Pilot study on situation of vulnerable children in Buxar district.BIHAR

7/29/2019 Pilot study on situation of vulnerable children in Buxar district.BIHAR

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Pilot Study

onAn Analysis of the Situation of Vulnerable Children

in

Buxar District.

Conducted by SARTHI

# Road No- 17, Rajiv Nagar, Po- Keshri Nagar, Patna- 800024.

E-mail- [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Study team

Nawaz ul haque (team leader)

Tarkeshwar singh (child rights expert)

Ravi ranjan sinha (research analyst)

Kundan (research associate)


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Acknowledgements

The present research study would not have been possible without the

help and efforts of SARTHI.

We would also like to thanks Mr.Tarkeshwar Singh for his valuable

suggestions.

I wish to record with appreciation the sincere service and hard work

of the field supervisor and our research analyst Mr.Ravi Ranjan

Sinha for their services.

Last but not the least our special thanks to all the street children who

participated in the study.

Nawaz ul haque

Research Consultant

SARTHI


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Contents

Executive summary

Background

Objectives and methodology

Findings

Conclusions & recommendations


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Executive Summary

Following are the summarized findings of the empirical Pilot study conducted in Buxar

district town on 40 vulnerable street child children.

1. The Socio-economic background of the sample respondents shows that majority of

the street children are male, belonging to age group 11-14 years.

2. Nearly 90% of them are unable to read and write i.e., 36 out of 40 are illiterates.

3. 77 per cent living with parents on the streets. (5%) live alone on the street, rest are

live with their father or mother on the street.

4. Majority of the children are from rural areas of the same district and they come

along with their parents due to poverty and hunger in native place (72.5). Others

came to earn more money.5. Majority of the children (52.5 %) are engaged in collecting things from garbage,

12.5 % were involved in brooming in the train /road sides.17.5% were engaged in

water bottle selling at station and other places nearby, 10% are involved in

begging, 5% are working in small shops. Rests 2.5% are doing petty things for

their earning.

6. 40 Percent children place of staying is railway station and next bus stations.

7. Nearly 95 percent of them have taken work of street child for last six years.

8. Illiteracy, poverty, indebtedness, other economic factors are important reasons for

their vulnerability and streetism.

9. 95 per cent are earning below Rs. 1600 per month, while the highest and lowest

earnings are Rs. 3000 and Rs. 600.

10. Nearly 80 percent of street child families are still having huge debts and source of

debt is moneylenders.

11. Majority of child rag pickers goes for collection of garbage on foot.

12. Nearly 82.5 percent of the respondents are facing different problems at the time ofworking and they suffer from infections and ill health.

13. About 52 percent of the children received medical care from government facilities.

14. 52.5 % respondent children were Muslim and 47.5 are Hindus.

15. When talk about the importance of education 95% affirms the importance of

education in life, 5% replied negatively.


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15. Majority of children shown interest in joining school (70%), if opportunity is

available to them and any one to guide them.

16. Less no of Respondent children are having bad habits such as consumption of a

tobacco / cigarette, and gutka in various forms (37.5%), but this figure is alarming.

17. Majority of the street child do not purchase significant consumer durable items.18. Majority of respondent children are spending money on consumable and

unproductive items, such as beedi, tobacco and cinema, but major chunk of their

income was used by their parents.

Based on this study we also recommend some suggestions for the betterment of

vulnerable children in the district.

Pilot study on An Analysis of the Situation of


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Vulnerable Children in Buxar District.

Children are the most vulnerable group in any society because they

depend on the decisions and actions of others (adults) for their

survival and development. Decisions made by adults deny children

their rights to basic education and health, protection, free movement

and speech, be heard and legal protection. Such denials are

manifested in street children, child labor, rag pickers, children headed

households, lack of institutional set up and inadequate resource

allocation to address childrens rights and needs, etc. In this context

the CRC commits Governments to assume primary responsibility in

protecting childrens rights, among others, by ensuring that the laws of

the land and the corresponding administrative structures comply with

the provisions of the CRC.

