Today, somewhere around seven o’clock, I got a surprised visit from Mr. Meher Deen. He had worked with my mother in the Sindh Juvenile Jail. But he was uncle Meher for me. During our talk, he told me that often on his way back home he would offer any boy on the streets a lift on his motorcycle. Then he would ask him that he would really love a cup of tea. This way he would have a nice chat with that little boy over a nice warm cup of tea.
 |
| Mr. Meher Deen |
After all these years, he realised that every story would have one of the three factors common because of which the child would end up on a street. Firstly, he would have lost either one or both of his parents; secondly, the behaviour of stepmother; and lastly, the brutal clutches of poverty.
When he looses his father there is no financial hand to support the family anymore. He will abandon his toys, childhood and innocence for work to financially support his family. In case he has lost his mother then there is no loving hand for him. The source of unconditional love is gone along with his sense of self esteem and self respect. The loss of one is bound to upset the balance and the child might even end up in worse places (and conditions) than the streets. If the child has lost both of his parents at a very young age, he will eventually end up in an orphanage and is bound to be lost. As soon as he is out of the orphanage there are very low chances for him to have a normal life.
Single Parents And The Rise of Crime Rates Among Children
Several studies show that children coming from single-parent households are more susceptible to destructive or rebellious behavior, not just because society imposes the need for a two-parent structure, but also, more often than not, the custodial parent is either too guilty that he or she smothers his child, or too busy to make ends meet to show how much he or she cares.
According to one study, about 90% of the change in crime rates between 1973 and 1995 had been accounted for by children born into single-family setups and those that had been born outside of marriage.
The Facts About Russian Orphans
There are approximately 15,000 children that leave orphanages each year once they finish the 9th grade. They are usually 16-18 years old. Of these children:
50% - fall into a high-risk category (ie. prostitution)
40% - become drug users
40% - commit crimes
10% - commit suicide
Only 10% of Russian orphans adapt to somewhat “normal” lives in Russia. Source: Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation as shown on the website www.iOrphan.org.
 |
I met him on my way back to Karachi from Multan at
Multan Railway Station. He was involved in beggary and sex (forced and for fee)
with mutilated body and it was apparent that he was mentally unsound. He had no
memory of his family or abode except that he was beaten brutally by his father
because of which he one day ran away.
|
The second reason is the treatment of stepmother. Stepmother would blame, shout and sometimes even treat him inhumanly. The father would reach home form his job, tired and exhausted and is bombarded with complains and blames of how he (the child) has behaved. The child would be beaten up and one day, tired of the same routine, he would probably run away.
Differences Found in Care with Stepmothers
Children raised in families with stepmothers are likely to have less health care, less education and less money spent on their food than children raised by their biological mothers, three studies by a Princeton economist have found. The studies examined the care and resources that parents said they gave to children and did not assess the quality of the relationships or the parents' feelings and motives.
New York Times, August 17, 2000
Mr. Meher pointed out Child-Poverty as the last cause. Children will see and feel the deprivation as they come across the life, leisure and luxury of children who are financially well off. Child poverty can and will make a child vulnerable to negative outside influence which can result in an abuse or being taken advantage of. The only way they can even attempt to make their dreams come true is through crime. They will be used, abused and maltreated with sometimes no way of return.
The loss of one or both parents, behaviour of stepmother and Child-Poverty, all or any one of these may be responsible for the child to end up on streets. To be a parent and a guardian is a great responsibility. The uncertain future and the vulnerability of the child makes it even a more difficult job. It is unfortunate for any child to face any one of these factors but if we truly care, we may just be successful in managing if not avoiding the cause of the problem.
The Geography of Child Poverty and Crime
Two reports recently published provide evidence of the distribution child poverty in the UK.
In most cases, the top twenty areas for child poverty are also in the top thirty areas for crime with the notable exceptions of Tower Hamlets, Liverpool, Enfield and Birmingham being 39th, joint 46th and joint 66th for crime.
