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Caring for the young and the old

Yesterday the young and the old of the world were brought into sharp focus simultaneously because October 1 happens to be Universal Children's Day as well as International Elders Day. It has become the norm to bring worthy causes to the attention of the world on specified days of the year but our hope is that such causes wouldn't be forgotten once the curtain falls on the relevant colourful commemorative events that mark these days.

This is particularly applicable to "days" that are dedicated to an important segment of humanity - children and elders. If the children of this world are its future, they need to be in the consciousness of the public constantly, reminding the adult world of its duties towards the young and the vulnerable. In fact, the purpose of special days for specified subjects is to rouse and sustain public interest in the latter right through the year.

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen usually; at least not in Sri Lanka. Children, elders, the natural environment, workers, women, or whatever focused on on special days, are fogotten quite quickly, until the relevant special day dawns the next year. Sustaining public interest in such causes should be the endeavour of not only the Government and the relevant international organisations, but of all of us - the body politic.

The problems affecting local children, however, tend to linger in the public memory for a comparatively longer period of time on account of the interest taken in the welfare of children by none other than President Kumaratunga herself. The National Child Protection Authority - a brainchild of the President - has been playing a relatively vibrant role in keeping the cause of children alive in the public consciousness.

We currently have a sizeable child population of 5,551,889. On their mental and physical well being would depend the future of Sri Lanka. We just cannot afford to allow them to recede from our consciousness once those colourful celebrations marking Universal Children's Day are done with.

It is amply clear that conflicts and war have a devastating impact on children. In the case of Sri Lanka, an entire generation has grown up amid war and destruction. It should be the resolve of all to make a special effort to free Lanka of war and bloodshed to enable the young to enjoy a wholesome future. There is no alternative to ending our conflict by peaceful means to enable our children to enjoy their childhood and grow-up healthy and spritely.

Our elders too cannot be shoved off our consciousness. By 2050, they would constitute 50 percent of the local population. Once again, the people and the State are obliged to secure a wholesome and secure future for this ageing segment of the population. As we see it, elders are not a burden on the rest of the populace and the State. In fact they are an asset which should be judiciously cared for.

There is no question of our getting back to extended families, but every young adult is obliged to inculcate the humanity which would enable him or her to fend for ageing parents. In the days gone by, elders were cared for and loved in their own homes by their offspring. Why can't Sri Lankans retain the human values which made this possible? We need to choose between humanity and material progress. Let's choose humanity.

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Priority for safety

The incident at a recent alms giving could be termed funny if it was not tragic. The alms giving in memory of a departed soul was the scene of another death. The victim - a member of the cooks' party commissioned to prepare the huge repast in memory of the dear departed.

The poor man ended up in a giant cauldron of steaming dried fish curry. A more bizarre ending could not be imagined - of all places at an alms giving.

Cooks in their long hats and white aprons running hither and tither with ladle and spoon banging pots and pans and hurling orders - this is a bustling scene of activity, nay, mayhem. Here too the kokiyas were running helter skelter bearing cauldrons and tankards.

There was the aroma of curries for the alms giving. There was smoke rising from huge pots of rice resting on hearths. There would have been a few mamas too stirring the pot since no 'dana' is complete without a feminine touch to add spice and flavour to the food.

No one was to know that lurking amidst this hive of activity was the shadow of death. To have a local dana without dried fish is like staging hamlet without the prince of Denmark. This was the most important and cherished item in the whole celebration and is looked forward to with relish by all, cutting across status and class distinction.

But to a harried cook this was of little significance. Perhaps time was closing in and they had to get the show on the road. So much so he was not to notice a giant cauldron of steaming dried fish curry while walking backwards with the burden of a huge pan of rice.

Safety is of paramount importance in the kitchen or anywhere else, for that matter. We do not think of the little things that could potentially cause injury and even death. A kettle full of scalding water may fall, there could be an electricity leak and the gas cylinder may not be fully tight. It is better to be safe than be sorry, after all.

Sri Lankans find it difficult to do way with time honoured traditions such as alms givings. People of all faiths engage in this practice. Alms givings could be a costly exercise in some homes - not to mention boisterous scenes during some of these alms givings after one too many.

The latter is quite uncalled for at almsgivings, funerals and other such occasions, but it indicates the depths to which society has sunk. No function is deemed 'complete' without alcohol. Religious leaders must exhort the faithful to veer away from this vile habit.

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