Ngo survey : ‘5,000 children roaming the streets of Hyderabad’

Despite court orders, there is no rehabilitation centre in the city.

HYDERABAD:

More than 5,000 children roam the streets of Hyderabad, according to a survey conducted by the NGO Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc).

On Tuesday, Sparc national manager Kashif Bajeer told The Express Tribune that a civil court, hearing the case of two abandoned girls in April 2010, had ordered the provincial government through the law secretary to come up with laws along the same lines as the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004.

Even though it has been a year, no special institute to look after the street children has been set up in Hyderabad, said Bajeer. “Even during the hearing, the court was surprised that Sindh did not have an institute for the rehabilitation of street children when such institutes in the Punjab were being taken care of by the state,” he added.

These children are mostly involved in begging, rag-picking, drug peddling and only a handful of them are working as cobblers, paper boys, waiters and flower sellers.

“They beg, steal and sometimes even work as prostitutes.” Bajeer believed their lifestyle makes them vulnerable to anti-social behaviour. “Who knows, the terrorists may be picking their fodder from among them,” he wondered.

Sparc is the first NGO in Hyderabad that set up a ‘Drop-in Centre’ in February. So far, 60 children have been registered.

This centre has mobilisation teams that go to railway stations, bus terminals and markets to find street children. It provides psycho-socio support, food, health, informal education, skilled training facility and links with government and reputable NGOs, such as Darul Atfal, Centre for Physically Handicapped and Women Drop-in Centre.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th,  2011.