India celebrates Children's Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who was known for his love for children.
“Children are like buds in a garden and should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” These words are attributed to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, who was affectionately known as Chacha Nehru for his love for children. In his honour, India celebrates Children's Day on November 14 every year to commemorate his birth anniversary. Nehru emphasised the need to protect and nurture children and provide them with quality education, healthcare and opportunities to realise their full potential, recognising their role in shaping society. A child's happiness and well-being matter because they shape the person the child grows up to become and, ultimately, the society. Unfortunately, many children continue to face challenges such as poverty, child labour, discrimination, malnutrition, abuse and other forms of exploitation. For instance, despite the decline in reported numbers over the years, child labour remains a serious concern in India. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, has not been able to eradicate the practice. This is evident from the sight of children working at construction sites, hotels and roadside dhabas. In Nagaland, however, child labour often takes a different form, with children being employed as domestic help. Driven by poverty, many families in rural areas send their innocent children to influential and well-to-do households on the assurance that they will be provided with quality education. However, some of these children end up being exploited under the guise of being offered a better life. The issue has attracted public attention, particularly after cases of physical abuse involving such children came to light. Yet, no tangible action has been taken to curb this disquieting practice.
Another deeply disturbing trend in Nagaland is the apparent rise in crimes against children. A state that once prided itself on a relatively low crime rate now finds itself confronting an alarming reality, with cases of physical abuse and rape involving minors, including incidents of incest, increasingly making headlines. Such crimes are not confined to girls; young boys too are victims of sexual assault. While girls remain disproportionately vulnerable, it is important to recognise that children of any gender can be victims. This underscores the need to approach every case with sensitivity and seriousness, without assuming that boys are immune to sexual abuse or overlooking their suffering. These realities are a stark reminder that we, as a society, have not done enough to ensure the safety, dignity and well-being of our children. To make Children's Day more meaningful, we must resolve to shoulder the responsibility of creating a safe and supportive environment for every child. The government, society, schools, communities and parents all have crucial roles to play in protecting and nurturing children, providing them with equal opportunities and helping them grow into responsible citizens and compassionate human beings. Every child deserves happiness and love.