Children: Are we caring enough?

We are past matters in observing rituals and ignoring their basic purpose. Our important days are many, like: Ghandhi Jayanti, Children’s days, Teachers’ days, Human Right day and so on. Before the flashing blindness of camera lights camera on eyes the so-called VIPs accompanied by their cronies can be seen with brooms to clean the street or spinning the wheel on Ghandiji’s birthday year after year, and the poor “great soul”- the Mahatma is forgotten for rest of the year. The same kind of hypocrisy characterizes the celebration of Children’s day on 14^th November (Birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru), when people can be seen sitting with orphans, - participating in various special feasts to mark the day. These anniversaries have thus become grand spectacles for playing to the galleries.

Are we caring enough for our children - the millions who are citizens of tomorrow? The answer is a big ‘NO’. We commit worst crime against humanity when we don’t allow children sometimes even to be born- just because they carry the stigma of being girls. And this crime of selective abortion of female fetuses is frequently committed by educated “middle class” in all parts of our country. Why…only parents of those who got rid of them on the sly with the connivance of doctors know the mystery. The poor girls have no choice - they are “nipped in bud” in urban India. The sex ratio has consistently declined across the country - 945 girls per 1000 boys in 1991 to 927 girls per 1000 boys in 2001. Life is worse for tribal area when no medical facilities are available. The rates of child mortality are the highest in rural India, where malnourished children are easy victims of all types of diseases. Life, when it becomes a hell in villages, poor have to trek to nearby urban centers or undertake train-journeys to the cities – for survival through a proper medical care.

But then sheer compulsions of survival dictate the quality or life - most of poor families have to send their children to work. Poverty and lack of awareness about the need of education among the parents have created the greatest evil – that of child-labor. India accounts for greatest number of child-laborers in the world - more than 20 million.

To eradicate the evil of child-labor elementary education is the key solution. We should appreciate government “mid-day meal” schemes to attract more children to schools. There are few NGOs working for child-laborers. They are taking initiatives for educations - arranging night schools or night crèches for younger ones. But the children who have attained an age of majority could be seen wasting their time – just hanging out. They struggle for living – some as shoe-shiner boys and others are rag pickers. These juveniles could be seen everywhere - on railway stations, bus stands, or on every road-crossings – just everywhere.

Among the child-beggars we face everyday and everywhere, it is hard to find out which one is genuine and which one is not – there are intestate-gangs operating across country who maim or blind children - making them object of more pity, in order to earn an extra rupee or two.

We have to save these children who have lost a power to smile – or are even afraid to smile. But instead, what are we doing for them? Are we caring-enough for our children, or just waiting for another November-14.

Hitesh

Matrican