Zariatul Hafsa

In 2024,UNICEF reported that over 3.4 million street children exist in Bangladesh without parental care , Especially , it is a  highlighted issue in Dhaka. Most of them are deprived of their fundamental rights. They can't take their meals properly,sleep at a clear place,put on clothing sufficiently excetra .Because of these reasons,public health is not maintained by them and they suffer from many health problems. They lead their lives without any care,they could not  learn what is wrong and what is right,it said,Necessity knows no law. Because of lacking fundamentals .they involve themselves in crime.. Such as:extortion , selling drug,contract killing,using weapons that is abused in snatching . moreover children (4-6/7 years) are involved in substance abuse.
The street children are a part of our society as well as the offences by them are occurred in our society. Hence,to enlighten our society (in health sectors,education sectors, economic sectors and social sectors also),we have to take preventive steps an't substract them from our society but we can make them resourceful for our society and country.
Firstly, the government child care institutions like orphanage,children's home(Shishu paribar),safe home for children have to be active. The street children,according to to children act, 2013;the government institutions will provide legal framework for child protection and institutional care. So,the caring of children without any parental care is a very big responsibility of government. As a sequence, they have to be involved under education specially vocational education. So that they can build their own life as  resourceful. However, the government have to ensure public health specially street children without parental care so that they can lead a sound health  In addition, the offender children and drug addicted children should be stayed under rehabilitation programmes like psychological counselling,vocational training, skill development ;besides should be punished in rehabilitative ways.
These steps can reduce the offences activities as well as enhance the social,economic, educational, environmental development in our country . Moreover, the basic needs of street children will be ensured and they won't be burden of our society . Wishing the brightest lives of street children and the brightest future of Bangladesh. The wirter is a Student, Institute of Social Welfare and Research, The University of Dhaka. General member, Bangladesh Tarun Column Lekhok Forum, DU branch