KARACHI, Jan 24: At least 27 children committed suicide while 21 others attempted to commit suicide across Sindh in 2006 mainly due to the harsh attitude of their parents and poor economic conditions, said a report.

The report said 17 out of the 27 children who committed suicide belonged to Karachi. Similarly, 14 children who attempted suicide were from Karachi.

According to a report based on physical and psychological conditions of the children, compiled by the Children Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, harsh behaviour by the parents and families towards the children were mainly responsible for these children opting for such extreme actions.Chairman Children Foundation Ali Hasan Sajid said, “some children get fed up with the deteriorating economic conditions of their families and kill themselves. The same reason lies behind the increasing number of runaway children in Sindh and elsewhere in the country,” he said.

The report said there was dearth of proper shelters to protect runaway children due to which they became easy targets for sexual and physical assaults and most of them succumb to addictions.

“Later, they join criminal gangs and indulge in anti-social activities,” he said. He referred to various reports published in the media suggesting that about 90 percent of street children had succumbed to glue addiction and the country would be ranked with Morocco and Brazil if immediate action was not taken.

The report recommended to the provincial government to establish shelter houses and set up a separate department or division for children affairs with an exclusive child protection authority, which runs under it and takes action for their betterment.

Another study covering parents and teachers at 600 primary schools in Sindh reported seventy cases of serious injury arising from corporal punishment. This is a major reason for many children playing truant, which eventually increases the dropout rate.