Exploring experiences of children who migrate to Delhi: understanding gender and space

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of migrant street children in Delhi, India, including the reasons for their migration, their lives on the streets, and their exit from the streets, as well as the impact of gender and space in street situations. In doing so, it contributes to the existing body of literature on the complex phenomenon of migrant street children. It also hopes to inform policies, legislation and programmes that seek to support these children and enhance their wellbeing.

The fieldwork for this study was undertaken over a period of eight months from May to October 2019 with (former) migrant street children aged between 10 and 18 years in the residential homes operated by Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) in Delhi. Data were generated through participant observation, group discussions involving participatory activities, and semi-structured interviews with children. Interviews were also held with various stakeholders several (from NGOs, social workers, and government agencies). During and after the fieldwork, I also identified relevant documents and texts from NGOs and government agencies, which I have used to compare and contrast the experiences and conditions of migrant street children. This information was also supplemented by a literature review. The study found that children migrate away from their homes to the city for various reasons, including poverty, neglect, abuse and violence, and peer pressure. On the streets of Delhi, they formed social networks, which acted as family, and employed various strategies to survive. Some eventually shifted from street life to a residential home, a move that many found difficult, but that children were motivated to make to access opportunities that were not available to them on the streets and in hope of a better future. This study also found that gender and space intersect to affect the experiences of migrant children in street situations differently depending on gender. Similarly, the study found that space is used differently, and has different meanings assigned to it by children due to their gender. Other intersectional factors, including age, culture, family background, and social network, were all observed to contribute to the definition of gender and space at a particular time.

The findings of this study highlight the fact that more research is needed to understand the experiences of migrant street children, the services they need, and how they can be supported to transition from the streets. In particular, there is a need for more ethnographic, multi-sited, multiple perspectives and longitudinal research. Such data is needed to inform policies and programmes, so that they can more effectively target and address the needs of migrant street children.