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Heeding thevoice of children

Democracy in Sri Lanka took on a new dimension when children’s representatives from all over the country took the floor to voice their concerns in what was described as our first Children’s Parliament, on September 18. Besides epitomising this country’s rising keenness on the rights of children, this forum is symbolic of the Government’s eagerness to allow everyone, irrespective of age and gender, to have his or her say on the issues of the day. Hopefully, the ideals, aspirations and concerns of children would be taken into account in policy formulation and implementation.

That daunting challenges are faced by our child population goes without saying. Poverty and the war in particular are leaving Lanka’s children with very little hope for the future. Increasing economic disparities and the pauperization of significant sections of society are preventing a considerable number of parents from providing their children with the necessary educational and other facilities necessary for social and economic advancement. Most significantly, the lack of a broad-based, meaningful education stunts the spiritual and emotional growth of the child. Religious institutions are, of course, aplenty in Sri Lanka, but a religious nurture is impossible without a full stomach.

These are matters over which governments and citizens have to be frank if problems affecting the younger generation have to be identified, analyzed and resolved. An ostrich-like unconcern over these issues, we believe, could be counter-productive and nugatory of progress.

The welfare system launched decades ago, at the time of political independence is, of course, still with us in its essentials, but the formal trappings of a system are no answer to the problems arising from poverty and deprivation which stem from the systematic inequalities in society.

So, decision-makers, parliamentarians, policy-planners and politicians present at the formal sessions of the Children’s Parliament shouldn’t have been surprised to hear young voices raised in concern over lack of educational opportunity, paltry earnings by parents, lack of teachers, books, tables, chairs etc. All these and more are preventing Sri Lanka from emerging from poverty to prosperity. A frontal attack on these problems remains a foremost challenge of the times.

As should be expected, the continuing war impinges substantially on these national problems. Today billions are spent on the North-East war which could be easily siphoned into development. Besides, sexual promiscuity, immorality, mental ailments and drugs have their roots in war and the brutalization of society. Child soldiers in the North and now rising suicides by parents who have lost their children to the LTTE, are direct consequences of the war. We are certain, first hand accounts of these traumas would have been aired during the sittings of the Children’s Parliament.

Wisdom comes from the mouths of babes. It is our hope that besides conscientizing the adult population on the problems faced by the young, the Children’s Parliament would be a catalyst in the process of positive change in Sri Lanka.

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