SHILLONG, May 26: A significantly large number of children in Shillong Urban Agglomeration (21.2%) have the support of a single parent (mother) while 8% did not have any, a new study has revealed.
The study titled “Children at Risk in Shillong Urban Agglomeration” was conducted by the Reach Shillong Ministries. The study covered a total number of 457 children (219 females and 238 males) from nine localities in Shillong Urban Agglomeration including Iewduh, Madanrting, Mawbah, Mawblei, Mawpat, Nongmensong, Khyndai Lad, Polo and Pynthorumkhrah. A total of 228 parents also participated in the study.
Those who participated in the study included children in street situations, children from urban poor families, migrant children (rural, urban and interstate), working children, child beggars, school dropouts and children who had never been enrolled in school.
The study which was published in the form of a booklet titled “Children at Risk: A Study Conducted in Shillong Urban Agglomeration” was launched by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo on Thursday.
Member of Reach Shillong Ministries, Dr Melarishisha Nongrum while making a PowerPoint presentation on the study during the launch function said the aim of the study was to analyse the experiences of the children at risk and to determine the availability of services from government and non-government offices and to recommend suitable recommendations for enhancing the wellbeing of these children.
According to her, persons under 18 years of age are susceptible to intense and chronic risk factors or combination of risk factors in personal, environment or relational domains that may prevent them from pursuing and fulfilling their potential.
She further stated that the experience of these children has been documented by following the four major rights of children – survival, development, protection and participation, while adding that they have also documented the existing services for children at risk provided by government and voluntary organisations.
Dr Nongrum also pointed out that 89% of these children live with minimal material comfort and assets in rented places which are mostly shanties in nature.
She further observed that close to 10% of the children are addicted to smoking bidis, cigarettes and chewing tobacco while 5% of the children have started taking alcohol.
As many as 23% of the children are not in school out of which 25.6% are males who have dropped out of school.
“One-third of the parents have never been enrolled in any school. They are working in the unorganised sector as daily wage labourers, domestic workers, street vendors, drivers etc,” Dr Nongrum said.
Most children (82%) share their problems with their mother followed by siblings (7%) while 4% of the children do not share their problems with anyone, she said.
“Although a majority (74.8%) of the children engages in games, 34% go to the street to play,” Dr Nongrum said.
During the daytime, 25% of the children are on their own with no adult supervision while 16% are cared for by elder siblings.
“15% of the children expressed being frightened over bullying by other children. It was also found that 15% of the children had been sexually assaulted (nine females and six males),” she said.
Dr Nongrum pointed out that the main challenges faced by children was alcoholism in the family, bullying by family members, fear as the home is isolated, fights and quarrels at home, financial problems in the family, loneliness and poverty.
According to her, only half of the households received ration under the Public Distribution System and this was primarily due to lack of documents to apply for the ration card.
In her address, the deputy commissioner said the study was timely and will help the government understand the problems of the children at risk.
She also said that copies of the study should be forwarded to the various departments.
Laloo also assured to find out how to resolve the problem of these children.
Among others who were present at the launch programme included District Child Protection Officer ML Warjri, president of Reach Shillong Ministries Rev RG Laloo, inmates of Lawei Baphyrnai Group Foster Home for Girls and Open Day Shelter, Iew Mawlong.
