The children left to fend for themselves
About 61 million children in China are classified as 'left-behind' because their parents have moved away for work. Although most live with relatives and have adequate provisions, the psychological toll can be enormous and can result in anti-social behavior, poor academic performance and even suicide. Xu Wei and Wang Xiaodong report.
More than 15 percent of "left-behind" children have no physical contact with their parents during the course of a calendar year, and 4 percent receive just one phone call a year, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The survey, conducted by an NGO called Shangxuelushang, or "On the Way to School", found that a large number of children are left at home, and their parents have failed to assume their roles as legal guardians. Many parents either lose all contact with their children or fail to communicate with them effectively.
