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Re iew A icle
In isible Childhood: Unde s anding he Li es o Des i u e Child en
D . Ruchi Ve ma 1, Anu Mas a 2*
1 Assis an P o esso , Depa men o Educa ion (CDOE), Himachal P adesh Uni e si y,
Shimla, Himachal P adesh, India
2 Resea ch Schola , Himachal P adesh Uni e si y, Shimla, Himachal P adesh, India
Co esponding Au ho : *Anu Mas a DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17685646
Abs ac
Manusc ip In o ma ion
In isible Childhood: Unde s anding he Li es o Des i u e Child en explo es he la gely
o e looked eali ies o child en who g ow up wi hou s able amily suppo , adequa e ca e, o
access o basic igh s. Despi e hei signi ican numbe s, hese child en emain socially
in isible due o sys emic neglec , s igma, and minimal ep esen a ion in policy amewo ks and
academic discou se. Thei li es a e shaped by mul iple, o e lapping ulne abili ies—ex eme
po e y, homelessness, child labou , abuse, and he absence o educa ional and heal hca e
oppo uni ies—which hinde hei o e all de elopmen and es ic hei chances o upwa d
social mobili y.
A he same ime, he s udy unde sco es he esilience and coping s a egies ha enable many
o hese child en o main ain hope and aspi a ions o a be e u u e. The Cons i u ion o India
acknowledges he ulne abili y o child en and a i ms hei igh o p o ec ion. In line wi h he
p inciple o p o ec i e disc imina ion, A icle 15 manda es special a en ion o child en h ough
speci ic laws and policies designed o sa egua d hei igh s. Fu he mo e, he igh s o
equali y, li e and pe sonal libe y, and p o ec ion agains exploi a ion, as gua an eed unde
A icles 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, and 24, ea i m India’s commi men o ensu ing he sa e y,
secu i y, and well-being o all ci izens, including child en.
The Di ec i e P inciples o S a e Policy u he emphasise ha he s a e mus sa egua d he
heal h and s eng h o wo ke s—bo h men and women—and p o ec child en om exploi a ion
and om being o ced by economic necessi y in o unsui able oca ions. They also call o
ensu ing ha child en a e p o ided oppo uni ies o g ow in a heal hy en i onmen , wi h
eedom and digni y, while being p o ec ed agains bo h mo al and ma e ial neglec . In
addi ion, he s a e is di ec ed o s i e owa d uni e sal ea ly childhood ca e and educa ion o
all child en up o he age o six yea s.
▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397
▪ Recei ed: 08-10-2025
▪ Accep ed: 13-11-2025
▪ Published: 23-11-2025
▪ IJCRM:4(6); 2025: 194-198
▪ ©2025, All Righ s Rese ed
▪ Plagia ism Checked: Yes
▪ Pee Re iew P ocess: Yes
How o Ci e his A icle
Ve ma R, Mas a A. In isible
Childhood: Unde s anding he Li es
o Des i u e Child en. In J Con emp
Res Mul idiscip. 2025;4(6):194-198.
Access his A icle Online
www.mul ia iclesjou nal.com
KEYWORDS: In isible childhood, ma ginalised child en, amily disin eg a ion, social s igma, child labou , communi y neglec ,
emo ional dep i a ion, child igh s, igh o educa ion, ehabili a ion & ein eg a ion.
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INTRODUCTION
Des i u e child en
Al hough he e is g owing ecogni ion ha he home is he mos
na u al and ideal en i onmen o a child’s g ow h and
de elopmen , ce ain ci cums ances can ende he amily
unable o mee hese de elopmen al needs. Si ua ions such as
pe sis en inancial ha dship, amily b eakdown, lack o
suppo i e ela i es, he p esence o se e e disabili ies, o
inadequa e housing condi ions can comp omise he nu u ing
en i onmen essen ial o childhood, he eby unde mining i s
e y ounda ion. In such cases, he child’s wo ld may become
dys unc ional, ailing o p o ide he suppo i e se ing equi ed
o heal hy g ow h and de elopmen .
Des i u e child en ep esen one o he mos ulne able g oups
o young people, dep i ed o necessi ies such as ood, clo hing,
and shel e . This condi ion o en a ises om pa en al loss,
incapaci y, o abandonmen , and is legally ecognised unde
India’s Ju enile Jus ice Ac . A child may be conside ed
des i u e unde he ollowing condi ions:
• Abandoned/O phaned: Dep i ed o pa en al ca e due o
dea h, absence, o su ende .
