The present study was carried out to investigate the profile of activities performed by street children in Ludhiana city on a sample of 160 children (9–12 years) equally distributed over gender. The sample was selected from different crowded places viz railway station, bus depots, traffic lights, market places, temples, etc. using a snowball sampling technique. The criterion used for sample selection was that children being home-based were engaged in street life for economic reasons. Data were collected by administering a self-structured interview schedule pertaining to information on various types of activities performed by street children at home as well as on street. Results revealed that the street children were usually involved in household activities as well as engaged in some income yielding activities on street. Major proportion of the children (31.25%) was found to be engaged in street vending (selling low-priced items such as toys, city maps, eatables, newspapers, making and selling garlands, etc.) followed by begging (28.75%) and rag picking (18.75%). however, more than 16 per cent (16.25%) of them reported to be performing more than one activities (begging as well as rag picking, shoe shinning as well as making garlands, etc.), besides cleaning cars and street singing. Street vending activities involving multiple tasks and street singing were mostly performed by boys, whereas, begging and cleaning cars were mostly performed by girls. There were also significant differences between male and female street children in begging (Z-value = 3.83; P<0.01) and performing multi-task activities (Z-value = 2.56; P<0.05). Girls were found to be more involved in all the household activities as compared to boys.
Activities, Household, Ludhiana, Multiple tasks, Street children
