Study of Street Children (A Case Study of Ratnapark Area) Kathmandu, Nepal
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Rural Development
Abstract
The problem of street children is universal phenomenon. It is comparatively very high
in those countries where there is rapid growth of urbanization. The number of street
children has grown in recent decades because of widespread recession, political
turmoil, civil unrest, increasing family disintegration, natural disaster, and growing
urbanization. The street children could be orphaned or abandoned children or simply
neglected or runways. They could be with or without family. They are also termed as
community children. Because of the various reasons such as family causes, social
causes, economic causes, political causes that force them to be in the street.
During the research, 50 samples from Ratnapark area were taken along with semi
observation technique to acquire relevant information and data. Secondary data from
social workers and NGOs are used significantly. Majority of the street children aged
between 9 to 13 years are migrating to Kathmandu for survival and being street
children. The highest number of the street children was found from Brahmin/Chhetri
family and rest of them were from privilege groups like Tamang, Newar, Sherpa etc.
The literacy status of the respondents is low. Most of them dropped out school due to
economic crisis in family and not paid school fee. Many children do have homes and
parents. Even do, they are in the street because most of the parents are alcoholic,
economic crisis in family, for searching jobs in Kathmandu, city attraction from their
friends, etc. It was observed that extreme household poverty is the contributing factor
for migration of children and engaging in street work. Street children were involved
in different economic activities such as rag picking, begging, hotel, tempo/micro bus
conductor, domestic work etc. Those children who feel bad with their jobs, they get
inhuman treatment from their employers and have not secured in the street. Being
risky and hazardous work for children they encounter with various injuries/accidents
and illness during working period. But, they are not provided medical expenses. On
the other hand, they are extremely harassed and abused by adults. Mostly they use
drugs just for relax. They need more freedom and forget any kind of problem. But
some children use drugs for killing sadness and fear. They use when they have to
involve in crime, stealing and pick pocketing jobs. Almost all children want to leave
drugs to fulfill their future plan and for betterment of their life.