SHILLONG: The sight of ragged-looking children almost clinging on to passers-by in the city’s commercial hub, Police Bazar, begging for food or money is all too common for anybody to miss. Poverty and starvation are visible in the eyes of these little ones who have lost much or all of their innocence thanks to the miserable life they have to endure. These “children of a lesser God” are adding to the already existing beggars’ problem in the city. Then there are other kids who have taken to rag picking and dwell in slum areas. Adding to the disturbing numbers are also children seen with bookmarks or carrying in a basket, packets of cigarettes, kwai etc., in the market place. Speaking to The Shillong Times on the issue, Childline (Shillong unit) coordinator, Iba Synrem said, “It is tough task to handle the issue of child beggars in the city as most of them are outsiders who come from Assam and Bihar and go back after some time. The parents are mostly vendors; the children along with the parents are engaged in rag-picking and dwell in slums.” “It is difficult to talk to them (the children or their parents) as they come (to the city) during rush seasons in order to make some quick money,” the Childline coordinator added. Coming to the case of local boys who take to the streets selling stuff ranging from tobacco products to bookmarks, Symrem surprisingly said that most of such boys wanted to earn to eat out at restaurants play at game stations and others despite coming from financially decent backgrounds. “A chat with some of the parents revealed that they were unaware that their kids were out selling stuff. They claimed that they never authorized such acts and that the children had ventured into the business on their own,” Synrem said adding that ultimately such children lose out on school.
“Once they start earning, it is difficult to take them away from the money making business.” she added.
While earning at an early age and foregoing schooling have their ramifications, Synrem said that the current trend signals a dangerous rise in high drop-out rates. Reacting to a query on children who sniff dendrite, the Childline coordinator said that such children usually come from broken families. Synrem, however, claimed that the menace of child labour has come down of late. “We took the children working in tea stalls for medical test to determine their age and it was found that most of the children are above the age of 14.” In light of the numerous cases of child rights abuse, the number of cases Childline receives fluctuates. “In a month there can be 20-35 cases on matters relating to rescuing children from abuse,” she said. Referring to the adage of charity begins at home, Synrem stressed that parents should guide their children to take the right path. “There are cases where both parents are alcoholics; they ill-treat their children even to the extent of asking their wards to purchase alcohol,” she added.
She also informed that children who become orphans and left in the care of their relatives who abuse them are rescued by Childline and are later housed in temporary shelters. Childline has a toll free number 1098, and has centers Nongstoin, Tura and Nongpoh and mostly deals in medical and shelter cases. “The MHIS has benefitted the children who come from poor families and if that is not enough we mobilise sponsorship as well,” Synrem informed while urging people to inform Childline about any child in need of care.
