Chained boy raises issue of care for migrant children

The scene of a two-year old boy from a migrant family being tethered to a pole in the street in Fangshan district aroused deep sympathy from Beijingers this winter. Little Jindan was tied to a roadside iron pole with a two-meter iron chain. Cheng Chuanliu, the father, said he did this out of safety concerns.

It is no doubt an isolated case. However, if we broaden our view to more leftover children in rural areas and the floating children who follow their parents to work in big cities as migrant workers, we see that Little Jindan's experience is not unique. It has exposed the plight of floating children in Beijing's streets to public.

Compared with the leftover children, floating children also have to lead a harsh childhood even though they don't have to suffer from being separated with their parents.