This cross sectional pilot study conducted in and around Buxar town

area by selected 40 vulnerable children randomly to asses the

situation for long term intervention with this group.

A child is defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)as a person under the

age of 18. This includes infancy, early childhood, middle childhood and adolescents.

The UN Convention on Rights of the Child, 1989 draws attention to four sets of civil, political, social,economic and cultural rights of every child. These are:

Right to survival: This includes the right to life, the highest attainable standard of health, nutrition,

and adequate standards of living. It also includes the right to a name and a nationality.

Right to protection: This includes freedom from all forms of exploitation, abuse, inhuman or

degrading treatment, and neglect including the right to special protection in situations ofemergency and armed conflicts.

Right to development: This includes the right to education, support for early childhood

development and care, social security, and the right to leisure, recreation and culturalactivities.

Right to participation: This includes respect for the views of the child, freedom of expression,access to appropriate information, and freedom of thought, conscience and religion.


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Objectives and Methodology-:

The present pilot study is an analysis of the situation of vulnerable

children which seeks to investigate into the Socio-Economic

conditions and problems of street Children in Buxar district town city

with the following objectives.

1. To identify and study Socio-Economic conditions of Children living

in difficult situation.

2. To examine their perceptions about educational and training issues.

3. To analyze their behavior, Estimate their Earnings and consumption

patterns.

4. To examine the reasons of migration, effects of working Environm

on their health condition.

5. To identify and analyze the factors responsible for their deprivation of

their rights.

6. To identify their problems at work and their future inclination.

7. To find out various ways to provide tender care and emotional support

for their educational and co-curricular activities, so they can have a

secure future and part of a good citizenry.

40 vulnerable children have been selected randomly from different pa

Buxartown area for purpose of collecting data. A structured questionnaire/ sch

have

been used in which questions and items regarding the socio-eco

background


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and other problems of the street children are included. Efforts have been

to elicit

their free and frank views.

Limitations of the study

The study had naturally some limitations. Some of the major

limitations of the study were as under:

1. Size of sample was small and the pattern emerging out of the

study may not be applicable in general. Therefore, the findings

should be interpreted cautiously.

2. Problems of non-response and other attitudinal biases

connected with perceptional questions.

3. The investigators during the conduct of field work posed some

difficulty in getting their responses.


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Results and findings.

Profile of the respondent children

The pilot study on situational analysis of vulnerable children at Buxar

district, Bihar was conducted between June July 2011 .The sample

size was 40 which covered three areas of Buxar district. Interviewswere conducted with respondent children by means of structured

questionnaire with closed & open ended questions. A copy of

questionnaire is attached as appendix 2.

Demographic characteristics of street children

1. Location of street children:

Table 1 gives the distribution of street children by the location

where they were living at that time of the survey. The survey

reveals that all the street children living on the street (100%) and

majority of them live with their parents & and also were migrated

from other villages of district.

2. Age & religious profile:Thesurvey interviewed only those street

children who reported their age between 5-18 years. The age


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distribution of street children is given in table 2. It can be seen that

(37.5%) were of age 11 -14 years which is not surprising

concentration in this category. (35%) had age 8-10 years. Among

40 respondent street children 47.5% were reported Hindu and 52.5

% were Muslims.

3. Orphan children:

Table 3 provides the information against the status of orphan

children (both parents deceased) which are count the (2.5%) of the

total respondent children.

4. Location of Parents /guardians

Respondents were asked to describe the location of their parents if

this was known. Out of total 40 respondents, 40 respondents knew

the location of their parents. About 77.5 percent indicated that they

live with their parents on the street. Respondents live with their

mother only (10%) with father only (5%). Followed by 5% indicated

that their parents live in home town/village (table-4).

