Every year, Children’s day is celebrated with much joy and happiness
among the children but sometimes this happiness is limited to only a few children who can afford going to school.
Underprivileged children wouldn’t know the very meaning of November 14 and even if they do, what else can they wish for. They beg, they work and they struggle to earn their livelihood.
Some of the leading organizations like Reach Shillong Ministry and Childline have come forward and started many initiatives catering to the needs of the less-fortunate children like street children by providing them free education, free counselings, organising various programmes and the likes.
But is that all? Can’t there be more such programmes to make the homeless feel secure and to further inculcate a sense of love and confidence among these children. What they need at present is the Right to Education (RTE) which is sure a one way ticket to get the basic and equal education like the fortunate lots.
This year’s children’s day celebration though celebrated with much fanfare in different schools and institutions and by different associations, yet the messages they have been trying to tell the world, ‘Free Education, protect the children from various crimes and many more’ seems to disappea as soon as the sun sets.
What is sad to note is the rise in crime against children in our state most of which is rape. Minor girls are being molested, assaulted, raped and manhandled almost every day and this has become an issue of concern which deserves an immediate attention of the government and the police.
If celebrating Children’s day with a sole purpose to instill love in them contradicts the base reality then there sure is a gap in the way society looks at things. The rise in crime involving minors raping minors, fathers raping their daughters and similar cases have developed a sense of insecurity and fear in the society.
The society needs to come together and fight for a common cause like former Indian President Abdul Kalam says “Let us sacrifice our today so that our children can have a better tomorrow”.
For sure, one may not be able to prepare the future for the children, but they can at least prepare the children for the future and if we are worried about the future, then we must look at the upbringing of children today.
(By Ibankyntiew Mawrie)