Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MD)
Mangalore, Jul 6: "Children are the biggest gift from God to the human race and safeguarding them is everyone’s responsibility," said Justice N K Pateel, judge of Karnatak high court, at the ‘Awareness Assistance (Arivu Neravu) Workshop’ on malnutrition and getting dropouts back to school, held on Saturday July 5, at Rosario Church auditorium, Mangalore.
In his inaugural speech, Justice Patil said, “Malnutrition in our country is the biggest ever problem we have come across. Small children, especially, are facing this problem. Poverty is also another factor that has affected the children of poor families. A child's health depends upon the kind of food the child is consuming. When the child enters teens, he is supposed to get maximum food because that is the age where the kids actually grow stronger. Even a mother plays an important role in the child's development.”
Justice K L Manjunath, judge of Karnataka high court, addressing the gathering, said, “Under the Women and Child Welfare Scheme, in Mangalore, in the year 2010, a total of 1,896 kids were suffering from malnutrition and when we checked in June 2014, it had increased to 2,583. Then, later this month, when we checked the problem, 2,205 kids were out of suffering and 378 children still remained. These 378 all have parents who have come from various places seeking work. These children all belong to construction workers."
“People in Udupi and Mangalore are very intelligent and know how to keep their places clean. Responsibility of playschool teachers is more than that of parents in looking after their kids. There is a lot of work which parents cannot do and is done by teachers. The other main problem is that children are suffering from Endosulfan. Endosulfan victims are the real sufferers. In future, there is no one to look after these children when their parents are dead. There are nurses to look after these children and they do what other people cannot do. If the parents are not able to look after their child's health, nurses play an important role in helping. Spreading awareness regarding malnutrition is not enough; we need the support of all the people. The River Ganga did not get polluted by itself; it was because of us. If we all join our hands together, then we can make real changes in society,” he added.
Administrative judge L Narayana Swami, reading the report said that one third of the children are suffering from malnutrition. "India is neglecting two major things and they are malnutrition and bias against the female child. Most deaths occur due to malnutrition in the poor families because they are physically, economically, and socially backward. The society is full of hatred. Getting dropouts back to school is another programme we have taken up,” he added.
A B Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of Mangalore, said that this workshop is the third one they are conducting in six months.
He also gave credit to the teachers for taking care of the kids as well as keeping their play schools clean and tidy.
Judge Dr K Bhakthavatsala, Mangalore, in his presidential speech, said that whatever we eat is from the earth and when we die we go into the earth and that is a fact. He thanked everyone for inviting him to the workshop.
Uma M G, district and sessions judge, Mangalore, welcomed the guests, while honorary judge N K Pateel inaugurated the ceremony. Mangalore senior civil judge N S Pateel proposed the vote of thanks.
Resource persons Dr Rukmini, N Shivaprasad, Ashok Ariga, and Getrude Veigas were also present on the occasion.