Overall appears the proportionally more street children live with

their parents on the street shows correlation with the factors of

poverty, hunger co-exist with each other and search of more

opportunities of income in large towns.

5. Reasons for leaving home and information to parents:


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The respondent children were asked why did you leave your

town/village home? and number of options were presented in the

questionnaire with a possibilities of expending on these the two

most important reasons mentioned were;-

Come to earn money with parents- (Income) -----(25%) Left home

on

account of this.

Poverty and Hunger--------------------(72.5%) Reported this.

Dont want to go school. (2.5%)

The statistics reveals the gloomy picture, the first two indicators

are co related to each- other, because it shows poverty and misery

resulted in creation of forced, pushed and pulled factors of earning

or migration of children (table-6).

6. Sleeping Arrangements (current location):

About (100%) said that they were sleep on the street always,

occasionally they sleep in the bus shelter, shop shelter etc. The

data also indicated that children sleep at same sight every night

and thus considers it as their permanent place of sleeping. Those

who consider their sleeping place temporary were small in numbers

(table-5).

7. Age of the children when first started work:

About (95%) started working when they are in formative age of


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their life ( 5-8 years). Rest (5%) stated when they were of age

between 8-12 years started working on the streets (table-10)

8. How did you find the work:Table 8 reflects that how street children find the work. About

(37.5%) of the children reported that they themselves started the

job. Nearly (60%) of the children reported that they get the job

through friends, in case of (1%) of the children reported the get the

job through relatives.

9. Current Work

The respondent street children in study areas are engaged in verity

of activities. The responses are to some extent concentrated in four

categories:

Rag picking 52.5%

Begging 10%

Selling water bottles 17.5%

Brooming in trains 12.5%

The aforementioned activity well reported by the street children at

the time of interview. The street children suppressed the nature of

their works they didnt report correctly if the nature of work is


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illegal and not approved by the society. Illegal activities like pick

pocketing, theft, snatching, drug peddling were not replied by

children (table-7)

10. Work hours and weekly working days:

Based on focus group discussions and the reported data it appears

that average street children works 5.23 days in a week and work

between 5 to 7 hours per day.

11. Earning, expenditure and saving:

Questions were asked about the earning last 15 days and

expenditure. About majority of the respondent children had earned

between Rs. 100 to Rs. 150. The children were asked how much of

their earnings they keep. 5% of the children reported that they

keep all of it, while the 70% said that they keep some of it and give

their earning to parents for saving purpose 25% remaining children

gave the money to other people known to them like chai wala, stall

wala etc. Regarding expenditure of the earnings the respondent

children majority money goes on food and clothing. (Table-9)

12. Liking or disliking the work

The survey reveals that 55% like or enjoy their current work. The

rest 45% did not like or enjoy their present work. (Table-11) Those

who enjoyed their work were asked to state reasons for liking the


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work most of them gave the reason that they are able to earn

money for himself, followed by the reasons that they can help their

family. Similarly amongst those who didnt like their work due to

Abuse & mistreatment of general public.

13. Sickness during work, Medical care and expenses:

In the context of street children health more than half 82.5% of the

respondent children reported that they felt sick during their work.

The most common type of sickness was fever, headache and water

borne disease those who were sick were asked whether they took

medical care or no for their illness. About 52.5 percentages of them

went to the government hospital services followed by 12.5% to

private doctors, 17.5 % does not receive care. The sick children

were asked whether they could afford the cost of treatment easily

or not.42.5 % of them said they could afford the coast (table-12,

13, 14) where 57.5% of the children mentioned said they could not

afford the cost.

