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Children make themselves heard
The 50-odd children who gathered at Gandhi Bhavan in Kochi on Sunday afternoon could consider themselves lucky. They got an opportunity to interact freely with the main contestants in the Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency. Children in other parts of the country do not usually have such an experience during election campaigns.
Both Sebastian Paul and Edward A. Edezhath, candidates of the LDF and the UDF respectively, were busy electioneering though the city was yet to feel the campaign heat.
Yet they stole about an hour from their schedule to spend some time with a group of people who had no vote. The reason: vote or no vote, children cannot be ignored. It was generally agreed that children could to a good extent influence the elders.
Thanks to the initiative of the Child Rights Resource Centre of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, the children from different parts of the State representing various non-political student organisations had an enjoyable time with the two candidates. It seemed they had a lot to ask the candidates, but there was not enough time for all.
When the psychologist-moderator, C.J. John, addressed them, "priyappetta koottukaare...." they responded, "enthooo..." It was a sign that they were ready for the show. Though all of them did not look perfectly at ease with the situation, their questions never lacked substance.
The opening salvo by Melvin from Alappuzha was about the problem of child labour. Dr. Paul appeared conversant with the issue. "Every one of us has the responsibility to educate children and parents against child labour," he said. No matter child or adult, everyone has the right to live with dignity, he said. He offered to do his best to help implement the laws against child labour.
The next question, equally loaded and important, was to Dr. Edezhath. Female foeticide, he said, pains him. It is brutal and unlawful. But he made no promise to do something special to root out the practice of female foeticide. "Women are the essence of life...," he went on. With only a few questions, the children proved a point. Whether a teacher or a lawyer, you cannot face today's student without preparation.
Can you do something to increase the grant for the destitute children? The question by Binsi was tricky. But Dr. Paul showed maturity and deftness in tackling it. Although 40 per cent of our population is represented by children, we cannot have proportionate budgetary allocation, he told them.
"Visit any childcare home and experience the feeling of our pride getting melted in humility," Dr. Paul said, rather emotionally. Dr. Edezhath said that if elected, destitute would be his priority.
The question by San Joseph on the existing disparity in the State's education system was food for thought for both candidates.
Dr. Paul said that society should have a definite control over education, particularly private education. It should not be the monopoly of the rich, he said. But Dr. Edezhath stressed on quality improvement in education. We cannot reject private and self-financing institutions, he said, but there should be a quality control in education.
There were some more questions. Dr. Paul said he would press the Children's Code Bill in Parliament. "I like the 12-year-old Jesus. You keep on asking questions. And definitely your demands will be fulfilled," he said to a cheering audience.
Dr. Edezhath promised quality education, bringing in a legislation defining child rights, and all help to voluntary organisations working for the cause of children.
Interestingly, both candidates had doctoral prefixes to their names. While Dr. Paul had a doctorate in law, Dr. Edezhath's was in English literature. How many children noticed it?
By Abdul Latheef Naha
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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