International Child Protection Day
By: Lalit Garg
International Children’s Protection Day is celebrated on June 1 every year all over the world. This day is considered to be the oldest international festival which has been celebrated since the year 1950. It was decided at a special meeting of the International Women’s Democratic Association in Moscow. The purpose of this day is to draw the attention of people towards the need to protect children’s rights. In Russia, people are particularly attracted to the problems of orphans, disabled and poor children on this day. Children are gifted and special ceremonies are organized for them.
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Like Russia, three days before this day, on the eighth anniversary of the Narendra Modi government, while declaring child welfare and relief scheme for the children who were orphaned at the time of Corona, he welcomed the children to give advanced, cruelty free and a successful future to the children. The Prime Minister on Monday made several benefits and child welfare announcements under the PM Care Scheme for children through video conferencing; which will not only strengthen the populist form of the government, but it will be an exemplary and inspiring example for the governments of the world.
The announcement of scholarship and other financial assistance for orphans from Corona through PM Cares for Children’s Scheme will reveal the real purpose of International Children’s Protection Day. Prime Minister Modi has given scholarship to school going children. PM Care for Children’s passbook and Ayushman have also presented the health card of India-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. By the way, it was clear last year that the central government will take many measures to support the orphaned children. Of course, today such children need maximum care and help, not only the centre, the state governments should also stand with such children.
Other governments in the world have also taken steps in the interest of orphaned children. They should give a lot of support to the needy; especially remove the darkness on the lives of children. This is also required that even today, 40 percent of children under the age of 14 in India work at the minimum wage in the informal sector besides tea hotels, dhabas, shops and motor workshops. Some work in very little compulsion or some children’s parents put them in some work by asking to cite the skills in their hands. This has a profound effect on their education. Children’s rights are ignored everywhere from playing and education to their maintenance. What are the rights of children and how to protect their safety, there is a need to churn seriously. Modi used to see children as the future of the country. But his childhood future is being trapped in the world of scarcity, drugs, neglect and crime today. Childhood will become so neglected, scary and frightening, no one would have imagined. After all, what is the reason that childhood is going into the blind streets of lack and neglect? Why is childhood getting so neglected? Not only parents, but society and government have become so careless towards childhood? This question is shaking us while celebrating International Children’s Protection Day.
Some such suffering has shocked Modi, so as a sensitive Prime Minister, while announcing a relief-matter, has said that I am addressing not as Prime Minister, but as a family member. It is necessary; all the departments of the government should consider the needy children as members of their family as per the intention of the Prime Minister. The government should worry about the education and prosperity to the employment of such children. Children can avail free services up to five lakh rupees from health cards. The government has started an online portal for enrolment of such children, through which the process of approval and other works of children will be done easily. All governments have to ensure that help can reach the needy children easily. Not a single child should remain deprived. Also, if possible, all the children who have lost any one of the mother or father have been lost. The pain and painful situations of death of both parents from corona should be seen from human and help them in practical terms.
Even today, in India, who was celebrated by celebrating the Amrit festival of independence, we still see a 12-14 year old child in the garage, applying puncture, blowing air in the chimney or in the tube, cleaning or serving food. They are there and if there is a slight deficiency, from the owner to the customer, ranging from abusing, beating and misbehaviour, then often ‘what do we have to take’ or maximum words from the owner in the innocent words. Let’s ask for a little pity and take your way. But for how long we will let childhood be a victim of harassment and neglect in this way.
We should try to bring a happy childhood to life by adding our voice to Modi’s voice. The Prime Minister’s attempt to help each child will be successful only when the citizens of the society as well as the officers will become the support of orphans with full honesty. Most important it is to collect the right data of such children. Here not only the government, but also the responsibility of local social organizations. After all, how many children are there? Since the government does not yet have clear data, various types of studies have been revealed. According to The Lancet’s study, about 19 lakh children in India have lost parents or either of the two due to Covid-19. On the other hand, till February 5 this year, the Ministry of Women and Child Development had a total data of 3,890 Covid orphans. Meaning, the important work of repairing the data is remaining.
The success of the scheme is that every needy child gets help as soon as possible. There is a need to overcome the conditions of ignoring the rights of children everywhere. There is also a need to explain to children with affection and love instead of scolding and killing children. Children need a friend and love, not a strict parent. Therefore, children will improve with love, not in harsh environment.
How can we imagine a strong nation on weak foundations? What kind of contradiction is that our society, government and politicians do not get tired of considering children as the future of the country, but do not it takes a well -planned conspiracy to take away their childhood and right to study through child labour from about 25 to 30 crore children of this age? The future of children goes to darkness from child labour, the country also does not remain untouched by this because the children who work get away from education and when these children do not take education, then what will the reins of the country be handled? In this way a healthy kid reaches the dark and narrow street of brain deformity and its count begins in the category of criminals.
It is necessary that meaningless frozen communication and sensitivity between parents and children should be melted again. Again, a full atmosphere of affection, affinity and faith should be created between them. The government should reconsider the laws related to children and make plans for proper development of children. So that the fate and future of the new generation of this neglected and scarce childhood and the wandering nation can be bright. Only by doing this, we will be able to celebrate International Children’s Protection Day and get the meaning of Prime Minister Modi’s child welfare schemes. (The author is a writer, journalist, columnist & can be reached at lalitgarg11@gmail.com)
