A Unicef-sponsored workshop has called for the need to evolve a policy to address the problems faced by urban children.

Leading the discussions at the workshop held at Institute of Management (IMG) here today, the participants felt such a policy initiative was required to tackle a whole host of issues such as malnutrition, environment pollution, Internet pornography, lack of adequate education, prostitution and child labour.

Presenting the theme, Dr Anishia Jayadev, Assistant Professor of IMG and a specialist on gender and service delivery issues, said the problems faced by urban children were often different from those of the rural children.

“In spite of countless laws and policies, children are subjected to various kinds of physical and mental torments in the family as well as in the society. The amount of torture is larger in urban settings than rural areas now-a-days,” Dr Anishia said, addressing the ‘Dissemination workshop on the State of World’s Children 2012.’

She said special policy framework was needed to address affected categories such as orphan and abandoned children, street working children, child sex workers, abused children, children afflicted by HIV/AIDS and differently-abled children and child beggars.

“Mere rehabilitation would not make any difference in the present state of children. Twenty-four hour helpline facilities like ‘Childline’ should be given more promotions as they would provide them a platform to express their woes, she said.

Besides schools, NGOs and neighbourhood groups such as ‘kudumbasree’ could play significant roles in protecting the rights of urban children in Kerala, the expert added.

Experts from various government departments such as social welfare, planning board and health and journalists participated in the workshop co-sponsored by IMG.

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