The grim picture of street children’s lives
Around four out of every 10 street children have never been enrolled in school, according to a survey conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The survey findings reveal that over 56.6 percent of street children who attend school are unable to complete grade five. Only a small fraction -- 8.8 percent -- can complete this grade.
"Survey on Street Children 2022" was conducted with support from Unicef Bangladesh and the Department of Social Services. Planning Minister MA Mannan unveiled the survey findings at the BBS Auditorium in the capital's Agargaon yesterday.
The findings reveal that Chattogram, followed closely by Barishal and Dhaka, has the highest number of street children.
The survey findings are based on first-hand reports from a sample of 7,200 children aged five to 17 years in hotspots of the country's eight divisions. While the report does not contain exact figures, Unicef fears that the number of children living on the streets in Bangladesh could be in the millions.
"The survey's findings are shocking. They tell us not only of the urgent work ahead but also of the empathy and support that children living and working on the streets need from us," said Sheldon Yett, Unicef representative to Bangladesh.
The survey's findings are shocking. They tell us not only of the urgent work ahead but also of the empathy and support that children living and working on the streets need from us.
The survey revealed that 28.3 percent of street children can read and write, while 30.8 percent can write, and 31.5 percent can only read.
Poverty or hunger, parents' migration to urban areas, and the need to explore work opportunities are the main driving factors for the children to leave their homes and end up on the streets, according to the findings. The survey report also mentioned that 65.1 percent of street children came to the street with their parents.
Regarding the activities these children are engaged with, the survey revealed that 20.9 percent are involved in garbage collection, while 18.4 percent resort to begging as a means of survival.
Another 16 percent are involved in transportation and construction, with 14.8 percent working in shops, restaurants, and tea stalls. A small proportion -- 0.7 percent -- are engaged in petty crimes and sex work, while 0.5 percent do sweeping and cleaning activities.
The survey reveals that approximately 64 percent of girls living on the streets resort to using unhygienic cloth during their menstruation. Furthermore, a staggering 73 percent of these girls repeatedly use the same old cloth.
According to the survey, nearly all street children have experienced some type of violence while working, with over 61.7 percent reporting physical abuse in their workplaces.
It also revealed that 28.8 percent of boys are smokers, while 13.7 percent of them abuse drugs.
Over 60 percent of street children do not wish to return to their families, with social or family problems being a significant factor in pushing them to the streets.
However, more than 72 percent of them do not want to enrol in rehabilitation centres as well. Of them, 79.2 percent expressed their unwillingness due to the lack of freedom in such centres, while 24.4 percent said the environment in such centres is not according to their liking. Around 14.4 percent said they are unwilling to rehabilitate because they have to contribute to the family income.
The survey recommends the implementation of further programmes to accurately determine the total number of street children and district-level estimates, which will facilitate the allocation of resources based on the number of children living in street situations. The report suggests that an in-depth qualitative study would also be helpful in policymaking for this highly vulnerable group of children.
Addressing the survey-unveiling event, Planning Minister MA Mannan said there were no previous government statistics on street children.
"The findings of the survey will help to enact policy for the betterment of street children," he said.
Chaired by BBS Director General Md Matiar Rahman, the programme was addressed by State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam, and Shahnaz Arefin, secretary of the Statistics and Informatics Division of the planning ministry.
AT A GLANCE
- 56.6pc unable to complete fifth-grade
- 65.1pc come to the streets with parents
- 64pc of girls use unhygienic cloth during menstruation
- 13.7pc abuse drugs
- 61.7pc physically abused at work
- 72pc unwilling to rehabilitate
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