What poor children want from us?

Schoolchildren have their own view: we must respect that and ponder. They say they don’t like politics on many counts: “First, many leaders seem to be liars because they don’t tell the truth; second, they’re selfish, they seek votes of elder members of our families and then as assembly members or ministers go abroad for any minor ailment’s treatment drawing money from the exchequer; third, they get all available facilities, including health and education, for their children; four, they’ve hefty salaries, travelling and dearness allowances; and many more socio-economic benefits; they don’t do anything in our interest; they forget rights of poor children.”
Such children thinking about their future complain that leaders fond of projecting their party views on TV channels don’t have full knowledge of children’s problems and realities on the ground. Two years back some said the country’s population was 180 million although that was about 160 million, now they’ve started saying it’s 200 million for whose sake they’re working hard to produce more electricity and gas.
The poor children say: “Our leaders talk little about food security and prices; they don’t understand the meaning and significance of Children’s Day, they believe in issuing statements on the occasion, not doing something substantially for children of downtrodden families; we pray to God.”
Children laugh at lack of knowledge of some leaders about clean drinking water shortage and black-market prices of potato, tomato, onion and ginger, and substandard wheat flour. Many school students quote newest prices of sugar, rice and pulses. “What they’ve done for us until now, our parents can’t afford high cost of living, education and health? Tuition fee and other expenses have gone up beyond our reach, many of our class-mates have left us to earn livelihood along with their parents,” lament the hard-working school boys and girls.
There are many poor schoolboys who impress others with their enthusiasm to acquire knowledge and do part-time job simultaneously. The other day, one such talented boy talked about people’s health confidently and to the point. The major problem in health sector has been inadequate availability of supplies and services, especially in rural areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while maternal and child health-care facilities are still unsatisfactory.
Reportedly, the crude death rate on the average is estimated between 9 and 10 per thousand.
Illiteracy is widespread and as much at least 28 per cent of the population lives in absolute poverty, suffering from morbidity and mortality more than the rest. Children’s health remains affected by environmental factors also.
Anyhow, schoolchildren’ vision is better than that of leaders who they say remain engaged in power struggle. Educated and uneducated children take seriously the creepy unemployment, hunger and poverty.
zasarwar@hotmail.com