Mother 'regrets' education of child
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 04 2013 : While it needs no reminding that every mother's foremost wish is education of their children, for 52-year old Wonmila Kashung parting with her youngest daughter for the latter's educational pursuit continues to haunt her.

The mother's hope that education of the youngest child will help the family of seven sustain a respectable livelihood in the coming years turned out to be one of the most bitter and horrifying experiences she has had, more heart-wrenching than even losing the family patriarch for the daughter is today mentally disoriented and physically incapacitated after her brief stay at a Jaipur children home, in Rajasthan.

Narrating her sorrowful tale to The Sangai Express, Wonmila said she decided to send her then 15-year old daughter Lucy (not real name) to stay at the Jaipur home in 2007 as she was assured of her daughter's better educational facility in the western part of India.

Rather than getting educational opportunities information was received from the Home, run by one Jacob John, after some months that Lucy was unwell and would be better if some relative(s) take her home, said the mother.

Based on the conveyance from the Home's cook, also hailing from Ukhrul district, a visibly sick Lucy was reportedly brought home in 2009 .

Quoting her daughter, Wonmila contended that none of the children who left for Jaipur along with Lucy as well as others already staying there were allowed to venture outside the Home.

Whenever there was illness among the children medicines were provided without even consulting a doctor, said the mother adding that after her return Lucy showed signs of mental depression and physical weakness.

As days turned into months without any sign of improvement the family's anxiety grew due to financial constraints as well as Lucy's condition worsening with telltale signs of disorientation and knock-knee symptom, Wonmila said adding that her case was put before the Child Welfare Committee, Ukhrul district which further suggested that Lucy's condition be discussed with Ukhrul District Hospital doctors.

Inspite of the district hospital referring the case to an Imphal medical centre the treatment suggestion could not be complied with as it would mean more spending, which the family could not afford.

With the district's Child Welfare Committee volunteers facilitating doctor's consultation at the district headquarters after some months, doctors present mooted that Lucy's treatment would also necessitate surgical process which too cannot be undertaken till date, narrated the distraught mother.

As the family income is based on meagre earning as agricultural and other manual labour there is hardly any prospect that Lucy's condition would improve, conceded the mother who also recounted in between 2004 and 2005 about 30 children left the district for the jaipur facility.

Expressing that there is every possibility of many children staying at the Home enduring similar suffering like Lucy experienced, Wonmila desired that State's Social Welfare Department authorities not only undertake intervention and rescue measures but also adopt an effective rehabilitation programme for the children in distress.

Referring to news report about 381 children rescued from different Indian cities in the last few years, she called upon those at the helm of affairs to translate their assurances for proper rehabilitation of the rescued children rather than clamour for publicity through their tall talks.

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