Plight of a Mother

“Parched lips and sunken eye

I lay on cot and look at the sky

The strength has died, my limbs are sore

The body is drained, the vitals no more

My heart aches as I look at my son

For he is alone in the journey ahead

Bidding adieu is hard to do

I kiss my newborn one last time”

This short poem is dedicated to all the mothers who have died while bringing a new life into this world, mostly due to inaccessibility of proper medical care, especially those living in remote localities.  Teenage marriages, unplanned pregnancy, unsafe abortion are all accountable. The other starting statistics shows that many couples still have no accessibility to family planning choices or rather women have no say in this matter which ultimately results in unwanted pregnancies.

Though India has reduced maternal mortality as compared to past records but still India has highest number of maternal deaths. The goal should be that no mother has to die pertaining to any child birth complications. This journey of pregnancy and motherhood should be a celebration of new life and not mourning or grieving for a lost soul.

Big Picture: UNICEF India

Globally, about 800 women die every day of preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth; 20 per cent of these women are from India. 

Annually, it is estimated that 55,000 women die due to preventable pregnancy-related causes in India. 

Mothers in the lowest economic bracket have about a two and a half times higher mortality rate. 

We live in a developing society; we have good approach to healthcare. Women in our society are more educated and independent. But still most part of India is shrouded in ignorance, the rural India, where the very meaning of development is not known.  Awareness, education and healthcare facilities need to penetrate those nook and corners where people die of ailments which were much curable and treatable.

(Image – Here)

Tale of a cobbler….

I live in a very crowded locality of East Delhi.  Every morning we wake up to the sounds of heavy traffic, vendors selling stuff or calling out to provide for some or other services.  The sight of people working hard to earn their living is satisfying as well as sad. It is sad when some people look down upon these vendors and start misbehaving with them  

One such person who never fails to come early morning is a cobbler. I now know him well as he has meticulously mend many of my most favorite footwear. In a hurried rush my neighbor called out for him when he passed by this morning.  Within half an hour I could hear my neighbor shouting out loud at the cobbler. She blamed him for overcharging. She got her five pair of shoes repaired and wanted to pay him Rs. 15, he was asking for around Rs. 20. For the difference of mere 5 Rupees, she shouted on the top of her voice and created a scene. And then took pride in getting a good deal done by bargaining 5 Rupees off. The cobbler silently left with a look of disappointment on his wrinkled face.

It’s not a 5 Rupees tale.  What makes me sad is my neighbor’s attitude. She is very well off and is a big shopaholic. She should have happily paid the cobbler his well deserved fee of 20 Rupees.

It is a pitiful state.  We try to oppress the one who is already in misery. Some people are really losing humility, empathy and moral values.

What do you guys think? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

(Pic – Here)

 

Diary of a Child

“The pearls from moon has lost all charm

The flowers are dried and carry no hue

At the break of dawn I walk on dew

Silent whispers of abhorrence mute my ears

With a teary eye I wipe my dreams

That shadow unwanted makes me scream

That touch of disgrace has hurt my soul

I take this stroll & contemplate unknown 

Those moments of disgust with whom to share

No one to trust and hold my hand

Waiting for sunlight to make me stand

For I will bear no more this pain so strong….”

Prevalence of child abuse in our society is extremely shocking. It really shivers my soul. How can anyone molest or even touch small kids with wrong intentions, it’s beyond my imagination. Research states that poverty and substance abuse is the root cause but it is prevalent even in affluent society where people are well off and educated. It is the mind set. Whether rich or poor, People who do it are demons. 

Even schools and homes are not safe for kids. Nothing can be more pathetic then this. 

2007

The Indian government backed a survey of 125000 children in thirteen states. Of the children interviewed, more than half (53%) said that they had been subjected to one or more forms of sexual abuse.

Over 20% of those interviewed said they were subjected to severe forms of abuse.

Of those who said they were sexually abused, 57% were boys. (Source – Here)

 

Source  - Here

A total of 33,098 cases of sexual abuse in children were reported in the nation during the year 2011 when compared to 26,694 reported in 2010 which increased by 24%.

Cases of child rape depicted a growth by 29.7%.

India is one of the world's largest numbers of Child Sexual Abuse cases. 

For every 155^th minute a child, less than 16 years is raped, for every 13^th hour child under 10, and one in every 10 children sexually abused at any point of time.

 Studies propose that over 7,200 children, including infants, are raped every year and it is believed that several cases go unreported.

 In India, every second child is being exposed to one or the other form of sexual abuse and every fifth child faces critical forms of it. (Source here)

(Image source – Pic 1,   Pic – 2, Pic- 3)