REMEMBERING CHILDREN ON THIS CHILDREN DAY (14/11/2016)

A couple of news item in today’s edition of the “Times of India”, the daily newspaper I read, left me disturbed. The first pertained to new case of sexual assault on 12 year old girl child (12^th case in as many days) at Buldhana Ashram School near Nagpur by 15 people led by one Ittusingh Pawar. Many among accuse belong to the school administrative staffers and other employees. The school gets grant for imparting education to tribal girls but such incidences questions government’s intent to provide education to the girl child and also ensure their safety and dignity. It puts a question on a society that is so dumb to even raise its voice of protest. Such news may well deter parents from sending their girl child to school. Government needs to take deterrent action promptly as this will be more fruitful than spending crores on futile campaign such as “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” which may not be welcomed if educating a girl child is fret with such risks. One must not dismiss such incidences as isolated cases as these have the impact to blunt any developmental programmes launched by the Government. Talkinig of education, it is a pity that even in the 21^st century, the Indian Education Syatem breeds inequality in society- an education system for the poor and another for the rich and affluent. Noted Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s article in today’s newspaper “The struggle for Childhood” deftly brings out such issues involving our children. Government’s intent of Universal Child Education will deliver the desired result only if we provide uniform education to every child. 

However from the newspaper I could gain that child- the future of India does not have much importance in the eye of the political parties- probably because they are no vote bank. Delhi Durbar has no time for such small issues. So while the Congress was busy in remembering Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru on this children Day, (since 2014 such advertisements are now published by the Party and not by the Government of India, in the same manner as prior to 2014 the BJP and not the Government of India use to remember its leading light. One can judge the Indian politicians from this small change) the ruling elite which announces a prograame a day had not much to offer than an official function to award a few children. 

While justifying his Government’s decision to withdraw Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1000/- rupee note, the Hon’ble P.M. said “they perhaps thought I was like previous regimes who wouldn’t disturb status quo”. Oh! How much I wish the Hon’ble P.M. disturbs the status quo to introduce Universal Common Education for our children and ensures safety of our children. Such an investment in human wealth will have far reaching impact on Indian society and economy than any other small time measures.