UNICEF Nepal launched a global report on the “State of the World’s Children 2012” focusing on the issues of the children living in urban areas inflicted with poverty, scarcity and exclusion thereby posing as impediments to the fulfilling of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).[break]
In Kathmandu Valley, there are currently some 28 slums, according to the report. Children living in those slums are denied essentials like clean drinking water, health and education even if they live close to these services. Too many are forced into dangerous and exploitative work.
Various factors contribute to the massive migration of children towards urban areas. On one hand there could be better opportunities such as better education, earning, exposure and entertainment but at the same time they could be exposed to child labor, crime, and trafficking.
“There is darkness below the light. Children living in urban centers are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable in the world. The major issues that prevail among the urban children are shelter, sanitation, trafficking, birth registration, labor, sexual exploitation, malnutrition, HIV and AIDS,” said Hanaa Singer, Representative of UNICEF in Nepal.
Up-to-date data on urban children is a major bottleneck in properly addressing the issue. According to a figure quoted by UNICEF, 19% of the total population of Nepal lives in the urban areas and 60% among those are children.
Children are either sent to urban areas by parents in hope for education, labor or children themselves come for entertainment and exposure.
The lack of updated data shows the laid back attitude of the government towards these issues. Many people consider child labors and street children as social nuisance without trying to understand their psychology and difficulties.
Seventh grader and the Chair of Biratnagar Deepak Working Children’s Club, Niraj Malla was visibly elated while sharing his story at the report launching event.
“I used to work in a flower nursery and the elders there encouraged my parents to send me to school. I feel blessed in comparison with my friends who are working as bus conductors and dishwashers in Biratnagar,” he shared.
Similarly, 17-year-old Piya Rai (name changed) from Dharan who is working at Kirat Yakthung Chumlung as an educator and a recovered drug abuser herself shared, “I started smoking with peers since eighth grade and slowly we moved on to marijuana, brown sugar and tablets. I sold all my possessions to buy drugs and lost my interest in everything else, yet none of my family members or peers bothered. Many of my friends had early pregnancy and early marriage.”
However, Singer pointed out, Nepal has excellent level of community participation. Many people are working towards educating and improving the health conditions of such children at individual level as well as through various organizations which can play catalyst in improving the state of urban children.
The Report mentions five urgent actions:
* Better understanding of the scale and nature of poverty and exclusion affecting children in urban areas.
* Identify and remove the barriers to inclusion.
* Ensure all urban planning’s meet the particular needs of children.
* Promote partnership at all levels of government to address urban children’s need.
* Pool international, national and community actors’ resources to ensure that marginalized and impoverished children enjoy their full rights.