The New Nation - Internet Edition

The media depicted a most horrible picture of a section of children in the country. A large number of street children in Dhaka and other cities and towns of the country are exposed to crimes of all forms. According to a report, at least 14,000 children are being used in begging in the city. Four organised beggars' associations use the children. Their parents living in extreme poverty are comepelled to send their children to the streets for earning a little through begging and ohers and thus expose their children to crimes. The perpetrators of criminals activities take advantage of the helplessness and vulnerability of the poor children. They are also used in other forms of crimes and violence. Some of the most notorious criminals and professional killers in the city came through such processes.

The fact that thousands of children live in the streets is a reflection of severe economic disparities and social disintegration. This is also an indicator of poverty situation. It shows a fast breaking of family bonds in the poorest sections of the society. Being deprived from education and proper care those children loose their sense of right and wrong. Peer influence also play a big role in leading them astry. Growing number of street children pose a threat to the society. Teenager criminals are feared to be more desperate. Due to adventurism characteristic of young age, they will not hesitate to commit crimes without the slightest thought of their own safety.

The concerned agencies of the government must come forward to save those ill-fated human offsprings. The whole society must come forward for its own safety: the more those children are left uncared for, the more the society is exposed to uncertainty. However, the government should think of seperate budgetary allocation for their rehabilitation. Whatever is to be done in this regard, must be done quickly.

Ariful Huq

Dhaka