meet 145 children and interact with the family members. The remaining children we were unable to meet as the addresses were not correct and some had relocated without forwarding address (Table 3). Table No. 1: District-wise Children as per list Total number of S.No District children in the list 1 Chennai 106 2 Cuddalore 10 3 Kanchipuram 34 4 Thiruvallur 64 5 Thiruvanamalai 6 Total 220 Table 2: Age group of the children in the list S.No Age Number of Children 1 6 to 10 19 (0.86%) 2 11 to 15 140 (63.3%) 3 16 to 20 51 (23.2%) 4 Not answered 10 (0.05%) Total 220 It was noticed that the maximum number (63.3%) of children were in the adolescent age group. Table 3: Status of the Children Number of S.No Status of find the children Children 1 Found 129 (58.63%) 2 No more 1 3 Not Found 74 (33.63%) 4 Collected details from Neighbours 16(0.072%) Total 220 58.63% of the children were located and for 0.07% of the children, details could be elicited from the neighbours. On the whole, details of nearly 65% of the children, data could be collected with rather minimal details provided. 1 Condition of the Children: During the visit, it was seen that most of the children were dropouts and were working in small shops in their respective area along with their friend and family members in need of livelihood. Only five to six children were going to school. Three children reported that they were taken away by the police while playing in the beach and put them in a home. The three children said that they feel very insecure because atleast monthly twice investigators coming and repeatedly kept enquiring about them and their behavior. They felt that because of this, their neighbours were treating them with suspicion. The principle of fresh start as available in the JJ Act seeks to liberate juvenile offenders from the stain of a criminal conviction and offers them a second chance, a fresh start free of the social and economic disabilities which often accompany a conviction. Table 4: Health status of the children S.No Health Status of Children Number of Children 1 Good Health 58 2 Skin Problem 1 3 Breathing problem 3 4 Severe Skin allergy and Breathing problem 2 5 Kidney problem 1 6 leg fractured 1 7 Nerve problem 3 8 Sick person 1 9 TB 1 10 Not reported 74 Total 145 Family Situation: A similar study1 indicated that children from single-parent families were about 10 to 15 percent more likely to turn into delinquent than those children from similar social characteristics from two parent families. It is therefore essential that some effort is taken in the case of children to address their immediate environment – the family. Interventions like family therapy, counseling could alter family interaction pattern in case of the children in a favorable way. Families of identified children were mostly from poor economic status. Parents of all the children were daily wage earners, many of the parents were not living together, or father had two families. Five to six children had problems like kidney failure, heart problem, fits etc. The parents of some children said that their children were working as their family situation forced them to send their children to work. 7 children mentioned that they saved their daily wages by depositing in the chit funds, Neighbours also do not have good opinion of the children and this in turn makes the children more aggressive or withdrawn. Almost all the families were struggling for daily livelihood and it was often seen that they were forced to struggle even for their basic needs. 1 Jain K. A Study of Juvenile Delinquents in India: A Burning Issue. Pioneer Journal. 2016;4(4). 2 Housing conditions: Almost of them live in thatched houses and there was no proper housing available for them. During rainy seasons, they were temporarily shifted to community hall in the village during night time or to the neighboring houses. Only few of them occasionally lived in rented house. Parents Education: Most of them were dropouts at the primary level itself due to family situation and none of them passed fifth standard. Children’s Education: Children in that family studied up to middle school level only. After that they normally opt for daily labour work due to poverty. Of the 145 children, 85 are dropouts and another 10 are in child care centre. Therefore, only 50 students are in school or post-school institution at present (Table 5). Table 5: Educational status of the children who traced during the survey S. No Educational Status Number of Children 1 4th 2 2 5th 15 3 6th 17 4 7th 1 5 8th 8 6 9th 4 7 10th 1 8 in boarding school 1 9 ITI 1 10 Dropouts 85 11 Child Care Institution 10 Total 145 3 Educational status of the children 4 to 10th Class 7% 36% Dropouts 57% Still in Child Care Institution Food habits: All the family members are mainly dependent on PDS provisions mainly rice, dal, sugar and kerosene. Occasionally they consume non vegetarian food. Starvation and skipping meals were very common occurrences in the families. Challenges faced while search of Children In areas like Korukkupet and Kodungiyur, the people are too rough. When we went in search of children they turned violent and came to beat us. Few Children parents are scolded how many people will come like. If you come and enquiring about our children they feel unsecured. Some children like 7 to 8 children are not good even now. Children raised so many issues and those are listed in Table 6. Table 6: Issues highlighted by Children Number of S.No Issues Highlighted Children 1 Three went to Juvenile Camp Still he misbehaves 1 2 All family members are sick. No one there to take care 6 3 Lack of attendance so school terminated him 3 4 Robbery habit/ stealing 5 5 Currently he is in Obervation Homes 1 6 Due to health issue this boy sent to home from Child care 5 institutions 4 7 Parents requested not to come like this often and not 9 interested to share their current status 8 He uses drugs and alcohol 1 9 No change in Behavior 10 10 shifted to aunt house for treatment 1 11 Shifted to new place in search of job 3 12 stopped robbery after counselling 1 13 Child Care centre counselling helps to make children happy 7 14 Committed Suicide 1 15 Working in shops like welding shop, petti shop etc. 15 16 Police and family members searching as they had committed 2 theft and went out Total 71 5 Case Studies Chennai District Child 1: 266/17 Name : Kesavan Age: 16 Years Education: Father’s Name: Mr Venkatesan Address: 121, Chetty Thottam, Alandhur road, Saidapet, Chennai Summary We met his grandmother She says that he is currently good. Now-a-days he avoids bad friendship who drinks and drugs. But problem is not going to school regularly. Health condition is good. Unable to meet this boy and his parents ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Child 2: 495/17 Name: Joseph Age: 17 Father’s Name: Edwin Address: 77, Annai sathya nagar 2nd st, Anna Nagar District: Chennai We met SAROJA who is grandmother (relation to the child/neighbour) to get details and the current situation of the child.