By V.S. Mahajan

Ever heard of a Society for Protection of Cruelty towards Children? Never. But surely heard of Society for Protection of Cruelty towards Animals (SPCA)?

Indeed, the SPCA is a very old body, having been established during the British period. It has worked remarkably well in large cities to protect animals against cruelty by their “masters”, while animals have such a society to protect their interests; it is surprising that there is no such organization to protect tender kids from being exploited by their masters. These hapless children are subjected to widespread cruelty, particularly in large cities where there are’ sufficient opportunities to cash in on such cruelty. ‘The victims are left to beg for coins, which are difficult to have otherwise.

Even our civil rights activists who otherwise raise enough din even on a petty issue, have closed their eyes to the way these small kids are exploited. Very often before everybody’s view such children are tortured exposed to the blazing sun, underfed, made to very even when they do not have sufficient energy by using such cruel means as letting ‘some insects bite them so that the immediate attention of passersby is drawn. No surprise that these children do not survive beyond a few months. But then it hardly makes much difference to their “owners” who are always on the lookout of new victims. And it is not a very difficult task in this overpopulated and poor country. Many of these children are lifted at an age when they barely know their parents. Once in the custody of such a gang, they are subjected to a systematic dose of cruelty to make them fit for “street presentation”. It is shocking that this practice has invaded City Beautiful. Which is being recommended for the unglue honor of being declared the “heritage city of the world”. Sector 17 visitors often come across skinny toddlers sitting on pavements; And Chandigarhians throw coins on the piece of cloth spread before the victims without bothering to look at the child or woman sitting across.

‘This rather unfortunate development should be nipped in the bud.

It is time that the Chandigarh Administration takes concrete steps to eliminate this menace and ensure that children are not victimized and paraded on the city’s thoroughfares.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 9, 1994