• Ex eme Po e y: Lacking essen ial needs such as ood,
clo hing, shel e , o medical suppo .
• Homelessness: Residing in unsa e o unsani a y
en i onmen s, including slums o pa emen s.
• Vulne abili y: Expe iencing neglec o ha dship due o
pa en al incapaci y, disabili y, o imp isonmen .
P oblems Faced by Des i u e Child en
Des i u e child en encoun e mul iple, in e ela ed challenges
ha se e ely a ec hei su i al, de elopmen , and u u e
oppo uni ies. These include malnu i ion, lack o educa ion,
poo heal h, homelessness, exploi a ion, child labou , and
heigh ened ulne abili y o abuse. Li ing in unsani a y
condi ions wi hou access o adequa e nu i ion, heal hca e, o
pa en al suppo , hey ace emo ional and cogni i e di icul ies
ha pe pe ua e long- e m heal h p oblems, limi educa ional and
economic oppo uni ies, and ein o ce cycles o po e y.
Heal h and Nu i ion
• Malnu i ion: Inadequa e nu i ion leads o s un ed
physical and cogni i e g ow h, weakened immuni y, and
condi ions such as poo eyesigh .
• Illness and Disease: Unsani a y li ing en i onmen s,
coupled wi h limi ed access o clean wa e and heal hca e,
make des i u e child en highly suscep ible o p e en able
illnesses.
Educa ion and De elopmen
• Lack o Educa ion: Many des i u e child en a e dep i ed
o quali y schooling, e lec ed in high d opou a es,
ch onic absen eeism, and equen school changes.
• Cogni i e Impai men : Malnu i ion and lack o
in ellec ual s imula ion hinde cogni i e de elopmen ,
educing academic pe o mance and limi ing u u e
oppo uni ies.
Sa e y and P o ec ion
• Abuse and Exploi a ion: These child en ace heigh ened
isks o physical and sexual abuse, child labou , human
a icking, and e en o ced ec ui men in con lic
si ua ions.
• Homelessness: The absence o s able and a o dable
housing o ces many in o unsa e li ing condi ions, u he
h ea ening hei secu i y and de elopmen .
Social and Emo ional Well-being
• Emo ional Ins abili y: Wi hou pa en al ca e and
emo ional suppo , des i u e child en a e p one o
psychological dis ess, wi h highe a es o dep ession,
anxie y, and ins abili y.
• Disc imina ion: Po e y and homelessness expose
child en o social s igma and exclusion, limi ing hei
access o igh s, esou ces, and oppo uni ies o
in eg a ion.
S a egies o Suppo Des i u e Child en
Empowe ing des i u e child en equi es a comp ehensi e
app oach ha ensu es access o educa ion, skill de elopmen ,
heal hca e, nu i ion, and sa e en i onmen s. Alongside mee ing
hese basic needs, sus ained change can be achie ed h ough
communi y in ol emen , policy ad ocacy, and indi idual
con ibu ions such as olun ee ing, sponso ship, and
men o ship.
Educa ional and Skill De elopmen
• Fo mal Educa ion: P o ide schola ships, ee ui ion, and
essen ial lea ning ma e ials o gua an ee access o quali y
educa ion.
• Voca ional T aining: Es ablish skill-based aining
p og ams ha p epa e child en o meaning ul
employmen .
• Digi al Lea ning: Expand e-lea ning oppo uni ies and
ensu e access o compu e s and he in e ne o educe
educa ional inequali ies.
• Li e Skills: Teach p ac ical skills such as communica ion,
p oblem-sol ing, and c i ical hinking o os e
independence and esilience.
Heal h and Well-being
• Heal hca e Access: O ganise ee medical check-ups,
heal h camps, and specialised ea men s o child en in
need.
• Nu i ion P og ams: In oduce mid-day meals and
nu i ional suppo o p omo e heal hy g ow h and
de elopmen .
• Hygiene and Sani a ion: P o ide clean d inking wa e ,
p ope sani a ion acili ies, and hygiene educa ion.
• Men al Heal h: Inco po a e counselling and psychological
suppo o child en acing auma, neglec , o ins abili y.
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Sa e En i onmen s and Communi y Suppo
• Sa e Spaces: C ea e child- iendly shel e s and communi y
cen es ha o e secu i y, lea ning, and ec ea ion.
• Communi y Engagemen : Build s ong pa ne ships and
encou age local pa icipa ion o c ea e suppo i e ne wo ks
o child en.
