The impact on the well-being of  Sri Lankan children due to the Economic crisis has become a major concern.Especially in terms of nutrition, education, healthcare services, and safety, while the opportunities available for their future growth looks bleak going by the current economic climate. Measures  Sri Lanka do take to safeguard its next generation with limited resources, is a challenging, but an unavoidable question.

Issues such as malnutrition in children and the disruption of school activities, remain as key questions, which need urgent solutions. Recently, the Government stated that it plans to take appropriate measures to ensure children’s long term well-being. Among them is the Women and Child Affairs State Ministry’s plan to support vulnerable street children, by relocating them to the relevant District level child care centers where they are supposed to receive the necessary support for a reasonably comfortable life. According to the State Minister in  charge, in some cases, parents of some of these children are also to be blamed for  irresponsible behavior  which has ultimately placed the Children in such precarious situations. 

The specifics of this plan are yet to be announced, and therefore, it is too early to say whether this plan has the potential to bring some form of relief to the country’s suffering children. However, it is evident that protecting children in the current socio-economic context and ensuring their well-being in the foreseeable future are not issues that have one, direct answer, nor are they issues the mere relocation of street children or orphans can solve. The state of the country’s children is a multifaceted issue, which requires a multi-sectoral approach. Since the economic crisis has changed many aspects of this issue beyond our general understanding, the first thing that the Government needs to do is to conduct studies to evaluate the living conditions of children of low and lower middle income classes.

Instead of looking at steps the Government can take, the Government should pay more attention to what the country can do, because there are resources that the Government can develop and use to support children and additionally  address other aspects of this issue, those that have not been brought to the Government’s attention. For example, the Government could look into improving and expanding the existing hostel systems in schools, and make them more affordable to children’s parents. And inviting private parties including investors to contribute to expand such facilities would increase the safety of the children of parents who are  full time employed. Daycare facilities should also be expanded for younger children. Managing to build or own a few such facilities would not only be safe for children, but also a source of income which can be attained through a minimal fee. 

At the same time, lawmakers should make more informed interventions regarding adoption and foster care. Sri Lanka’s existing socio-cultural system frowns on these concepts, due to the belief that no party could look after children better than their parents, irrespective of economic or familial issues that may make it difficult for parents to bring up children in a safe and caring environment. However, in reality, properly selected foster parents may be in a better position to support a child, and that is a fact. In the long run, the Government should attempt to balance these concerns by raising awareness among the people that instead of abandoning unwanted children or raising them in environments that are harmful beyond their control, it is in the child’s interest to seek the support of the people that are willing to adopt children. The relevant laws and regulations in this regard might need to be reformed to ensure children’s safety while making these procedures less complex.

Separation is difficult, regardless of the gravity of the circumstances. That is why the Government should also pay attention to introducing special facilities or subsidies for children to help with food, education expenses and healthcare.

While some of these measures may seem too expensive for a country with a collapsed economy, we cannot forget that these efforts are part of a long term plan, which are essentially a long term investment for the country’s future. Without a healthy and competent next generation, the country’s situation would only worsen. It is the mere reason that these efforts need to be multi-sectoral, which involves the Government, the private sector, non-profit and civil society bodies and individuals who are in a position to support. Such collaborations can make these efforts more efficient, expand the number of children and areas that can be covered, help increase transparency, and most importantly, attract new forms of support and opportunities.