Naba Kishor Pujari
18 September, 2009
The children here, have not only been deprived from basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing, they are also threatened in regard of their health, nutrition, education and most importantly their self-esteem.
IN INDIA, violence is often perpetrated across ethnic lines and victims are chosen based upon ethnic group membership. It has become the nuisance for the Indian society and has grown as the most superficial sign of the prevalence of communalism on a vast scale in India.
Communal violence in our country typically takes the form of mutual aggression, in which members of involved ethnic groups both perpetrate violence and serve as its victims. Children, however, become usually end up as victims as they become exposed to the vulnerabilities in our civil society. The fact that are not active participants in our democratic process, ensures that concern towards their best interests is sidelined in the state and national priorities.
Forty two per cent of our total population covers children (below 18 years). Still, in our country there is precious little talk of legislation drawn up with the child perspectives in mind. And, in areas affected by communal violence, they face not only displacement but also the demolition of the social development structures, which develop them into potential nation builders of our country.
For instance, Kandhamal, where a recent study was undertake to determine the aftermath of the violence on the children who lived through it, saw how they became victims of the communal fires in more than one way.
Kandhamal is a melting point of a Hindu community and those who converted to Christianity. These people, who are entrapped by their ethnic diversities, came into conflict on the issue of who would get the benefits of minority and caste reservations.
Now, a child is born as a child and their problems as well as developmental needs ought to be addressed imperatively and uniformly. However, the children here, have not only been deprived from basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing, they are also threatened in regard of their health, nutrition, education and most importantly their self-esteem. They lost parenting, lacked coping skill and went with a lot of undermined social behaviour in their family and locality that may hamper their well civilised citizenry in the future.
The findings of the survey show that the communal tensions led to burnt homes, while the government closed down schools, in the name of curfews and similar actions. These led to children who were now without shelter and education, fleeing to the forests to save themselves. They beared the brunt of changing weather conditions and suffered from severe health degradation, malnutrition and various infectious diseases as even those whop stayed in the villages had no access to medical facilities.
Even though the government and some voluntary organisations began relief camps in the area, they could not even meet the basic needs of the people. Clothing, food and medicines were scarce. The children staying at these camps had also lost their books and study materials. Many students could not go for their matriculation examinations and the threat of rape and killings prevailed.
Now that the fires have ebbed down and people have started going back to their usual lives, it is the children who still suffer from the emotions scars that they had received.
- See more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/kandhamals-children-victims-of-communalism/15784421.shtml#sthash.LBDCQGxR.dpuf
Read more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/kandhamals-children-victims-of-communalism/15784421.shtml&cp
18 September, 2009
The children here, have not only been deprived from basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing, they are also threatened in regard of their health, nutrition, education and most importantly their self-esteem.
IN INDIA, violence is often perpetrated across ethnic lines and victims are chosen based upon ethnic group membership. It has become the nuisance for the Indian society and has grown as the most superficial sign of the prevalence of communalism on a vast scale in India.
Communal violence in our country typically takes the form of mutual aggression, in which members of involved ethnic groups both perpetrate violence and serve as its victims. Children, however, become usually end up as victims as they become exposed to the vulnerabilities in our civil society. The fact that are not active participants in our democratic process, ensures that concern towards their best interests is sidelined in the state and national priorities.
Forty two per cent of our total population covers children (below 18 years). Still, in our country there is precious little talk of legislation drawn up with the child perspectives in mind. And, in areas affected by communal violence, they face not only displacement but also the demolition of the social development structures, which develop them into potential nation builders of our country.
For instance, Kandhamal, where a recent study was undertake to determine the aftermath of the violence on the children who lived through it, saw how they became victims of the communal fires in more than one way.
Kandhamal is a melting point of a Hindu community and those who converted to Christianity. These people, who are entrapped by their ethnic diversities, came into conflict on the issue of who would get the benefits of minority and caste reservations.
Now, a child is born as a child and their problems as well as developmental needs ought to be addressed imperatively and uniformly. However, the children here, have not only been deprived from basic amenities like food, shelter and clothing, they are also threatened in regard of their health, nutrition, education and most importantly their self-esteem. They lost parenting, lacked coping skill and went with a lot of undermined social behaviour in their family and locality that may hamper their well civilised citizenry in the future.
The findings of the survey show that the communal tensions led to burnt homes, while the government closed down schools, in the name of curfews and similar actions. These led to children who were now without shelter and education, fleeing to the forests to save themselves. They beared the brunt of changing weather conditions and suffered from severe health degradation, malnutrition and various infectious diseases as even those whop stayed in the villages had no access to medical facilities.
Even though the government and some voluntary organisations began relief camps in the area, they could not even meet the basic needs of the people. Clothing, food and medicines were scarce. The children staying at these camps had also lost their books and study materials. Many students could not go for their matriculation examinations and the threat of rape and killings prevailed.
Now that the fires have ebbed down and people have started going back to their usual lives, it is the children who still suffer from the emotions scars that they had received.
- See more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/kandhamals-children-victims-of-communalism/15784421.shtml#sthash.LBDCQGxR.dpuf
Read more at: http://www.merinews.com/article/kandhamals-children-victims-of-communalism/15784421.shtml&cp
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