Underprivileged children. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

raunak barua,

Rupnagar

The most important requirement of the fast-growing city is a well-equipped shelter home for children in distress. With the onslaught of population explosion with changing times, some of the underprivileged children are left to fend for themselves. What they lack is social security and the government should take steps to ensure their welfare.

Moreover, it’s a common sight to see a child, which should have been going to school, doing a menial job. We have also seen a mushrooming of high-profile public schools in the city. If these schools sponsor a child each, the world would indeed become a better place to live in. It’s high time we sensitised the civic authorities about these burning problems.

sanjeev das,

Hengerabari

Before coming to the main argument, the cause, which makes the children homeless, haunts me. Why does a society have children in distress at all?

The city does lack adequate shelter homes for children in distress. Shelter is one of the basic needs of life. So it does not matter whether one is a child or an adult.

A remarkable shelter for these children is the SOS village located all over the country, including the city. Further, there are also a few NGOs and organisations which provide shelter to these children.

But these homes are not enough and will never be enough. We can never say that we have done our duty towards these children. Most of the so-called shelter homes in our state are in a deplorable condition. These lack basic facilities, good food and education for these children. And we, as conscious citizens of the city, have hardly given any serious thought to the maintenance and uplift of these shelters.

It almost seems that we have become devoid of the virtues of humanity. We don’t have time to spare for humane issues. It’s disgusting but true. We are not concerned about the future of our human race; rather we are spending time, energy and money on improving the future of our machines.

We call ourselves developing, but in which direction are we developing? How can a nation develop by neglecting its next generation? With this kind of a strategy, we will need another era to attain true development.

Regarding the shelter homes for children in distress, we will need quality rather than quantity. These homes should be made an asset and not a liability.

ranu devi,

Rehabari

No. I do not think the children in distress are getting enough facilities in the city. One example will underscore this: Assam is yet to implement the newly-amended Juvenile Justice Act 2000, which came into force four years ago.

However, there is something called humanity and, therefore, there is a need for introducing or providing new facilities to the children in need of care and protection. We should ensure that they could avail of these facilities exclusively.

anjuma yasmin,

Uzanbazar

Who really cares for the children of the lesser god? In most of the cases they are considered burdens and left to their fate. Those who move around and try to live their lives with dignity do so out of their own willpower, without much help or empathy from the so-called well-to-do sections of the society.

Moreover, these children are victims of circumstances. They feel insecure and need psychological counselling. We need to have more and more counselling and care centres for the benefit of these children.

We need more such centres as these children need some place to spend their time and interact with people around them. And most importantly, they need guidance and moral support to cope with their misfortune.

zahida begum,

Gandhibasti

It is true that the city does not have adequate facilities for the children of the lesser god. But it has been seen that even those facilities that exist are not really utilised for their benefit. Though there are some homes for children in distress, but that is not of much help. These children need assistance and counselling. A special help-desk can be set up in public places for them. In fact, it would be a brilliant idea to form a forum of all the psychologists in the city to counsel these children. Sometimes, even children from well-to-do families need counselling. Henceforth the government should take immediate steps to implement the Juvenile Justice Act, if it is the least it can do.

elina das,

Ulubari

No. The city does not have enough facilities for children in distress. Very often it is seen that small children are working in various places and doing jobs meant for adults. Our children are our future. Only if we start caring for the children in distress, can the city turn into not only a developed city but an ideal one too.