Bhiwandi faces high child safety and poverty concerns

A mother in Bhiwandi, Shama, frantically searched for her missing three-year-old daughter after she wandered off while playing. The child was later found safe, but Shama expressed concerns about safety in a neighborhood plagued by crime and inadequate supervision. Bhiwandi, once a close-knit community, has seen rapid population growth, leading to overcrowded slums lacking basic amenities. In 2024, 228 kidnapping cases involving minors were reported, highlighting the dangers children face in these areas. Living conditions are poor, with families sharing limited sanitation facilities and struggling to provide for their children. Many children drop out of school to work, and issues like substance abuse are common, raising concerns about their future.