Last Saturday, when I was coming from Delhi, we stopped at a restaurant in Rohtak, for having water bottles, it was quite late in night roughly around 9PM. So one of us went inside to have the water bottle, I was standing outside looking around, suddenly I saw on the entrance staircase of the restaurant, there was sitting a innocent child, roughly of 3-4 years. The child was looking at the vehicles crossing the road. As on the one corner of the entrance there was staircase and the child was sitting and on the other corner they’ve made a small kichen, where two workers were making chapatis.
As I was so curious to see that child at that time there ; I couldn’t digest the presence of the child at that time. So unable to shake the image from my mind, I asked the owner, “who’s that little child ?”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, “She’s the daughter of one of the cooks,” he said. “Her mother left, and her father has no one to look after her while he works.”
A girl. Abandoned by her mother. Left to the mercy of a roadside restaurant in the heart of the city. The weight of his words pressed down on me, and a million questions flooded my mind. How is she cared for? What kind of life is this for a child so young? What desperation drove her mother to leave her behind? The injustice of it all churned within me.
My mind raced, trying to comprehend the complexities of their situation. If there were problems between the parents, why bring a child into the world? If one of them was facing difficulties, why should this innocent girl bear the brunt of it? And her father, working long hours in the kitchen, how could he possibly provide the love and attention she needed?
“How does she spend her days?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“She stays here with her father until he’s done for the day,” he replied. “There’s no one else he can leave her with.”
A wave of sadness washed over me. I couldn’t fathom a child growing up without the nurturing embrace of a family, spending her days confined to a restaurant staircase. As an anthropology student with a deep interest in child development, I knew how crucial those early years were.
“Does she go to school?” I asked, grasping at straws.
“We’re trying to get her enrolled,” the owner said, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
It was a small comfort, but the reality of her situation still weighed heavily on me. Even if she went to school, what about the rest of her day? The long hours spent alone, exposed to the harsh realities of the world. And her father, struggling to make ends meet, how could he provide the emotional support she so desperately needed? The thought of a child growing up without a mother’s love, in such a precarious environment, filled me with a profound sense of unease.
Driven by a desperate need to do something, anything, we offered help to her father to get her enrolled and her some money, hoping to bring a momentary smile to her face. Her eyes lit up as she ran to her father, proudly displaying the crumpled note.
“Can I go buy some candy?” she asked, her voice brimming with childish excitement.
His response, filled with concern, pierced my heart. “No, beta, not now. It’s too late. Someone might take you.”
“No, they won’t,” she insisted. “I go out during the day too.”
Her words, spoken with such innocence, revealed a heartbreaking truth. The world she navigated was one where danger lurked, even in the familiar streets of her city. A world where a child’s safety was never guaranteed.
Although it felt good to see the laughs on the girls face but I knew it’s very ephemeral. There need to address the root causes, create a safety net for vulnerable children, and provide them with the opportunities they deserve.
As we drove away, the image of that little girl stayed with me, a haunting reminder of the countless children facing similar challenges. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to the struggles of others, especially when they seem so far removed from our own realities. But that little girl’s face, her resilience in the face of adversity, forced me to confront the harsh truths of inequality and neglect.
The next day, my phone rang. It was Dr. Vineet Chaudhary, a recent Ph.D. graduate from Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, whose research focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). There was no one better to discuss this with. I recounted the encounter, the girl’s innocent eyes, her father’s weary resignation, the lurking dangers of her environment.
Dr. Vineet listened intently, then shared his insights. He spoke of how ACEs, like neglect, abuse, or parental separation, can have a profound and lasting impact on a child’s development. These experiences can disrupt the healthy formation of neural pathways, leading to a cascade of physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges later in life.
He also highlighted a crucial factor: the vulnerability of children in nuclear families. In joint families, the social safety net is wider; even if one parent is absent, there are grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to step in. But in nuclear families, the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of the remaining parent, often leaving children exposed to greater risks.
