Children of Lesser God : J&K orphans battle trauma, poverty, lost childhoods

Srinagar, Nov 01: For thousands of children growing up without parental care, the loss of parents is only the beginning of a much longer struggle. Behind the walls of orphanages and within families struggling to make ends meet, these children confront emotional trauma, financial insecurity, educational difficulties and an uncertain future, with many continuing to battle the psychological consequences of losing their parents.

A systematic review published in the January-March 2026 issue of ‘The International Journal of Indian Psychology’ has brought these challenges into focus, identifying psychological distress as the most frequently reported problem among orphaned children in Jammu and Kashmir.

Titled ‘Challenges and Problems faced by Orphans of Jammu and Kashmir: A Systematic Review’, the study by Sameer Ahmad Wani and Dr Dharmendra Kumar Sarraf analysed eight research papers to examine the social, psychological, educational and health-related difficulties experienced by orphaned children.

Using Google Scholar for its literature search and following the internationally recognised PRISMA guidelines, the researchers found that psychological problems featured in six of the eight studies reviewed.

“The prominent problem which is faced by the orphans is psychological problem which was reported in six studies,” the authors state.

The findings point towards a serious mental health burden among children growing up without parental care. The conditions documented in the reviewed literature include obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, conduct disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.

Anxiety was reported in three studies, while stress and depression featured in two. Psychiatric morbidity was also identified in two studies.

The researchers argue that the emotional consequences of losing parents can affect children’s overall development, sense of security and ability to cope with everyday life.

“With psychological problems various disorders were also found among the orphans,” the study observes, stressing the need for focused psychological well-being interventions, particularly in orphanages.

The difficulties, however, extend far beyond emotional trauma. Health-related problems were reported in three studies, while shelter-related difficulties also featured in three. Educational problems were documented in two studies, highlighting the multiple vulnerabilities faced by children without parental support.

Other challenges identified include social disorganisation, insecurity, dependence, deviance, poor hygiene, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, regression, social phobias, suicidal tendencies and difficulties in developing coping strategies.

The researchers point out that children living with relatives may also experience hardship when their caregivers lack the financial resources to meet their educational and other basic needs.

“Orphans also face educational problems, which could be associated to economic problems as many orphans have to earn for themselves if they not institutionalized,” the authors write.

Even institutional care does not necessarily eliminate these difficulties. Although orphanages provide food, clothing, shelter and educational facilities, children continue to face emotional and psychological challenges.

The study underlines that material assistance cannot fully compensate for the absence of parental affection and belongingness.

“The inference we get from this is that no doubt how much facilities and alternative care we provide there is nothing parallel to the love and care of parents,” the researchers state.

Another significant finding concerns the geographical concentration of research. Of the eight studies examined, seven were conducted in Kashmir division, while only one covered the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir as a whole.

The authors associate the vulnerability of children in Kashmir with the region’s prolonged conflict, which has claimed lives, disrupted families and contributed to the circumstances in which children lose parental care.

The study cites an estimate of around 2.15 lakh orphans in Jammu and Kashmir. However, it does not provide a fresh government enumeration or district-wise figures of orphaned children. The concentration of research in Kashmir also does not independently establish that the division has a higher orphan population than Jammu.

Calling for immediate intervention, the researchers stress that the needs of orphaned children cannot be addressed through shelter and financial assistance alone. They underline the importance of psychological counselling, healthcare, educational assistance and improved institutional care.

“Therefore, psychological well-being interventions are the need of the hour,” the authors emphasise.

The review concludes that children who have lost parental care need sustained institutional and government support to rebuild their lives, safeguard their mental health and secure opportunities for education and development. Without a comprehensive support system, the loss of parents risks becoming the beginning of a lifelong struggle against disadvantage.