By Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD)

Bantwal, Feb 3: It’s known that a boy was lured to participate in a tableau put up by the town council during Republic Day celebrations held recently in Devas district of Madhya Pradesh.

A six-year-old boy was lured with Rs 5 and a packet of potato chips to sit without his shirt under a water tap in a tableau during the Republic Day celebrations held in Devas. When the local media photojournalists protested over child rights violation, the municipal officers assured them that they would take action against those responsible for the act.

Although the incident has taken place in Madhya Pradesh, we must not keep quiet. It’s a fact that children are being used during rallies and processions in government organized programmes across the state.  Despite opposition from child rights groups, it goes on unabated.

In the Devas incident, the boy was made to sit without a shirt below a running water tap in the tableau.  He was helpless while the cold water was rolled over him on a wintery day.  The irony was that the district administration awarded third prize to this tableau.  As the truth surfaced, the boy revealed that he had come to view the rally along with the women from his neighbourhood and was urged to participate in the tableau for a meager of Rs 5 and a few snacks.

These kinds of incidents are taking place all over Karnataka, but are not reported. Children are being used various programmes, in the guise of creating general awareness and reform the society.  They are made to sit in tableaus donning the attire of national leaders during national celebrations; in a few instances they are even made to stand for a long distance.  Children are also made to wait in the hot sun to greet politicians, people’s representatives, and government officials who always arrive late at the venue.

A few social welfare and voluntary organizations are keen on snapping stunning pictures of programmes by using the children especially during rallies. 

The irony is that there lies no relation between children and the rally in most cases.  Children who are awaiting dignitaries in the scorching sun during a state programme generally express their anguish by cursing their teachers and elders as it amounts to both mental and physical torture of innocent children.  It is essential that the organizers be concerned about not causing any torture to the children who participate in the programmes related to their studies and culture.

In conclusion, the innocence of children should not be exploited. One should not take lightly the incident that has taken place in distant Madhya Pradesh.  At least, we can see to it that such cases do not take place in our vicinity. Legal action should be taken against the organizer for exploiting the innocence of a six-year-old.