Who are the people living under the ISBT flyover in Doon? Do they belong to the traditional ‘Banjara’ and similar communities that have travelled the length and breadth of India over the centuries? They do not seem like it as even the members of the community that practice this old tradition are not as destitute and live in better conditions. Are these migrant Bangladeshis that are making a living off the opportunities available in a travel hub? Whoever they are, they should not be allowed to endanger their children by living in the very heart of heavy traffic flowing in every direction. Those driving through not only have to worry about rash drivers, buses overtaking each other, but also the toddlers standing in the midst of it all.
Dehradun for the past some time has seen a proactive approach by the district authorities and the police, who have attempted to tackle long neglected problems on many fronts. So, why is this violation of children’s rights and basic safety being ignored? Every now and then we are told that action is being taken against the practice of children begging on the streets – so how is an obvious training ground of this activity being overlooked? And this is not the only spot – other places too have been similarly occupied. Is there some court order providing protection to them from government action? (Just being sarcastic.)
Children who are brought up in such miserable circumstances do not have any hope of living a decent existence. They can only learn what happens on the streets and begging is only a more respectable part of it. In any developed nation, the parents would be sent to jail for such child endangerment. There are also numerous NGOs that claim to be working for children’s welfare in various ways – are they not aware of this violation of basic human rights?
If they are Bangladeshis, action should be taken to transfer them to holding camps and then sent home. If they are Indians, all the many schemes initiated by the Union and State Governments for the well-being of the poor should be utilised to provide them the very basics they deserve as citizens. While the parents should be helped to further improve and market the traditional skills they practice, it should be ensured the children are properly vaccinated, provided the necessary diet, decently clothed, and looked after in day-care centres till such time they can go to school. Nothing short of this is acceptable to a civilised society.
