Saturday, December 01, 2007

......cracking woes

Every parent wants their child to be happy. But no parent would want that happiness at the cost of another child. And definitely not me.

If not giving permission to buy crackers is akin to cruelty, well, I stand guilty of violating child rights (What’s that????????????).

Giving a child ‘a little bit of crackers’ (made and designed by another kid like her) for a few moments of ‘happiness’ (at the cost of another’s), which would be forgotten the next day…. Will she really appreciate those few moments of laughter when she grows up and learn that she, too, is responsible for maiming another human?

The question here is not whether I begrudged my daughter her ‘enjoyment’. That’s not the issue at all. The issue is ‘our callous attitude’; the issue is ‘misinterpretation of festivals and religious ceremony’; of 'global warming'; and the biggest issue is, of course, the burgeoning population and its effect on our economy which in turn affects child rights.

Pheeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww!!!

‘Sponsoring a child labor (from a cracker factory) to school’…. A laudable thought no doubt, but the question is - will this really eradicate the problem of child labor in hazardous industries?

When you take out few from those death traps in Sivakasi, there will, always, be some more to replace them. It’s like a vicious circle. These very people-who find it difficult to get two-square meal a day, are the ones who procreate like ‘maggots’. They are the ones who send their children to work or pawn their children for money.

So the equation is: more children = more money (They also know that there are ‘big-hearted’ people in this world who would take up their responsibility.)

Then ‘what’s the backup plan if those children aren’t allowed to work?’ They go to school. Yes, they go to school. Primary education is Free in all government school. And what’s more, a free mid-day meal is provided to all children in government, corporation, panchayat and municipal schools in the country.

Yeah, mere learning of the alphabets’ would not earn them their rozi-roti. Vocational training should be a part of the curriculum. How about initiating workshops/ laboratories in these schools where the kids can make paper bags, cards, handicraft items or even embroidery items. (We, too, had SUPW and craft periods in schools). These products could be sold through proper channels to ensure that the artisans get a good return.

This is one back up plan that a dim-wit like me have cooked up.


I have another one - a blasphemous idea – GET THOSE MEN STERILIZED!!!! ;)

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