KATHMANDU, June 2: Sightings of street children in the Kathmandu Valley has become a rarity thanks to the street children rescue and rehabilitation campaign launched by the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) under the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens. The Board has launched the street children rescue campaign since May 9, 2016.

The campaign aims to protect and rescue street children, socialise them, rehabilitate them in the family/society and prevent vulnerable children from coming to the street. 

To date, 734 boys and 83 girls were rescued from the street and among them, 10 belong to one to five years of age, 114 are from six to ten years of age, 403 fall under the 11-14 age group and 290 are of 15-18 age group. 

Among them, 248 are from the Brahaman-Chhetri community, 361 from the indigenous nationalist, 150 are dalits and six from unspecified community. Of them 503 are school dropouts and 234 had never been to school, according to Board Executive Director Tarak Dhital. 

Their records show that 562 have both parents, 94 are orphans, 61 are motherless and 100 have single parent (mother). 

Most of the children were rescued from Kathmandu (75) and it is followed by Kavrepalanchowk (65). Likewise, 55 were rescued from Sindhupalchowk, 54 from Dhading, 49 from Makwanpur, 38 from Sindhuli, 32 from Sarlahi, 27 from Dolakha, 41 from Ramechhap and 22 were from Nuwakot. 

The campaign covers 61 districts but the data regarding the rescue and rehabilitation of street children is available only from ten above districts. 

The number of the Indian children is 20 while address of 50 children is yet to be ascertained. 

Among the rescued children, 361 have been already rehabilitated in the families while 156 are child protection homes and 117 are in the socialization centers. Sixteen are staying in different child homes, 49 are undergoing skill training and 27 boys have already completed skill training course. 

The number of street children is decreasing with the launching of the campaign, as stated by Dhital. 

Earlier, the government has issued the Street Children Protection and Management Guidelines-2072 BS and the campaign was launched being based on the same guidelines. 

The constitution, Act related to Children-2048BS, and other national policies, acts and laws have made the management of street children easier, Dhital added.  RSS

 
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