Concern for children

The Middle East job boom which commenced in the late '70s has no doubt put many Sri Lankans on easy street. It has brought them untold riches and with it happiness and contentment beyond belief. In fact this Middle East job boom was manna from heaven to most Sri Lankans who had no ready jobs on offer at the time and to those employed, with opportunities to better their prospects.

Therefore, many seized on this opportunity to break out of the vicious cycle of poverty and secure for themselves and their families a place in the sun. Many of those, particularly in the rural areas, who were economically deprived and hitherto had no means of breaking out of the rut became well established in life after stints in the Middle East. Parents who were unable to afford a good education to their children were now able to send them to the best of schools. The Middle East prosperity also enabled many parents to give their off spring in marriage with dowries, a luxury they could not afford before.

True, this also had its down side. Many of our women who were serving as domestics were made to undergo many privations and ordeals some of whom even paying the ultimate price. But this did not in any way staunch the exodus to the Middle East seeking the proverbial pot of gold. In fact the flow continues to this day with the quality of the labour improving with the various training schemes provided by the Government to enable Middle East bound Lankans or for that matter to any other destination, earn an enhanced income and for our women particularly, to break out of the stereotype Housemaid appellation.

Parallel to this saga of prosperity there was also the dark side, viz. the break up of families and particularly the neglect of children who were left to their own devices sans the care and guidance of a parent usually the mother who was slaving in a far off land to keep the home fires burning. Today it is no secret that many of these children have gone astray with some even becoming drug addicts and female offspring subject to molestation by the male households and other acts of depravity. The matter has reached such serious proportion that the National Child Protection Authority was forced to step in and request prospective women migrant workers to inform the Authority of the places and persons where they intend to leave their children for protection.

But according to a report we carried yesterday although the request was made in June, with a contact number given, only 50 women have responded up to date, to come out with such particulars. Such is the indifference and disregard certain parents have for their children or the consequences to them in this day and age. The National Child Protection Authority should be commended for coming out with such a plan, but it cannot force parents to seek such assistance against their will. A much more effective campaign should therefore be carried out to make the public aware of the consequences to children in the absence of parental care. NCPA Chairperson Anoma Dissnayake lamented that these mothers did not pay heed to the request of the Authority. But as the premier state arm concerned with the protection of children and ensuring their welfare the NCPA should play a more proactive role in the matter. It should penalise parents who display callous attitudes towards their offspring.

This lack of concern for their children by mothers seeking overseas employment is a reflection of the times when the lure of money has drowned all sense of values and feelings including the feeling for one's offspring. It is also a sign of the disintegration of the family unit and absence of sentiment. It should be made compulsory for women seeking overseas employment to inform the NCPA about details of the children they leave behind. This is particularly so to ensure there is no break down in their education. For, it is often seen that such children neglect their studies and even drop out from school altogether particularly in homes where the father is a alcoholic or drug addict and forfeits his responsibility towards his offspring.

The Middle East job exodus also have left many a broken home with often the father of the children engaged in illicit relations and other vices such as gambling which can also drive children to the deep end leaving permanent mental scars. While these opportunities have also brought riches and happiness to many it has also caused much unhappiness, discord and ruination for some. The ultimate victims no doubt are the children whose future will be in peril. It is incumbent therefore on the NCPA to do everything possible to look into the welfare of these children and ensure they are not abandoned or go astray for want of parental care.