For extreme cases like the little girl I encountered, Dr. Vineet suggested a systematic solution: a foster care system. In developed nations, such children are placed in the care of foster parents, who receive financial support from the government. This arrangement provides children with a safe and nurturing environment, while also offering a lifeline to families willing to open their hearts and homes.
The foster care system isn’t without its challenges, of course. It requires careful screening and training of foster parents, ongoing support and supervision, and a commitment to the child’s best interests. But when done right, it can be a transformative experience, offering children a chance to heal, grow, and thrive
This conversation with Dr. Vineet left me with a renewed sense of hope. While the problems facing vulnerable children are complex and deeply rooted, there are solutions. The foster care system, while promising, felt like a band-aid on a gaping wound. It addressed the immediate needs of some, but what about the countless others left behind?
Suddenly, a more fundamental thought took root in my mind. What if we could create a society where every child, regardless of their circumstances or background, had the awareness, availability, and accessibility to opportunities that would allow them to reach their full potential?
Imagine a system where the government takes responsibility for every child’s well-being, ensuring their nurture and development until they reach an age where they can independently care for themselves. A system where every child receives a uniform, high-quality education, delivered by a people’s tax-funded but government interference-independent body. This would ensure that each child, irrespective of their region, religion, culture, caste, class, or whether they live in an urban or rural area, receives the same foundational education.
But it doesn’t stop at education. This system would also provide a nurturing environment, spaces where children can grow holistically and explore their potential. Imagine community centers, libraries, playgrounds, and mentorship programs accessible to all, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.
I believe that if we could successfully implement such a system for even one generation, the ripple effects would be transformative. We wouldn’t need to artificially uplift any particular segment of society because every child would have an equal starting line.
The challenges are immense, no doubt. It would require a massive investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and community outreach. It would demand a shift in societal attitudes and a commitment to prioritise the well-being of our children above all else.
But the potential rewards are even greater. A generation of empowered, educated, and compassionate individuals could reshape our society, breaking the cycle of poverty and inequality. It’s a vision worth striving for, a dream that could become a reality if we have the courage to imagine it and the determination to make it happen.
Sharing my thoughts with Dr. Vineet, I painted a vision of a future where every child, regardless of their background, was guaranteed a quality education and a nurturing environment. A society where the government, free from political interference, prioritized the holistic development of its youngest citizens.
Vineet, with his keen anthropological lens, paused thoughtfully. “It’s a noble idea,” he said, “but doesn’t it echo the old socialist ideology of centralising resources and control in the hands of the government?”
“Not at all,” I countered. “While significant investment is crucial for building such a system, true and lasting social upliftment cannot be achieved without also fostering technological development and research.”
I explained my belief that social progress and technological advancement are not mutually exclusive, but rather, two sides of the same coin. As the anthropologist Julian Steward observed, a society’s relationship with its environment, including its technological capabilities, profoundly shapes its culture and potential for growth.
Technological innovation empowers us to utilize resources more efficiently, potentially enabling us to support a larger population with a higher quality of life. It’s not a matter of choosing one over the other; we need both robust social programs and cutting-edge technology to create a truly thriving society.
Vineet nodded in agreement. “You’re right,” he said. “The true measure of a nation’s success lies not just in its GDP or technological prowess, but in the quality of life afforded to its citizens, especially the most marginalised.”
We discussed how technological advancements in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and economic opportunities can uplift the lives of all citizens. By investing in both social programs and technological progress, we can create a society where everyone has the chance to thrive and reach their full potential.
Our conversation ended on a note of optimism. The challenges are immense, but the vision is clear. It’s a future worth striving for, where every child has the chance to dream big, regardless of their circumstances. A future where compassion and innovation walk hand in hand, creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity and fulfilment.
Until this vision of a truly equitable society is realised, organisations like Pehchaan The Street School are beacons of hope, stepping in to bridge the gap. Their tireless efforts to provide education, nurture potential, and create a safe haven for underprivileged children serve as a powerful reminder that change is possible, one child at a time. Visit their website at Pehchaan The Street School (Trust) or their YouTube channel to learn more and witness their impactful work.
