They are the children of a caretaker, recently shifted in a hut made of mud and cement bricks, which is without a toilet, in our lane, to work for and guard a new construction in our neighbourhood. Uff, that is a long sentence, I should have broken it into two... but I won't. Do not feel like.
Well, let’s come straightly to the point. These kids are really bothering me...every morning when I head to my gym. :( There is no escape it seems. I am an escapist at times, a bad one. I shut my brain for the things that I cannot control... or which may take a tremendous lot of efforts for a long period of time. Well, I have a life that does not allow me to jump in for the endeavour, as there are immediate responsibilities which should be attended and sorted out first.
These kids would hang around in the lane for the whole day and night till they go to sleep...eat, attend nature's call, fight between themselves... show care to each other like a sudden rainfall in Winter...
The do nothing that children of this age should do...they do not even play! When offered with some clothes for the youngest kid (the half nude one in the picture) on a chilly evening... the mother somewhere hid the clothes...and the kid roams about, half nude, till now. I saw this two-year old kid collecting and carrying firewood along with his elder sisters one morning. When he failed to carry the branches of the tree, the elder one slapped him tight. The kid screamed a lot. I was standing there, watching inactively...
These three kids, I cannot talk to them, due to language problem...first barrier. But this repetitive scenario, every morning bothers me...makes me act and think indifferent. Forcefully. I am not a social worker...was never associated with any organization for offering my services to the mankind. Somehow, I am not much in love with the race of human. :P (I feel for and feel better with animals…less cunning species) But any scene of injustice, inequality create a problem in my otherwise tranquil system...and making me unsettled....upset.
What do I do? I would not offer them food, clothes, or money. Because, I do not want them to taste the food we eat, that they cannot afford it for next time...hence that feeling will make them feel more miserable. Also, I want them to know that they are supposed to eat what they earn. Same with clothes... well my mother offered them some used clothes, which they kept for future use, and the kid roams half-naked in chilly weather till today. And about money, yeah, that will help them for the time being...again they did not earn it.
I will keep aside my question...why they must give birth to children? That is a very sensitive issue. Leave it. But what do I do with these kids? Can I sit with the parents for a negotiation that they may put the children in an organization where such kids are raised to be good citizens? Here, in same situation, the kids will grow up to street urchins, or a labour like their father, who would again give birth to another race of deprivation.
Again language problem... hmmm I will find someone to talk to them on my behalf. Please suggest if you have better suggestions.
Remaining indifferent calls for a lot of inner strength. I guess I lack that strength. :( There are so many such kids around...whenever I contemplate on this harsh reality, donno why it makes me feel guilty. WTF! :( This is not fair! :( :| But why do I feel guilty???