LITERATURE REVIEW

IDENTITY CRISIS
Identity is a fact of being someone, a minimal privilege to a person or group of society.

Street children are an outlaw of this minimal basic right. There is no definition to a
street child as a society view them as an avoidable population to a nation. Researchers

state that the term street children are inappropriate as it creates an artificial category
and diverts attention from child vulnerability. They are designated as a migratory

population which is a cause of no identity. Studies state that 70 per cent of street
children have behavioural and emotional difficulties while 74 per cent are under

depression. Along with their identity, they are lacking behind on their health and
mental peace. They get inconsistent parental care leading to mental stress and anxiety.

HOTSPOTS IDENTIFICATION

Streets are dwelling places for hundreds of people but street children utilize them
more than just a dwelling place. Streets are both work and worship place from them.

Other than the street they can be located under 2 hotspot category:
Major hotspot: Railway station, under metro pillars, major traffic signal intersection.

Minor hotspot: Religious places, bus stops.

Street children migrate from rural areas to urban cities which attract them in search of

money and a better livelihood. Cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Patna act as show
stealer to them which can fulfill their dreams and desire. Due to this, a good quantity

of children travels from their village to these cities and get trapped in the darkness

offered by these cities.

SURVIVING THE STREETS
Streets might be an unsafe place for a common person but for a street child it is the
only dwelling place that is free of cost, so they have adapted themselves according to

the streets which help them in street survival. Many come on street with an assumption
that it would help to live their life on their own terms and conditions

Street children have remarkable survival instincts and boldness in daily struggle of

street life.
-Verma (1999)

After escaping from their home children find dwelling on streets under poor living
conditions. The public spaces in the city fulfils the basic demands street children. Basic

facilities including bathing, drinking water, and food is fulfilled at railways stations by
utilizing their toilets.
Most of the street children are working children with no trained skills are involved in
waste material collection, shoe polishing, vegetable and fruit vending, pick pocketing,

helper in shops. They tend to spend most of their time roaming around railway station
as it provides maximum job opportunities. They spend their money more on unethical

activities and substances. Street children are not under any parental care so they
undergo mental stress and to cop with these stresses they use addictions like sniffing

glue.
In response to numerous odds and cluttered life style, street children always try to

adjust with the situation adopting different coping strategies for surviving in the urban
space. They form small groups and find work accordingly.

EDUCATION AND BASIC FACILITIES

In a survey of LIFE ON THE STREET, 5 cities were surveyed and demarcated the literacy
rate among the street children.
This survey states that there is a low literacy rate among the street children which
reveals the violation of basic human right of education.

Right to health care, safe drinking water, nutritional food and clean environment are
basic facilities that are required by any individual but the poor living conditions make

them vulnerable towards their health and illness. There is no scope for sanitation and
hygiene which result in illness and other health problems.

GENDER DIMENSIONS
There is a huge gap in the number of girls as compared to number of boys present on
the streets. A large number of boys are visible roaming around the street but there is

a very less probability to spot any girl around. There is a reason of security and safety
that the family only allows the son or the male member to work outside on the streets.

Girls with no family background are in worst vulnerable conditions. A handful of girls
are found in any shelter home or in any NGOs and the others become a pray for pimps

that sell them to sex businessmen.

For job opportunities also, there is a huge gender discrimination. Girls are not involved
with industry work and boys get more wages compared to a girl. Families often prefer

girls to stay at home and do household works. In terms of getting education, boys get
more preference as compared to a girl child.
LITERATURE LIMITATION
The researchers have argued about the definition of the street children on the basis of
their livelihood strategies but they underestimate their power of living in such

unbearable conditions. Street children have dynamic portfolios of assets and show
complex coping strategies. Street adaptation is a vital activity which is done on a daily

basis by the street children