Save the Children: Their name is Tomorrow

22 November 2013 04:21 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

A day after the budget, with ruling politicians who appear to care little and do less for millions of people in the country, the people themselves need to reflect on the vital factors which have to be restored to bring about a just and fair society with sustainable development and lasting peace.

We need to begin at the beginning, with the child or children whose name is Tomorrow. The plight of our children today, beginning from the milk they drink to what is fed to them or done to them physically, morally or otherwise, is pathetic if not tragic.

For instance most people-friendly nutritionists tell us that breast feeding for at least one year and preferably up to two years is vital for the proper growth of the child’s body and mind. But various other forcers or voices including trans-national food and milk power companies have misguided mothers, and as a consequence innocent children suffer. If the situation is bad when it comes to the health of the child it is worse when it comes to the other vital area of education.

With systems being changed from regime to regime and no proper national education policy the children are forced to carry bag loads of books for examination-oriented education in the highly competitive methods of the capitalist market economy. As a result, the child is forced to study in schools where good teachers have been declassed. After class for most children it is a rat race from tuition teacher to tuition teacher and it causes excess or unbearable stress to children and the parents. Worst of all, with books loaded on the heads, the children are deprived of their childhood spirit and pleasures like playtime. Sociologists say this causes some mental imbalance which later manifests in the character and attitude of the children.In addition to all these woes and vices heaped on the children we also see the worsening crisis of the sexual abuse of children and child pornography. Surveys indicate there are hundreds if not thousands of the crudest child porn sites in the social media and tens of thousands of people are watching them. When this vulgar lust goes into the minds and hearts of people it manifests in horrible vulgarity with fathers raping their daughters, brothers their little sisters and crime waves of other forms of child abuse.

More than two years ago, the Justice Ministry’s then Secretary Suhada Gamalath proposed tough legislation to control the import, distribution, production, exhibiting, telecasting, printing or broadcasting of pornographic material in Sri Lanka. The legislation titled ‘Obscene Publications Act’ was proposed in view of a sharp increase in the use of pornographic material since the advent of the internet and new technology superhighways. Mr. Gamlath had said children were the worst affected and child pornography had a huge global market. Sri Lanka was no exception.

The legislation was meant to arrest this alarming trend and save our children.

Under the legislation the production or making available or offering in any manner or the distribution, transmission or procuring of child pornography using a computer system or possessing or retaining child pornography in a computer or on a computer data storage medium, or exposing a child to sexually explicit material by means of a computer; shall be guilty of an offence. On conviction such an offender could be fined up to Rs. 500,000 or jailed for up to 10 years.

As usual the executive and the legislature like the paths to hell are paved with good intentions, not to mention the facelift the city got for last week’s Show-gum. The legislation has not yet been implemented, Mr. Gamalath has quit reportedly on matters of principle while the draft for such a vital issue is languishing before some parliamentary committee which is virtually sitting on an innocent child.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Save the Children: Their name is Tomorrow

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Uma Oya Development Project inaugurated

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

No footboard riding allowed, no liability for accidents: Railways Department

Six patients claim Rs.600 million from Keheliya and others for permanent loss of sight

SLPP, UNP initiates action for forming broad alliance

Here is the way!

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident