Hyderabad: Nobel Peace Award recipient Kailash Satyarthi has criticised the political parties for not showing mercy towards lakhs of innocent children being illegally transported from the country. Speaking recently at Delhi on “Welfare of Children is Welfare of the Country”, Satyarthi regretted that the politicians have again failed to pass the Bill aimed at stopping illegal transport of human beings and not taking up the Bill in Rajya Sabha in the recent session, though it was passed by the Lok Sabha in monsoon session of 2018 and sent to the upper House. Seeing the functioning of Parliament for some years now, it is clear that the political leaders are showing interest only in the voters, and sidelining very big issues like illegal transport of children, as children are not voters. He suggested that all parties should take interest in discussing, at least one day, on major issues concerning children, like their protection, education and health.
Satyarthi’s remarks amount to indictment of the Governments at the Centre and in States, past and present, for neglecting the issues pertaining to children. Ironically enough, quite a number of newspapers have totally ignored his statement, while some newspapers have reported it, without giving due importance to it.
As the VIP has suggested, the political leaders and the Governments at the Centre and in States have to bestow their attention in Children’s issues and take corrective measures. It is to be noted in this context that children are facing many problems which are ignored by the law-makers, administrators, and policy-framers. Apart from transport of children and their torture in other countries, there are issues like child labour, malnutrition and stunted growth, lack of required facilities in schools and outside, unhygienic conditions in schools, adulteration of milk and other eatables, junk foods, and burden of books, which needs the attention of the Governments of the day.
Nutrition, Junk Food
This is not the first time that eminent people had offered suggestions to the Governments on issues of children. It may be recalled that about eight years ago, on November 9, 2011, Dr K Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India, had referred to the double burden of both under-weight and over-weight children in the country and stressed on the need for a multi-sectoral approach to deal with nutrition and public health. At a seminar, he also said that research in the field of nutrition was the need of the hour, and suggested the setting up of an expert body to look in to the issue of nutrition in a holistic manner.
At the same seminar, world-renowned nutritionist B M Popkin said that due to the modernization of food habits that had introduced Indian children to noodles, chips and cokes, the country will see, in the coming ten years, a rise in diabetes and obesity equal to what it took the united States 50 years to achieve. Stating that westernized eating habits started in India with the coming to India, he said that the past two decades have seen unhealthy food coming into the country from all over the world.
Many state Governments also failed to stop junk foods being made available in and around the schools. The U P Government had issued orders, some years ago, prohibiting junk foods in shops near the schools. No such orders were issued by many State Governments, though the ill-affects of junk foods are repeatedly pointed out by experts.
Child Labour
Another problem related to children in child labour and bonded labour. Though the Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation (CLPR) Act was enacted, many state Governments including the two Telugu States, were not effectively implementing the provisions of the Act against the employers who are engaging child labour. This is the reason why child labour is continuing even today. There is a strong feeling that the officials are colluding with the culprits and booking cases under Shops and Establishments Act, which provides for small punishments, rather than booking cases under the CLPR Act. The Central Government authorities and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) should take up this issue seriously, many feel.
Books Burden
Many health experts have expressed concern over the burden of school bags on children, but none took note of it seriously. In some states like Telangana, orders were issued by the Government some time back on reducing the burden of school bags. In Karnataka, one organization had reported to have felicitated some School Managements for taking measures to reduce the burden on school children.
All these issues concerning the children deserve the special attention of the Governments at the Centre and in States, the elected representatives, the planners and administrators. At least now, they should take note of the observations made by Kailash Satyarthi in right earnest. (NSS)
By P.A. Rama Rao