• Child P o ec ion Policies: Ad oca e o and en o ce
p o ec i e measu es wi hin schools and ins i u ions o
p e en exploi a ion and abuse.
Indi idual and Collec i e Ac ion
• Volun ee ing: Con ibu e ime and expe ise by
men o ing, eaching, o suppo ing wel a e p og ams.
• Dona ions: P o ide essen ial esou ces such as books,
s a ione y, clo hing, o echnological ools.
• Sponso ship: Suppo a child’s educa ion o und speci ic
p ojec s o di ec ly enhance hei s abili y and
de elopmen .
• Fund aising: Pa icipa e in o o ganise e en s, d i es, o
c owd unding ini ia i es o gene a e inancial suppo .
• Ad ocacy: P omo e sys emic e o ms ha s eng hen he
igh s and wel a e o ma ginalised child en.
• Social Media Engagemen : Use digi al pla o ms o aise
awa eness, mobilise esou ces, and ampli y he oices o
unde p i ileged child en.
Challenges in Empowe ing Des i u e Child en
The empowe men o des i u e child en is hinde ed by mul iple
ba ie s oo ed in po e y, inequali y, and sys emic
sho comings. Ch onic dep i a ion es ic s access o ood,
educa ion, and heal hca e, while inadequa e in as uc u e,
limi ed p og am unding, gende dispa i ies, cul u al p ejudices,
and a sho age o ained p o essionals u he in ensi y hei
ma ginalisa ion. In addi ion, psychological auma, low sel -
es eem, and cons an exposu e o isks o exploi a ion demand
s ong child p o ec ion sys ems.
Socio-Economic Challenges
• Po e y: Widesp ead po e y o ces child en in o child
labou and denies hem access o necessi ies such as ood,
clean wa e , and heal hca e.
• Lack o Resou ces: Unde p i ileged communi ies o en
lack lea ning ma e ials, sa e schools, and unc ional
acili ies, c ea ing an en i onmen unsui able o
educa ion.
• Child Labou : Economic ha dship pushes child en in o
wo k, obbing hem o educa ion and pe pe ua ing cycles
o po e y.
Educa ional Ba ie s
• Inadequa e In as uc u e: Many ma ginalised a eas lack
schools, lib a ies, elec ici y, and sani a ion acili ies
necessa y o quali y lea ning.
• Sho age o Teache s: The absence o quali ied and child-
iendly educa o s hampe s he deli e y o meaning ul
educa ion.
• Digi al Di ide: Limi ed o no access o echnology
p e en s des i u e child en om bene i ing om mode n
modes o lea ning.
Socio-Cul u al and Psychological Ba ie s
• Gende Inequali y: Gi ls ace se e e disad an ages due o
ea ly ma iage, domes ic labou , and disc imina o y
p ac ices, es ic ing hei educa ional and social
oppo uni ies.
• Lack o Pa en al Awa eness: Illi e a e pa en s may ail o
ecognise he long- e m bene i s o educa ion, leading o
poo suppo o schooling.
• Psychological T auma: Des i u e child en o en su e
om low sel -es eem, anxie y, and auma caused by ha sh
li ing condi ions, necessi a ing specialised counselling and
men al heal h in e en ions.
P o ec ion and Go e nance Issues
• Abuse and Exploi a ion: Vulne abili y o iolence,
a icking, and exploi a ion unde sco es he need o
obus child p o ec ion mechanisms.
• Inadequa e Funding: Child wel a e ini ia i es equen ly
s uggle wi h limi ed esou ces, sho - e m g an s, and a
lack o sus ainable commi men .
• Communi y Engagemen : E o s o in ol e communi y
leade s a e o en obs uc ed by en enched cas e- and
gende -based p ejudices.
Cons i u ional P o isions o Child P o ec ion and Wel a e
The Cons i u ion o India p o ides a s ong amewo k o he
p o ec ion and de elopmen o child en:
• A icle 14: Ensu es equali y be o e he law and equal
p o ec ion o laws.
• A icle 15(3): Pe mi s he s a e o make special p o isions
o women and child en.
• A icle 21: Gua an ees he igh o li e and pe sonal
libe y.
• A icle 21A: Manda es ee and compulso y educa ion o
all child en aged 6 o 14 yea s.
• A icle 23: P ohibi s a icking and o ced labou .
• A icle 24: Fo bids he employmen o child en below 14
yea s in haza dous occupa ions.
• A icles 25–28: P o ec eedom o conscience and
eligion.
