"CHILD PROTECTION AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN PREVENTING ABUSE AND NEGLECTIN RURALAREAS"

Abstract

Child abuse and neglect are severe social problems and will always haunt children in every corner of the world and specifically the rural areas as result of the current ill-awareness, education and access to the helping facilities. In childhood period, the poverty and lack of jobs, intoxication, neglect and surveillance turn the children in such areas prone to physical, emotional, sexual abuse and neglect. This research paper aims at discussing the role of social workers in prevention of child abuse and neglect and response to it in a rural community. The research stipulates the roles of the social workers, which consist in the formation of awareness of child rights, investigation of the instances of abuse, advising the families, helping the victims and collaboration with the governmental and non-governmental organizations. This research that was conducted by means of survey and interviewing the parents in the selected villages, teachers and social workers is a clear account of how social workers can guard and advance the vulnerable children. As it has been described, social workers excel in both the areas of raising awareness and the improvement of community. Their involvement is rather useful with the use of the hypothesis testing in reducing the cases of abuse and neglect. These findings validate the need to implement the child protection systems in the communities and increase access to professionally trained social workers in the rural environment. The conclusion of this paper has come up with the idea that social workers have a significant role to play in the creation of a secure environment to the village children. As the other measures, improved training, supporting policies, and enhanced cooperation with schools and local leaders to work further on the issue of child protection are advised. The paper will help in bridging the gap in the knowledge that the existence of good social work in rural India is essential in the well-being and safety of the children in rural India