I am responding to an article about 130 men who were arrested for refusing to pay child support. This was another example of parents who refuse to provide adequate care for their children.

Child support payments, in part, compensate economic and social disadvantages that children often face after parents divorce. The payments that non-custodial parents pay are not intended as punishment, but as a way to reduce the financial burden of the custodial parents who are providing care for their children.

Although federal and state laws require parents to provide child support until the child reaches 18, it is hard to track down these cases. I think the legal system and government fail to consider this problem as a priority. As a result, they do not enforce the law to the fullest extent.

People have to realize is that child support is not payment for the custodial parent. It is the child's right to receive that money so that the child is provided with basic necessities.

My concern is that once these men are released from jail, they will continue to neglect their responsibilities. Although efforts are being taken to stop this, back child support is still a growing problem.

Where there are large sums due, courts order that payments be taken directly out of the person's paycheck or tax returns.

In severe cases, non-paying parents could end up in jail. However, this is not an effective solution because there is no system to ensure that the person fulfills his or her parental duties. Instead, there should be more post-arrest supervision and a well-thought-out payment plan. This will create a better environment for parents as well as their children.

Currently, the methods/punishment for people who do not pay child support are ineffective. This issue needs more attention and better solutions.

Gowtami Rajendran

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