• A icle 39 (e) & ( ): Di ec s he s a e o p e en abuse o
child en’s heal h and s eng h, and o p o ide oppo uni ies
o g ow h in condi ions o eedom and digni y while
p o ec ing hem om exploi a ion and neglec .
• A icle 45: Di ec s he s a e o p o ide ea ly childhood
ca e and educa ion o child en up o six yea s o age.
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Policies o Child Wel a e
• The Child en Ac , 1960: The i s majo legisla ion
add essing o phans and des i u e child en, classi ying hem
as “neglec ed” child en. Ini ially applicable o union
e i o ies.
• Na ional Policy on Child en, 1974: Recognised child en
as a sup emely impo an asse . I emphasised equali y o
oppo uni y, p o ec ion om neglec and exploi a ion, and
special suppo o ma ginalised g oups such as he
Scheduled Cas es, he Scheduled T ibes, and he
economically weake sec ions. I also highligh ed he
impo ance o educa ion, aining, and ehabili a ion o
child en in dis ess. The policy is cu en ly unde e ision
wi h s akeholde collabo a ion.
Schemes and P ojec s
The Go e nmen o India, h ough a ious minis ies and
depa men s—pa icula ly he Minis y o Women and Child
De elopmen —implemen s se e al child- ocused schemes:
• In eg a ed Child De elopmen Se ices (ICDS):
P o ides ca e and p o ec ion o child en in need, wi h an
emphasis on s eng hening amilies, p e en ing child
homelessness, and ehabili a ing child en al eady ou side
he mains eam.
• In eg a ed Child P o ec ion Scheme (ICPS), 2009: An
umb ella p og am o e ing se ices such as eme gency
ou each, shel e ca e, os e ca e, special homes, and a
na ional pla o m o missing child en. I a ge s o phans,
des i u e child en, child en o begga s o sex wo ke s, and
hose li ing in slums o o he ulne able condi ions.
Ju enile Jus ice Sys em in India
The Ju enile Jus ice (Ca e and P o ec ion o Child en) Ac ,
2000, p o ides he p ima y legal amewo k o he ca e,
p o ec ion, and ehabili a ion o child en in need, as well as o
adjudica ing cases in ol ing child en in con lic wi h he law.
G ounded in cons i u ional p o isions and aligned wi h he
p inciples o he UN Con en ion on he Righ s o he Child, he
Ac se s 18 yea s as he uni o m age o de ining childhood and
seeks o ensu e jus ice, ca e, and de elopmen al oppo uni ies
o all child en.
CONCLUSION
Empowe ing des i u e child en emains one o he mos
p essing social challenges in India, gi en he complex in e play
o po e y, social inequali y, inadequa e in as uc u e, and
psychological ulne abili y. Despi e signi ican cons i u ional
sa egua ds, policies, and wel a e schemes, hese child en
con inue o ace ba ie s o educa ion, heal h, sa e y, and
holis ic de elopmen . Add essing hei needs equi es a mul i-
dimensional app oach ha combines access o quali y
educa ion, skill de elopmen , heal hca e, nu i ion, sa e li ing
en i onmen s, and psychosocial suppo .
Equally impo an is he ole o communi y pa icipa ion, policy
ad ocacy, and indi idual ac ion, including olun ee ing,
sponso ship, and men o ship, o c ea e sus ainable and
meaning ul change. Legal amewo ks like he Ju enile Jus ice
(Ca e and P o ec ion o Child en) Ac , along wi h p og ams
such as ICDS and ICPS, p o ide s uc u ed mechanisms o
p o ec ion, ehabili a ion, and de elopmen . Howe e , he
success o hese ini ia i es hinges on e ec i e implemen a ion,
adequa e unding, ained pe sonnel, and s ong communi y
engagemen .
Ul ima ely, empowe ing des i u e child en is no only a
cons i u ional and mo al impe a i e bu also an in es men in
he na ion’s u u e. Ensu ing ha e e y child has access o a
nu u ing en i onmen , educa ion, and g ow h oppo uni ies
will b eak cycles o po e y and exploi a ion, enabling hem o
ealise hei ull po en ial and con ibu e posi i ely o socie y.
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Abou he Co esponding Au ho
Anu Mas a is a Resea ch Schola a Himachal P adesh
Uni e si y, Summe hill, Shimla, Himachal P adesh, India.
He esea ch ocuses on child wel a e, ulne abili y, and
social p o ec ion o des i u e child en. She con ibu es o
con empo a y schola ship h ough s udies add essing
childhood dep i a ion, social inclusion, and igh s-based
app oaches o child de elopmen .
