The generation of rootless trees
The union government is planning to bring out an act on Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (2007) aimed at serving the elderly live in self-respect and peace. The government is also contemplating on penalizing children of senior citizens who do not offer care and support to them. They may have to face a jail term of three months to six months if they fail to meet the needs of their aging parents. The government is also willing to review the amount of contribution of Rs 10,000 to be made towards the expenses the parents would incur for their living. The law is awaiting the cabinet approval on this act that is a reflection of the weakening family system in the country.
The relationship of parents and children is bound by umbilical cord which is beyond the regulations of a law. No law tells the mother to feed her child. No mother takes care of the child for the fear of law. They do this because they love their children without any selfish motives. Even animals and birds protect their children.
In a country like ours, the family structure is based on such bonds and emotions. Ours was a country once known for joint family system. It also had a fair share of negatives too. There were hardly any situations where people would be brought to streets because one member wasn’t self sufficient or wasn’t able to support himself. The ancient root and the new sprouts would live together in one space. Now these families have broken down to smaller units. Yet parents living with children or one of their sons and daughters is not an unusual thing. And children have to take care of their parents the way they cared for them when they were small. This is not a favour they are doing to their parents, but a duty and a value one has to associate with the structure of the family. We cannot expect to have a sweet harvest by sowing seeds of bitter fruits.
More than this, the current generation has to change its opinion about its parents that they are ‘useless’ people living in the house. As is the root, so is the tree. If we do not see this truth, we may be in for a rude shock because this is exactly what our children will do to us in case of the inevitability of us getting old. If we are savouring the fruits of good economy and technology breakthroughs today, it is the result of the sacrifices our parents made for us. And throwing them out on the streets is to commit a heinous crime of turning back on our duty. They have the right to live with self respect as much as we do. And even senior citizens should overcome the inferiority and negative thoughts about themselves and their condition in case their children abandon them. In the event of them being thrown out on the road, the chances of them going to the court against their own children seeking justice, and being alive by the time they get a verdict – would be a rarest of rare occurrence. In the recent times, one aged couple went to court seeking mercy killing because their children had abandoned them. This is a stark and cruel reflection of what’s in the store for days to come.
Any act may not fully serve justice to the parents if they are wronged by their children. A son who does not care for his parents may not get his punishment only on the form of his time in the prison, but he may actually be abandoned by his own children as a poetic justice! With the increase in old age homes, senior citizens may be living a life with dignity. But they still remain the epitome of breakdown of human relationships. Men and women have to care for their parents without being told. This way, the new legislation the central government is going to enact is a highly appropriate and timely one. The society and government have to contemplate on ways of holding up the collapsing societal norms. The cracks in the relationships have to be filled with love, and if it becomes inevitable, a law should step in to do that job too.
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Protests in Jammu region over VDG killings, Kishtwar observes shutdown
Kishtwar/Jammu (PTI): There were sporadic protests in the Jammu region on Friday over the killings of two Village Defence Guards by terrorists the previous day, while a complete shutdown was observed in Kishtwar with demonstrations against Pakistan.
Security has been beefed up in Kishtwar district -- from where the two Village Defence Guards were abducted and killed -- as people came out in large numbers to give vent to their anger and demanded "immediate elimination" of the terrorists involved in the killings.
All shops and businesses were closed and traffic was off the road in the district, while there was thin attendance in schools and other educational institutions.
Protests were also reported from Kuntwara, Thakurie, Paddar and other areas early this morning, with slogans of ''Pakistan Murdabad'' being raised and a sit-in on the roads.
Terrorists killed two VDGs after abducting them in the higher reaches of the Kishtwar district. Jaish-e-Mohammad offshoot Kashmir Tigers has claimed responsibility for the attack. A massive joint search operation is underway by police and the Army in the dense forest area following the brutal killings.
As the news spread about the killings, hundreds gathered in the Drabshalla area of the district Thursday morning, chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', and burning tyres and blocking roads. They also raised slogans against Pakistan and terrorists.
In the Kishtwar town, a women-led protest march was organised by the Sanatan Dharam Sabha. hey sat on a dharna at the main chowk, burning tyres and the Pakistani flag.
"We want decisive action against Pakistan, its terrorists and its ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. There should be massive crackdown to eradicate terrorists and its supporters," said Satoshi Devi, one of the protestors.
Drabshalla resident Kuldeep Singh said, "This kind of incident has not happened in this area for a long time. The victims were grazing their cattle when terrorists kidnapped and killed them. This is an act of cowardice. We cannot tolerate this. People stand firmly against terrorism."
"We demand a massive operation to eliminate the terrorists involved in this act. Security forces should sweep the entire hills so that people feel safe to go out to graze cattle in these areas," he added.
The Sanatan Dharam Sabha urged the general public in Kishtwar to fully support the bandh call and keep all their business establishments, educational institutions and shops closed.
Kishtwar MLA Shugan Parihar condemned the killings and said, "I am deeply saddened by the horrific killings of our VDG brothers, Nazir Ahmed and Kuldeep Kumar, in a heinous act of terrorism in the forest area of Kuntwara, Kishtwar district. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of these brave martyrs".
She added, "The grief and pain of losing someone in this manner is something I deeply feel."
In Jammu, protests were held by the Kishtwari Sangathan and they burnt the effigy of National Conference (NC) and its leaders. They demanded beefing up security areas of Kishtwar where the minority community lives, and carrying out operation to clear the hills of terrorists.
Protests were also held in Udhamour, Sanva, Kathua and Reasi districts.
