Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to see some child protection efforts in South India. My involvement has been fairly minor offering some support in training and case management. However, the experience has taught me much more which is often the case when you get a chance to experience social work from a different perspective.
There is much that we have in common. Parents want their children to grow up and be successful, independent adults. They hope that their children will do better in life than they have done and also that they will marry and bring grandchildren into the world. These sound very much like the hopes and dreams of many throughout the world.
But there are serious problems facing children in India which can include the poverty that so many media reports have highlighted. Yet, this is also a society which is seeing a burgeoning upwardly mobile middle class as well. Indian government documents, and those from NGO’s, however, suggest that India has a major challenge to address abuse of children, particularly sexual abuse. It is estimated that over half of children in this country are sexually abused in some way. This is a frightening statistic.
The process of change is underway. Media are talking about it bringing the subject out from the shadows. I have heard stories of women, multi generational groupings, share their stories with each other, cry together and bring the truth at least amongst themselves. It adds to the dialogue. Little conversation is openly apparent around changing how boys are brought up.
One teacher told me that he estimates that 95% of girls in his village are subject to “eveteasing”. This term refers to various forms of sexual harassment. I suspect that girls in Canada might also describe high levels of this if leering and sexual commentary are considered part of the picture.
Sexual tourism I am told is a growing problem here. This is in the form of children being trafficked as well as pedophiles coming to India. One agency told me that pedophiles are coming to the country under the guise of volunteering with NGOs. In addition, here in Asia, they are talking about international adoption as a way in which children are being trafficked. Surrogacy is an emerging way in which child trafficking is occurring.
Alcoholism is a growth concern as well. This matters as it relates to child and spousal abuse. I was told of a case where, in a drunken state and to get back at his wife, a father doused his son with kerosene intending to light him on fire. I am uncertain what stopped the father but I can only imaging the long term impact for this family.
Solving child protection concerns in India is complicated by the lack of a formal national or statewide system. It appears to be fragmented and inconsistent. Of course, pedophiles and sex tourists find this attractive, as it is less likely that they will be found.
I am uncertain what impact corruption has on child protection here. It certainly is one of the hottest topics in the media at the moment as a Ghandian , Anna Hazare, is engaged in a very high profile hunger strike to get the government to take what he views are effective measures to stop it. It is viewed as very widespread here and affects many aspects of life.
As always, I have learned far more here than I can ever give in my meager efforts to support one group. India remains an immense, beautiful land with some of the most amazing people I have ever met. I have been invited into homes, had chai with magnificent individuals and met people who are committed to the process of change.
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