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A Conversation with Karuna Narang: Listening Beyond Systems


Learning that Enriches. Action that Distinguishes.

At Vidya Lead Academy, we believe that meaningful change begins with listening—not just to data, but to lived experiences. In this spirit, we engaged in a deep conversation with Karuna Narang, a seasoned child protection expert whose work spans adoption systems, Child Welfare Committees (CWC), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB), and national-level policy engagement.

About Karuna Narang

With a foundation in social work and over two decades of experience, Karuna Narang brings a comprehensive understanding of the realities faced by vulnerable children. She has facilitated hundreds of adoptions, served two terms on the CWC (2009–2015), and later as a member of the Juvenile Justice Board in North East Delhi (2018–2021). Her work bridges direct service, policy, and training across institutions like NCPCR, CARA, SCERT, and IGNOU. A committed trainer and academic counselor, she continues to work closely with educators, communities, and future social workers.

What We Heard: The Silence Beneath the Surface

Karuna began with a powerful reflection:

“Children are not just leaving homes. They are leaving a space where love is missing.”

From her experience at Nirmal Chhaya and Tihar complex, she shared that a large proportion of adolescent girls (especially from economically weaker sections) who “go missing” or run away are not escaping discipline—but escaping emotional neglect.

Key Insights from the Field

1. The Missing Link: Love, Attachment, and Presence

  • Many children lack emotional connection within families
  • Girls often carry disproportionate burdens of household work and caregiving
  • They seek validation and care outside—often in unsafe ways

2. Why Children Run Away

  • Domestic violence and family conflict
  • Lack of attention, care, and emotional safety
  • Luring by adults offering affection, outings, or escape
  • Early pregnancy, substance use, and self-harm linked to unmet emotional needs

3. Dropout and Vulnerability

  • Financial stress and family disturbances drive school dropout
  • Dropout increases risks of child labor, exploitation, and conflict with law
  • Schooling remains limited to academics—life skills are missing

4. The Illusion of Awareness

  • Many families believe they are aware—but lack depth in understanding
  • NGO-supported communities show better awareness due to sustained engagement
  • Poverty and low parental education widen the gap

5. Gaps in Education Systems

  • Schools focus on numeracy, literacy, and exams
  • Life skills, values, and emotional readiness are missing
  • Teachers are not equipped to address emotional and social challenges
  • Social workers are needed within schools—not just for correction, but prevention

6. Mental Health: Too Late, Too Limited

  • Access is often restricted to those who can afford services
  • Support is sought only when issues become severe
  • Preventive, relational care systems are largely absent

7. Families Need Support Too

  • Parents often feel helpless, especially in cases of substance use
  • They need guidance—not judgment
  • Family-child communication remains fragmented

8. Rehabilitation Gaps

  • Even after institutional care, reintegration fails due to lack of emotional readiness
  • One example shared: a rehabilitated young woman returned from marriage due to lack of preparedness for life

What This Means for “Seen, Heard & Safe”

Karuna’s insights strongly validate the need to:

  • Move from reaction → prevention
  • Strengthen family as a caregiving system
  • Create safe spaces for emotional expression
  • Integrate life skills into education
  • Position social workers within schools
  • Recognize lived experience as a powerful driver of change

A Shared Reflection

“We often try to fix children. But maybe we need to first ask—what is missing around them?”

Closing Thought

This conversation reminds us that mental health is not only a matter of services—it is a matter of relationships, presence, and everyday care.

When children are truly seen, heard, and safe, they do not need to run away to be found. For trainings and workshops write to us vidyaleadacademy@gmail.com 

Visit us https://vidyaleadacademy.com/  

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