Between Care and Childhood: A Sociological Study of Child Institutes in Patiala District

The idea behind this book emerged from a deep academic and social concern regarding the lives and experiences of children residing in Child Care Institutes. While considerable attention is often given to policies, institutional frameworks, and administrative mechanisms, the emotional and social realities of children living within institutional care frequently remain less understood. This work therefore attempts to explore the everyday experiences, challenges, emotional conditions, and social environments associated with institutional childhood through a sociological perspective. The study focuses not only on institutional structures and care mechanisms but also on the emotional, psychological, educational, and social dimensions of children's lives. It attempts to understand how institutional care influences identity formation, social relationships, emotional well-being, rehabilitation, and the broader experience of childhood. This book is useful for students, researchers, academicians, policymakers, social workers, psychologists, child welfare administrators, and all those associated with the field of child rights and social development.