Unrest poisoning children's minds

MAHOTTARI, Nov 23: A group of small children, who needed to be either at school or home during the scorching heat, were busy doing something else on the street of Bardibas - Aurahi - Jaleshwar route on Monday afternoon. Each of the children aged eight to 15 had thick bamboo batons in their hands.

They were chanting slogans on and off. They would not fail to keep careful vigil on the silent road. As soon as they saw any vehicle, they would promptly stop it.

"Don't you know it's banda here? Why are you riding it? Aren't you afraid of being attacked?" the kids would throw such readymade questions at the riders.

After such implausible grilling by the aggressive youngsters, vehicles were taking u-turn to get back.

On Monday, 'Hundred Days of Suffering of Madhesh' was marked. As a result, protestors had become even stricter on imposing strike in the region.

While the prolonged unrest in Madhes has had great impact on the people's life, the disturbance has affected the young minds even more seriously, as it's purely psychological, say some locals.

"What can we do? The children do not listen to us. If you tell them that they must go to school, they will ask instead - who are opening schools during strike? If you argue more, situation might turn violent," said a motorbike rider who was not let through the route on Monday.

"Their minds have been so badly disturbed due to the prolonging unrest that they have developed a very negative attitude toward everything. They warn you not to go against the strike."

According to the motorbike rider, who did not want to be named, as schools were closed in the Madhes region for over three months, children have become spoilt.

"We are out on street against the huge black marketing," said Tara Shrestha, who was busy leading one such small group of children in Bardibas - 9. "For every goods, we are paying more than actual price. Black marketing has quite flourished of late," he said.

Shrestha was not interested in answering questions about reopening of schools. Children with him were in different mood, too. According to locals, many of their schoolteachers are either participating or leading the protests. No wonder, such activities of teachers give out clear message to the kids.

The children protesting on the street on Monday study at Janata Higher Secondary School and Jana Jagriti Primary School, among other local schools. Even though the agitating Madhesi Morcha recently announced that it would allow schools to reopen, few dared to resume classes.

According to Shrestha, children are well aware of the sufferings they and their families are undergoing since the agitation started. While they are in full support of 'the struggle for equal rights', they are against the forces that have been trying to take advantage of the situation.

"We can buy just one liter of petrol for the price of two liters. That's why are even more agitated," Shrestha said.

Those speaking loud against the skyrocketing prices of essential goods and fuel include even elderly and differently abled people. Shreeram Bhujel, who was carefully observing the agitating kids at the street, remarked that poor people are going to die of hunger if the situation does not change anytime soon. "How will the poor manage now? Everything has become so expensive. But the government is quiet," he said.

Meanwhile, locals also expressed their voice against violent elements for defaming the agitation. Vandalizing of public vehicles, setting fire on things indiscriminately, not sparing even ambulances and so on have been sharply criticized by them. The locals expressed worries that the children who have already been badly affected due to the 100 days of banda would be even more traumatized if they get to know about or witness brutal activities.

"Both the government and the agitating party should genuinely seek solution to this unrest. Our children's future is at stake," Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister for Education, who was elected from Mohattrai- 1 had recently stated. Following the recent decision of Morcha to let the schools reopen, Pokhrel has urged all the schoolteachers to be more responsible and caring toward students in this sensitive time.