Causes to Support - Children

About 13-14 million full time working children are employed in activities which are prohibited under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.Over 100 million children in the age group 5-14 are out of school. The Constitution of India ensures rights to a child, based on the premise that a child is the most precious of all human resources.However the plight of children, specially those born in homes below the poverty line is quite dismal.

Issues

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Child Health

Of the 21 million births per year, 8 million die due to infection and disease.
The annual no. of death of infants under 1 year of age per thousand is 60 - 65 in 2000, and highest at 98 in Orissa and lowest at 16 in Kerala.The lack of health infrastructure and malnutrition in India's rural regions has left the people vulnerable to health problems. Children are the worst affected with life expectancy levels in some states dipping to a dangerous low. Wasting, a measure of child health, built upon weight to height ratio of children shows how undernourished children are. The health of citizens in rural India remains an area of urgent attention.

Some relevant websites:

http://www.mohfw.nic.in/fwacheve.htm

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Child Abuse

It is difficult to list the many ways in which children are economically exploited and physically mistreated. Their suffering includes being beaten or sexually abused by parents, ravaged by hard living and drug abuse, maimed by landmines and wars, stricken with AIDS, turned into thieves, killers and beggars by poverty.

Physical Abuse
As many as 100 million boys and girls are believed to be working in homes and factories across India. Many under conditions akin to slavery. The greatest victims of physical abuse are children for whom the street has become their real home. It includes children who live in situations where there is no protection, supervision or direction from responsible adults.

The police, tortured or beaten and often held for long periods of time in poor conditions, frequently detain such children arbitrarily. Few advocates speak up for these children. The failure of law enforcement bodies to promptly prosecute cases of abuse against children allows violence to continue. An end to abuse will not be achieved without the commitment of the Government

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Sexual Abuse
Over 100,000 child prostitutes are estimated to be in India's major cities.
Commercial sex work among girl children has its origin mostly in the rural areas. Religious sanction and old age customs/traditions promote this profession in rural areas.

In recent years the actual sites for the promotion of sex work have been shifting in increasing numbers to urban areas. Organised trafficking network run by professionals account for the greatest number of individuals sold within and outside India. The fear of AIDS has contributed to extending trafficking because the demands for virgins have increased. Tourism is another major cause of trafficking and prostitution.

Child Adoption

90% of the expenditure for maintaining shelter homes is met by the Government
10% by the voluntary organisation. There is a great need of NGO involvement in the mission.

The concept of adoption is gaining social acceptance as an alternative to bearing a biological child. Getting an adoptive family would provide the love and care that is imperative for the growth of an abandoned child. Social workers have been working towards a common adoption and maintenance act for all Indian nationals.

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