14. Education:

Respondent were asked the number of questions with regards to

their education, reasons for not going to school and reading and

writing abilities. It was found that (77.5%) children never attended

any formal school. The respondent who indicated that they were

not attending school were asked to give the reasons for this and

the profile of the responses are present in (table16-19).It was seen

that more children were not attending their school due to poverty


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or lack of educational support or due to their nature of earning

work. Thus presumably means their parents/guardians were unable

to support their continued schooling or that the home financial

situation was of such a nature that there was no income and this

forcing the child to meet his/her basic requirements outside of the

home. The respondent were asked as to their reading and writing

skills, if the answer was yes for reading then the child was asked to

read up the part of questionnaire or sample provided to interviewer

as a means of verification that child can actually read. Thus, if the

child could show its ability to read, then the child was determined

as able to read, otherwise categorized unable to read. Likewise the

ability to writing was determined through the same process of

verification. The outcomes of the two tests are collated in table 18-

19.

The survey indicated that (90%) cannot read against (10%) can

read. Likewise in writing ability section (92.5%) was unable to write

against (7.5%) were able to write shows high correlation

understandably exist reading and writing skills. This implies that

the overwhelming majority street children had virtually no

education.

15. Importance of school education & training

The respondents were very much willing to go school and acquire


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training if such opportunity shall provide to them. Among all

respondent (95%) reported that they give importance to school

educations but on asking of question would they like to go school

if you are given an opportunity then (70%) respondents readily

agreed that they would definitely go to school. (30%) is reported

negatively. Regarding training opportunity (75%) children replied in

affirmative against (10%) replied in not so important category.

(table-21-23)

16. Free Time

Based on reported data, most of the children entertain themselves

by playing different outdoor games (70%), others entertain by

helping parents for domestic works (5%), or Others (25%) which

include hanging outside, playing cards, sleeping, study and some

were involved in Drugs using like sulation (Whitener). As the

children have to work for a long time they can enjoy limited modes

of entertainments. (Table-24)

17. Drugs Use

In context of using drugs or similar types of substances (37.5%) of

the street children said that they use drugs or similar type of

substances. Pursuing this further, the respondent said that they

smoke cigarettes, use sulation (Whitener) as inhaler sometimes

beedi. (62.5%) replied negatively. The above statistics show the


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substantial chunk of the street children are using drugs or

dependency of drugs which is resulting in an increase of petty theft

among them and lead to more criminal and violent activities.

(Table-25-26)

18. Ever arrested by police

The respondent was asked whether they were ever arrested by the

police. Almost (100%) of the street children replied in negative

(Table-27)

19. Awareness of NGOs/Institutions

Table 28 shows the data about awareness of street children about

organization providing assistance to street children. No child is

aware of any such organizations. This shows the working status of

such organizations in the district. We can infer that there is an

urgent need of such organizations who are working in the field of

child protection and child welfare.

20. Assistance needed from Society/Govt./NGOs

The respondents were asked about the assistance they needed

from the society/Govt./NGOs. The most important assistances they

needed are:

Food and clothing for self (7.5 %).

Night lodging/ Shelter (72.5 %).


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Others. (20%). (include education, cycle,

health

Facilities etc)

It can be inferred from the above responses that majority of the

street children in both gender emphasize on shelter, food and

clothing. This is the area of the basic needs often individuals and

also guaranteed under the Article 21 in the Indian Constitution and

also the responsibility of state Govt. under the directive principles

of Constitution. (Table-32)

21. Facing problems while on the Street

The respondents were asked What kind of problems/risks have

you faced while working/Living on the street?Unfortunately

About (50%) faced Physical assault (with or without weapon),

Verbal abuse, Non-payment and mistreatment on the street by local

people. (2.5%) respondent faced the police ire like scolding and

beating etc. It is seen from the data profile that it is the society, its

people, their mindsets, their attitude are the major factors

responsible for the torture and cruelty towards street children .

Whether it is a lice or a common man all use them for their own

wasted purposes. It is a very sorry state of street children in Patna.

(table-48)

22. Future Inclination


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No responses were recorded in 14 cases (35%) of the sample

which showed that these children were uncertain about their future.

