'People should help street children for accessing healthcare'

Even as the government has launched several initiatives for the welfare of street children, experts point to continuing challenges faced by them including barriers in accessing healthcare, discrimination, tough living conditions and exploitation.

Experts say that while the government has its role in tackling the problem, citizens also have a responsibility to see that street children are not deprived of their rights and benefit from the available schemes.

Dr Rajeev Seth, Managing Trustee, Bal Umang Drishya Sanstha (BUDS), said people should not look past street children, listen to their voices and address this social injustice.

He said these children live largely invisible in urban slums or work on the streets of India to escape poverty, domestic abuse, violence and trafficking.

“Many of these children grow up deprived of their basic rights to healthcare and development, endure harsh physical, sexual and emotional abuse and face exploitation as child labourers.

The issue of street children requires urgent attention,” he said. Citing estimates of the non-profit sector, he said lakhs of children depend on the streets to live or work, whether alone, with peers or with their family.