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A government report in China revealed that about one-third of rural students are left behind by their parents who migrate to the cities to work.
Government figures put the number at 10 million, while child welfare experts estimate that the actual number is closer to 60 million. They are now known as the parentless generation or the left-behind kids.
Left-behind children are those who are below 16 years old with parents who are migrant workers or with one migrant-worker parent and the other parent incapable of guardianship.
Most of these children are left to live with their grandparents, who are weak and lacking in education and financial resources. Most see their parents only once or twice a year because of insufficient time and money. Without their parents, they lack care, protection, and guidance. They are also exposed to an increased risk of emotional and psychological stress.
The seemingly obvious solution is for the parents to bring their children to the cities with them. However, the country’s hukou system of household registration discourages most parents from doing so. Under this system, public services like healthcare and education are only available to children in the district where they were born and registered.
In response to this problem, several cities have eased restrictions on this policy to provide better support for migrant workers and their children.
Furthermore, child welfare is now a national priority. The Chinese government has announced that it will conduct a nationwide census to better assess and improve the lives of these children.
Different non-government organizations (NGOs) are also working for the welfare of these left-behind children. These NGOs provide financial and psychological help to the children and, in some ways, also serve as second parents.