Lack of parental support, being positively engaged at home, not being allowed to go to school and hunger – these according to children living on the streets are the major ones why children are forced into crime.
At a unique gathering where children were brought together by a non-government organisation Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action (CHETNA), which works for the empowerment of street and working children, the children were asked to share their opinion on reasons of children slipping into crime and how could they be prevented ensuring a juvenile justice system in place.
“Increasing crime against children and failure of juvenile justice system is discussed almost every day. The children are never consulted on this issue. In Geneva, a World Congress on juvenile justice system is going to be organised soon and street children in Delhi are gearing up to give inputs for the meeting,’’ said Sanjay Gupta of CHETNA.
Forty per cent of 60 children, who attended the consultation, were not aware of age of child and said a child is 14 years old.
Sixty per cent of them were of opinion that 14-18 years of age is the age when children have great chances to slip into crime.
Twelve-year-old Shambhu, a ragpicker in Lajpat Nagar, said, “There are people who threat children to kill their parents if they don’t work for them and steal things.’’
Jyoti, a 14-year-old tea seller, said, “Most of the children learn bad habits from parents. Peers are the main source of getting into substance abuse. Children who are into substance abuse are more likely to get into crime.’’ She said that even the local police aid the acceleration of children into crime.
“I think the police are responsible, as they do not catch the real culprit, and book children, and once they are released they become system rebels,’’ said 14-year-old Shakeel, a bottle picker at the New Delhi railway station.
When asked how the juvenile justice system can work in favour of children, 15-year-old Pinky, a domestic help from West Delhi, said, “I think the best would be to consult children; I am happy that this issue is consulted with children.”
