Kartik Nijhawan,
Following my daily routine, today, when I enter in the bus
to reach college, one of my friends who was eagerly waiting for me, gave me an
Indian Flag Sticker which reminded me of the approaching Republic Day. With a
big smile on my face I accepted it and put it in my pocket. After few minuets a
Child beggar came to me in the bus at the next stop and asked me to give him
some money. I thought, he is a child and he will happily accept the same Indian
Flag sticker, my friend gave to me.
When I tried to pass that sticker onto him, he refused to
accept it by saying “Main iska kya karunga, Paisey de do chaye pee lunga” (What
use will I make of this, give me some money I’d rather have some tea). His
comment hit me like a ball. I remember when my school used to take us to
Republic Day celebrations. A Minister with police protected with blazing red
light cars and sirens used to come and unfurl the flag and were entertained
with cultural songs, dances and spoofs, as he had spared all the time to visit
us.We used to get tea and snacks as part of the celebrations.
Nothing has changed. Government still celebrates Republic
day and Independence day in the same way, only the budget for the same has seen
an escalation. What is ironic is that the child beggar, who came to me in the bus,
is not a part of any budget passed by Punjab Government. Punjab education
minister, Sikander Singh Maluka is either worried to increase the number of
schools in Punjab or to increase the number of
teachers. Whenever he visits schools, he only visits those that are running
successfully. He never visits schools with lesser numbers of students and more teachers.
Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab,
S. Sukhbir Singh Badal is only concerned to provide laptops to students
pursuing studies in private colleges and private schools. But neither Deputy
Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal nor Education Minister of Punjab, S. Sikander Singh Maluka can see thousands of
children begging in buses or trains
daily to manage a onetime meal.
The child beggar is
wasting precious time of his life but he is helpless. If he does not beg, he
won’t get a onetime meal to eat. If Punjab Government can spend too much money
on Republic Day Celebrations, Why don’t they work to inspire people to send
their children to schools? Celebrating Republic Day or Independence Day means unfurling
the flag as a custom and nothing else!
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