Of the total group (10%) showed up preference for being a Teacher,

others (55%) which includes government service , politician, police

official, cycle mechanic, actor, driver etc. (table- 33)

Conclusion and Recommendations:

The problem of street child has to be addressed from at least twoangles. The first one is the attitudinal change of the society. Street

children represent the end point of a complex set of factors, whichrequire a multitude of resources and efforts to address the problem. Asituation that has been created due to the existing social, political andeconomic pressures in society and needs to be addressed at the rootof the problem, through an attitudinal change in the society.

However, change is not an easy process. A change that demands amodification in attitudes, as well as change in the social, economic andpolitical situation, is a slower process. Policy makers, Industry, Society

need to view street children with compassion and sensitivity.

Concentrated and specific efforts of the NGOs, Philanthropist and theGovt. are needed in this context counseling (help line), informal talksand befriending. Non-formal education, setting up training centers,reaching marketable and useful skills will change their life for better.

Immediate following steps to be taken

1. Build District-level Government structures to ensure better

protection and systemic coordination for children.

2. Increase funding and collaboration for child protection.

3. Review Universal Education System to ensure that all childrenincluding vulnerable children realize their Right to Education.


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4. involvement in intervention design and delivery.

5. Address the concern of older vulnerable children to ensure ageappropriate interventions monitoring and evaluation system.

6. Consider the role of institutional care and transit homes.

7. Build capacity of family to care for and protect vulnerablechildren.

8. Expand support networks for community run programs

9. Address the emerging culture of dependency.

10. Investigate street children further.

11. Ensure effective implementation of Juvenile Justice System indistrict.

12. Create a child friendly mechanism and atmosphere in theDistrict.


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Annexure-II

Pilot Study on an Analysis of the Situation of Vulnerable

Children in Buxar District.

Individual Questionnaire

To be asked to children (5-18 years of age)

Survey Information

District: Buxar Municipality Ward No

Name of Location: ..

Name of Respondent: .

Interviewer's Name and Signature: .


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Editor's Name

Date of interview:

Greetings! We are from SARTHI, PATNA, BIHAR, and my name is ___________________I am working as an interviewer for the study on street children. We have some question to ask, it will takeapproximately 30 minutes. The information we gather will be treated as confidential and will be used for

research purposes. We thank you for all the help and cooperation in advance.

1.1) Name of street child..

1.2) Age

1) 5-7

2) 8-10

3) 11-14

4) 15-18

1.3) Is the child orphan? If answer yes, move to Q 1.5

1)Yes 2) No

1.4) Where are your Parents?

1. Parents living in home town/Village.

2. Parents live with me on street.

3. living with my mother

4. living with my father

5. Others (Specify)

1.5) Where do you live and sleep these days?1.On the street

2. In a shelter

3. Under a bridge

4. At a temple/Mosque

5. Market

6. Parks7. Railway station

8. Bus stands

9. Abandoned House

10. Others (specify)

1.6) Do your parents know that you live here? Dont ask this Q from orphan.

1) Yes 2) No.


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1.7) Where is your Original home? Dont know

(Please note down the address)

2.1) Why did you leave your town/Village.

1. Poverty/Hunger

2. Domestic abuse of step-father/ mother

3. Ran away

4. Parents sent me for work.

5. Parents sold me6. Come to earn money.

7. No one to look after me.

8. Dont want to go school.

9. Others. (Specify)

2.2) How long have you been in this city?

Days Months Years

2.3) Is there any local guardian/bhaiya of you in this city?

1) Yes 2) No

If Yes, Please name

3.1) What type of work are you mostly engaged in?

1. Coolie

2. Collect things from garbage

3. Sex Worker4. Sell drugs

5. Begging

6. Brooming in train/Road7. Work in small/big shop.

8. Selling water bottle

9. Boot Polish


3.2) How did you find the work?

1. I find work myself.2. Ask other people to find work.

3. Through Friends.4. Through Relatives

3.3) How many hours/days on average do you work on the street?

