Abstract:
Street children constitute one of the most vulnerable Groups in Delhi. At the time of forming save the Children India, it was decided to focus our interventions on this critical group of children. Street children fall into three categories. The first are street living Children who have run away from their families and Live alone on the streets. The second are street-working Children who spend most of their time on the streets fending for themselves, but return home on a regular basis. The last Category is children from street families who live on the street with their family.
Approximately 51,000 children below 18 years of age were enumerated as street children through this census. Thirty Six per cent of street children belonged to the category of Children from street families. Children who work on the Streets and returned home regularly constituted 29 per cent and children living alone on the street constituted 28 per cent of the total street children population in the city.
Sixty one per cent of the children surveyed were 7-14 years of Age. Only 20 per cent of the street children in Delhi were girls. Dalit’s were 36 per cent, while 17 per cent were adivasis.
In terms of what street children were occupied with; 20 per Cent were rag picking, 15 per cent were street vending, another 15 per cent were begging, 12 per cent were working in roadside Stalls or repair shops 6 per cent were working in dhabas/ Hotels and 1 per cent are employed in manufacturing units.
While every effort should be made to reunite street children with their families, the government should also ensure that the basic rights of street children to shelter, food, clothing, Education, health and protection. This should be provided in an age-appropriate manner.
