Citation

Sehgal M. Health Millions 1992; 18(3): 14-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1992, Health for the Millions Trust)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12285734

Abstract

India's child welfare system is not equipped to deal effectively with the growing problem of child abuse. In addition to physical and sexual abuse, child maltreatment can take the form of marrying off children for parental financial gain, misuse of children to beg and steal, and insistence that children 6-11 years of age work in factories rather than attend school. Numerous studies have found that abused children either develop a submissiveness that makes them vulnerable to repeated victimization or become rebellious and involved in antisocial acting out. Not only does the lack of nurturance and protection from danger at crucial developmental stages compromise the quality of adult life of child abuse victims, but also there is evidence that parental abuse is transferred from generation to generation. Although India's Constitution contains numerous laws aimed at protecting children from abuse, exploitation, and abandonment, the services required for child abuse control--therapy for the child, punishment for the offenders, and support for parents who are psychologically and emotionally overwhelmed--are not available. Needed is a greater emphasis on child abuse prevention through measures such as creation of a pro-child socioethical climate, education through the mass media, prevention of the further disintegration of the joint family system, establishment of village-level committees to monitor the implementation of child care programs, and a commitment to provide recreation and health services to street and working children.

Language: en