Even though the numbers appear vastly minimised, figures uploaded on the Baal Swaraj portal state that Gujarat has the second highest number of children who live on the streets. Maharashtra with 5,153 children tops the list, followed by Gujarat’s count at 1,990, as on March 24, 2022. However, child rights activists and personnel working the field maintain that the actual numbers are significantly larger.
Elaborating on the matter, Rajesh Bhat, convenor Child Rights Collective, Gujarat, shared: “The figures are just the tip of the iceberg. It is a huge problem. We must also understand that these numbers are not a constant at any place. There is a difference between children living on the streets and street children. While the former usually come on the streets and traffic signals during daytime to beg, the latter group comprises kids who live on the streets in a particular area. This group also has children who live without any family members.”
He added that a study undertaken by his organisation concluded that nearly five children are brought to Ahmedabad everyday by train and added to the “street children” population.
Also Read: 4 Years Of Pulwama Attack: PM Modi Pays Tribute To CRPF Jawans
