The Speaker of the Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has called on parliamentarians to seek solutions to the parental neglect of children.
And rightly so too, coming from the highest law-making body of the country and most powerful voices in the nation.
If they can’t find solutions to this issue, no one will.
Ratu Naiqama has not raised a new issue. It has been around for years and people have been pontificating about it, in and outside parliament.
Non-governmental organisations have also been adding their concerns.
Several campaigns have been launched but to no effect, simply because it lacked the political will to do something.
The question is, what thing? Mere talking and blaming parents or enforcing stricter punishments find a solution? I’m afraid it will not!
Religious organisations for all practical purposes are a lame duck. You cannot expect a solution from them.
They are too caught up with their own internal bickering’s to do any good to the street kids.
Street children are a barometer, which reflects the extent of poverty in our country. So much so that parents find it difficult to fend for their own children.
These neglected children leave home to fend for themselves and get trapped in all sorts of vicious circles – pimping, prostitution, drugs, glue sniffing, pick pocketing, bag snatching or even begging.
Should we not hang our heads in shame? We have let these children down.
In my view, a strong support system from government is needed.
In all major urban centres, they must build homes where such children can be catered and cared for.
At such centres, they can be given skills training. However, we should be careful not to attach any stigma to such children’s homes.
Therefore, if we really treat these street children as our future (as the Speaker says) we have no option but to embark on this project seriously.
Funding for this worthy project can be sourced from funding agencies overseas.
The Speaker must be commended for provoking discussion on this vital subject
Story By: Dewan Chand
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