Transparent Peer Review By Scholar9
Invisible Childhood: Understanding the Lives o Destitute Children
Abstract
Abstract: Invisible Childhood: Understanding the Lives of Destitute Children explores the largely overlooked realities of children who grow up without stable family support, adequate care, or access to basic rights. Despite their significant numbers, these children remain socially invisible due to systemic neglect, stigma, and minimal representation in policy frameworks and academic discourse. Their lives are shaped by multiple, overlapping vulnerabilities—extreme poverty, homelessness, child labor, abuse, and the absence of educational and healthcare opportunities—which hinder their overall development and restrict their chances of upward social mobility. At the same time, the study underscores the resilience and coping strategies that enable many of these children to maintain hope and aspirations for a better future. The Constitution of India acknowledges the vulnerability of children and affirms their right to protection. In line with the principle of protective discrimination, Article 15 mandates special attention to children through specific laws and policies designed to safeguard their rights. Furthermore, the rights to equality, life and personal liberty, and protection against exploitation, as guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, and 24, reaffirm India’s commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of all citizens, including children. The Directive Principles of State Policy further emphasize that the state must safeguard the health and strength of workers—both men and women—and protect children from exploitation and from being forced by economic necessity into unsuitable vocations. They also call for ensuring that children are provided opportunities to grow in a healthy environment, with freedom and dignity, while being protected against both moral and material neglect. In addition, the state is directed to strive toward universal early childhood care and education for all children up to the age of six years.
Darshan Patel Reviewer
Approved
Relevance & Originality
The paper addresses an area that remains important for both researchers and practitioners—industrial relations within Indian manufacturing units. The case-based approach is useful for understanding workplace realities. However, the manuscript relies heavily on established concepts and known industrial relations issues, which limits its novelty. The study would benefit from clearly identifying what makes this particular organisation or set of findings distinctive and how it contributes to contemporary debates on labour–management relations.
Methodology
The study employs a survey-based design supported by both descriptive and inferential statistics. While this structure is appropriate for examining organisational perceptions, several essential methodological details are missing. The sampling process is not explained, the basis for selecting departments and respondent categories is unclear, and no justification is provided for the sample size. The instruments used for data collection are not described in enough detail to evaluate their robustness. More clarity on how data were gathered, structured, and validated would significantly improve methodological soundness.
Validity & Reliability
Although various statistical tests are used, the manuscript provides no discussion of instrument reliability or any measures taken to ensure consistency in responses. The absence of information on pilot testing, internal reliability checks, or procedures to minimise response bias makes it difficult to judge the strength of the findings. Given that many results reflect subjective attitudes, potential distortions arising from organisational hierarchy or fear of repercussions should be addressed. Strengthening these aspects would enhance both validity and reliability.
Clarity & Structure
The paper contains substantial descriptive material, but the structure could be more coherent. The introduction includes extended background information that overshadows the research purpose. The results section is dominated by detailed tables that lack clear visual organisation, making them hard to interpret. Explanations of findings sometimes merge with anecdotal narrative, which affects academic clarity. A more concise introduction, cleaner data presentation, and a logically sequenced discussion would greatly improve the overall readability and impact of the manuscript.
Darshan Patel Reviewer