Child rights abuse in India a case study of ragpickers of cuttack city

Abstract

The liberal democratic State is considered as the custodian of individual rights. Rights are newlineunderstood within the framework of the state or in relation to state. The legitimacy of the newlinestate is challenged when it fails to protect the rights of the people . Who are the people that newlinethe state is concerned about? The present study argues that liberal democratic state has so far newlineexpressed its concern only for people who constitute a part of electoral calculations. The newlinestate only cares who have a right to vote and show ability to be part of governance process. newlineThe paper is a modest attempt to uncover the dilemma of liberal democratic state with regard newlineto protection of child rights in India. The issue of Child Rights has not been addressed in a newlineproper theoretical framework. Indian state has treated their rights as a matter of charity newlinewithout addressing the structural constraints for their disadvantaged condition. For example, newlinethe case of rag pickers in India may be taken as a site for examining these policy issues. Even newlinethough the Government of India has pronounced many policies with regard to children, yet newlinethere is no specific policy framework for rag pickers. Rag pickers have largely been excluded newlinefrom the Government of India perspective. newlineThis present study makes an attempt to understand the rights of the rag pickers in India with newlinespecial focus on Odisha. The paper would use capability approach framework to understand newlinethe rag picker rights and their empowerment. One of the key themes of this paper would be newlinewhether the rag pickers have the potential freedom with government intervention. In other newlinewords, whether the government invention adequately provides them the required amount of newlinefreedom to choose a life of their own. Whether these policies and programmes are enough for newlinethem to lead a life of dignity? the present paper would try to respond to some of these key newlinequestions. newline