PROBLEMS FACED BY THE STREET CHILDREN : A STUDY ON SOME SELECTED PLACES IN DHAKA CITY, BANGLADESH

The aim of this study was to shed light on the predicaments of the street children in their street life, their coping mechanism in response to innumerable problems and survival status. Pondering the gravity of the research topic qualitative method with the juxtaposition of FGDs (focus group discussion) and case studies was employed to generate descriptive data. With the organizational support of Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs (UCEP) 4 FGDs were administered on a total respondent size of 74 beneficiary and non-beneficiary street children in Mirpur and Lalbagh areas in the Dhaka city of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, 9 case studies were conducted that gave extra flavour in the research to present more vivid and cross-checked data. The findings drew the flamboyant picture of the ongoing endangered livelihood mostly and mainly triggered by poverty, insecurity, powerlessness, weak or no social network and social capital, insufficient institutional support etc. Since the respondents lacked proper capabilities to secure a descent job, they had to endure oppression, torture, insecurity and other problems to survive on the streets. Drawing upon their problems this research finally dismantled some specific coping mechanisms adopted by the street children whether by avoidance of or approach to the predicaments and stress they face to survive on the street.Peer reviewe