#poorchild

BY GWENDOLYN BROOKS

People who have no children can be hard: Attain a mail of ice and insolence: Need not pause in the fire, and in no sense Hesitate in the hurricane to guard. And when wide world is bitten and bewarred They perish purely, waving their spirits hence Without a trace of grace or of offense To laugh or fail, diffident, wonder-starred. While through a throttling dark we others hear The little lifting helplessness, the queer Whimper-whine; whose unridiculous Lost softness softly makes a trap for us. And makes a curse. And makes a sugar of The malocclusions, the inconditions of love.

What shall I give my children? who are poor, Who are adjudged the leastwise of the land, Who are my sweetest lepers, who demand No velvet and no velvety velour; But who have begged me for a brisk contour, Crying that they are quasi, contraband Because unfinished, graven by a hand Less than angelic, admirable or sure. My hand is stuffed with mode, design, device. But I lack access to my proper stone. And plenitude of plan shall not suffice Nor grief nor love shall be enough alone To ratify my little halves who bear Across an autumn freezing everywhere. And shall I prime my children, pray, to pray? Mites, come invade most frugal vestibules Spectered with crusts of penitents’ renewals And all hysterics arrogant for a day. Instruct yourselves here is no devil to pay. Children, confine your lights in jellied rules; Resemble graves; be metaphysical mules. Learn Lord will not distort nor leave the fray. Behind the scurryings of your neat motif I shall wait, if you wish: revise the psalm If that should frighten you: sew up belief If that should tear: turn, singularly calm At forehead and at fingers rather wise, Holding the bandage ready for your eyes.

Gwendolyn Brooks, “The Children of the Poor” from Annie Allen (New York: Harper & Row, 1949). Collected in Blacks (Chicago: Third World Press, 1991).

It is estimated that over 40 million children in the country are forced into child labour. There are thousands of child abuse cases that either remain pending or have no satisfactory outcome. In the presence of statistics such as this, it becomes important to take up steps that ensure that every child leads a healthy, safe and nurturing life. The need for Child Protection in India is imminent. Even though there are several legal frameworks laid down to reduce child exploitation, their safety is still compromised due to the lack of resources, awareness and proper protection and rehabilitation services.

Child Protection Laws in India

Several policies have been laid down by the government over the years. These work towards providing child protection in India and ensuring that no child is exposed to a situation that puts their safety, well-being or growth at risk. All of these child protection laws have been put into effect to ensure that no child has to face situations that compromise their health, overall development or future.

Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) is working tirelessly to ensure that the laws and regulations laid down for child protection in India are actually applied in day to day life. KSCF has been at the forefront of the fight against child exploitation. With a vision of providing every child with an opportunity to lead a safe and secure life, the foundation strives to help them realize their true potential.

Providing high-quality education and nutritional care to children from all backgrounds is another objective of the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation. The foundation strives to help any child in need of protection or care to the best of its ability.