Street Children in Nepal

There are about 5000 children working and living on the streets of urban centre of Nepal.

The main cities in Nepal where street children are found are Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, Narayanghat, Butwal, and Biratnagar.

Being an orphan, abandonment, rise in domestic violence, lack of opportunities including education and recreation in the villages, exploitation at work places, growing trend of migration in general and the ongoing conflict situation are the reasons contributing to children coming to streets.

Every year around 500 children are landed in the streets of Kathmandu from different districts of Nepal. Children come mainly from neighbouring districts of Kathmandu, like Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Dhading, Makawanpur and Dolkha.

CWIN estimates that there are about 800 - 900 street children in the Kathmandu valley. The ongoing conflict situation in the country has also contributed to the rise in street children in Kathmandu.

One on the streets, children take up all kinds of work like begging, rag picking, tempo conducting, portering, stealing, street vending, shoe shining, etc.

According to ILO's rapid assessment on rag-picking children, there are about 4,000 children working in this sector, which is considered one of the worst forms of child labour. Among the rag pickers, 88% are boys and 12% girls. In average, rag pickers work 6 hours a day and earn NRs. 87 per day.

They concentrate in the areas like junkyards, temples, market centers, cinema halls, airports, bus terminals, hardware shops, tourist centers, etc. while they do their work.

While on the street they face problems of hunger, shelter, clothes, etc. Similarly, face problems from police, "dada" (bullies), gang etc. With all these problems and tensions, they lead their complex life.

Street children are among the high risk and insecure groups and they are vulnerable to various forms of exploitation and abuses.

Street children in Nepal are very vulnerable to the exposure to alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Street Children regard alcohol and drug use is one of the escape mechanisms to release or to get away from all their worries, tensions and problems.

The new challenges in working with street children are the rampant use of drugs, including intra-venous drugs used by some of the children. The threat of contracting HIV due to common sharing of needles and unsafe sexual behaviours. Street youths are gradually being exposed to the world of crime as well.

In 2002, organizations working with street children have formed a network entitled "Street Net" to address the emerging problems of street children in a consolidated manner.

There are few organizations working directly with street children for their socialization and social re-integration.