See the child as a child first
Every Child Has the Right to Be Happy, Healthy,
Protected and Loved
Let us remember
these lines and celebrate the spirit of the erstwhile leader on this day. Happy
Children’s Day to you!
Universal Children's Day is observed on 20 November –
Every child has a Right to Happiness. Be it the United States, India or any other
country, the common motive to celebrate
this day is to support the welfare of the children by actions or
by dialogues. Both children and adults should be well aware and equipped with
the knowledge about a child’s rights.
Every child has the fundamental right to proper
health, elementary education, family life, play and recreation, an adequate
standard of living and to be protected from any kind of abuse and harm.
India faces a lot of inequality in educational opportunities across sex, regions and income groups. According to a study by UNICEF, there are approximately 20 million children in the age group 3-6 yrs that do not attend pre-school. This is primarily because of lack of basic infrastructure, qualified early childhood educators and appropriate learning material. While more and more children across urban cities are opting to take international board as a basic schooling, on the flip side 29 per cent of girls and boys drop out of school before completing their full cycle of elementary education more evident amongst marginalized children. The desire for English-medium education is one of the key factors for the decline in government schools, and is both the source and result of deeper social fracturing. Moreover, when children with disability do attend school they rarely progress beyond the primary level, leading ultimately to lower employment chances and long-term income poverty.
In our country,
discrimination against girls towards
education is still evident, mainly in financially weaker sections and
rural communities. Due to financial
constraints, children from poor families are forced to work to earn a living for the family and thereby
depriving them of basic education. Child marriage is another area where we have
to focus, especially with girls below
18 years, though diminishing,
it still does exist.
Crimes against
children especially the girl child are
frequently reported. Sexual abuse and child
trafficking, forcing them to do antisocial activities, is also in
news.
Each child is
unique, and every child can learn. Look beyond a child’s disability, cast, sex
or label, and get to know him/her as a person. This is not just about our child. If we
come across any child/teenager discriminated
on the basis of caste, religion or colour, dragged into unfair practices, we as
citizens should stand and act against
it. If it is
the teachers and parent’s responsibility
to be well equipped to
deal with a special child then it is also
the role of the society as a whole to deal with it positively. There shouldn’t be any apathy towards them as it can be a
big hurdle in an inclusive society.
“Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
As parents, we all want our children to grow
up to be responsible citizens and good people. We want them to learn to feel,
think and act with respect for themselves and for other people. We want them to
pursue their own well-being, while also being considerate towards the
needs and feelings of others. We want them to recognize and honour the
democratic principles upon which our country was founded. In short, we want them,
to develop a strong character.
Children’s Day offers each of us
an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's
rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world
for children.
Early experiences in a child’s life play a vital role
in chiselling their personality. Their talent should be nurtured, good habits
should be cultivated and fears should be conquered with proper guidance and
care to get them ready for the future.
We all agree that children are the future and
only they will shape the world of tomorrow. With the same childlike innocence,
selflessness, and an open heart, we can work towards making their today
worthwhile
By Dr. Mona Shah
Occupational Therapist , Clinical Psychologist
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