Implikasi Covid-19 Terhadap Kemiskinan Kanak-Kanak

Abstract

Abstrak Isu kemiskinan kanak-kanak amat jarang diwacanakan di Malaysia sedangkan ia merupakan isu kritikal yang menjadi penentu masa hadapan mereka dan negara. Keadaan kemiskinan kanak-kanak menjadi lebih teruk dengan penularan wabak Covid-19 dan pengisytiharan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP). Andaian awal, PKP memberikan kesan secara multidimensional ke atas kemiskinan kanak-kanak. Justeru, objektif kajian adalah untuk mengetahui cabaran berkaitan implikasi Covid-19 yang berbentuk multidimensional ke atas kemiskinan kanak-kanak. Kajian menggunapakai pendekatan kualitatif dengan merujuk kepada sumber sekunder sahaja yang terdiri dari Laporan Kemiskinan Kanak-kanak Bandar, UNICEF 2017, artikel jurnal, buku dan tesis yang berkaitan. Pengkaji menggunakan instrument melalui pendekatan Cadangan Dasar Program sedia ada yang dikeluarkan oleh United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Malaysia) yang meliputi empat bidang iaitu pendidikan, makanan, kesihatan dan kebajikan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa implikasi Covid-19 sememangnya telah memberi pelbagai kesan negatif kepada kanak-kanak dalam pendidikan, makanan, kesihatan dan kebajikan. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini telah membantu pelbagai pihak, khususnya pihak kerajaan berkaitan realiti kesan Covid-19 dan PKP ke atas kemiskinan kanak-kanak dari pelbagai dimensi. Abstract The poverty issue among children is rarely being discussed and talked about in Malaysia while it is one critical problem that could affect the future generation as well as the nation. The poverty rate among children has increased with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and also the declaration of Restricted Movement Order (RMO). Based on the early estimation, RMO has been affecting the children's poverty in multidimensional aspects. Hence, objective of the study is to know the challenges related to the Covid-19 implications in form of multidimensional aspects regarding the children poverty. The research is using a qualitative approach by referring to the secondary resources which is the Report of Poverty in Urban Kids, UNICEF 2017, journal articles, books, and theses. Researchers use the instrument through the existing Program Policy Proposal approach issued by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF Malaysia) which covers four areas, education, food, health and welfare. The results of the study found that the implications of Covid-19 have indeed had various negative effects on children in education, food, health and welfare. In conclusion, this study has helped various parties, especially the government bodies on tackling the reality of Covid-19 and RMO towards the poverty of children in multidimensional aspects.