3.5) How much did you earn in last 15 days in Rs.----------------

3.6) How much of your earnings do you keep?

1. I keep all of it.2. I keep some of it.


3.7) At what age did you start working as a street child?

1) Less than 5 yrs.


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2) Between 5-8 yrs.

3) Between 8-12 yrs.



6) Dont remember

3.8) Do you enjoy working?

1) Yes 2) No

3.9) Do you work on your own?

1) Yes

2) No, I work with street children

3) I work with parents.

4.1) have you ever been sick during the work?

1) Yes 2) No

4.2) If Yes, where you usually go to receive medical care?

1. Doctor

2. Friends

3. Govt. Hospital

4. NGOs / Child Institutions5. Doesnt receive care

6. Others. (Specify).

4.3) Could you afford the expense?

1)Yes2) No

4.4) If no, then how do you manage?

5.1) With whom do you sleep with at night?

1. Other street children

2. No one, I sleep on my own

3. With other people who are adult (please specify)4. shelter home

5. Parents

6. others (specify)

6.1) Are you currently attending school?1) Yes 2) No

If Yes, what is his/her grade.

If No, Which was his/her last completed grade.

6.2) Provide reasons for not going to schools.


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6.3) Can you read?

1) Yes 2) No

6.4) Can you write?

1) yes 2) No

7.1) What is your religion?

1. Hindu

2. Islam3. Christian

4. Others (specify)

7.2) How do you rate the importance of school/Education?

1. Important

2. Not so important

7.3) If you are given an opportunity would you go to school?

1) Yes2) No

7.4) If you are given an opportunity would you go to some skill training?

1) Yes-------------------

2) No

7.5) How do you spend your free time?

1. Play

2. Watch TV

3. Help parents for domestic work

4. Drug peddling

5. Cinema

6. Others (specify)

7.6) Do you smoke / take drugs?

1) Yes 2) No

7.7) If yes, name it.

1) Cigarette

2) Charas3) Ganja

4) Solution

5) Others (specify)

7.8) Have you ever been arrested by the police?

1) Yes 2) No

7.9) If Yes, Why?

1. For Stealing2. There are no reasons , they are harassing me


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3. pick-pocketing

4. Others (please specify)

7.10) Are you aware of some NGOs/Institutions/ individuals which provide assistance to street children?

1) Yes 2) No

7.11) If yes, can you name some of them?1) 2) 3.

8) Do you move around the city?

1) Yes 2) No

8.3) Martial Status

a) Married

b) Single

c) Widowed

d) Separated

e) Others

8.4) Do you have any sexual relationship with other persons? (Ask this Q to 14+ child otherwise move to Q.9)

1) Yes 2) No

8.5) If yes, How often?

1. Daily2. More than once in a week

3. Once in a week

4. Once in a month

5. Few times / month

6. Dont Know

9) What kind of problem/ risks have you faced while working/ living on the street?

1. -------------------

2. -------------------

3. -------------------

9.1) What kind of assistance you needed from society/ Government/NGO (if applicable tick more than one)

1. Food and clothing for self

2. Night lodging/ shelter

3. Other (specify)

10) Future Inclination

1. To become Businessman/Women

2. To become Teacher


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3. To become Doctor

4. To become Lawyer

5. Others (Specify)

6. Dont Know

Date................................ Name of Investigator

General readings

Seen but not heard, Indias marginalized, neglected &vulnerablechildren vhai, 2002.

1. The United Nations convention on the rights of the children (CRC), 20th

November, 1989.2. Review of child labor education and poverty agenda, India country report, 2006.

3. Women and child development report, Ministry of Women and Child

Development,2008-2009

4. Juvenile justice Act,2000 , Universal law publications, new delhi,2009

5. Bakshi,P.M; The constitution of India with selective comments; Universal law

publishing company pvt.ltd.; new delhi,2009

Documents

Pilot study on situation of vulnerable children in Buxar district.BIHAR