Traffic Signal

A small little girl holding a baby boy came to me asking for money. I was on my scooter waiting for the signal to turn the light from red to green. I asked that girl about the baby boy, she told me that he is her brother. I again asked, where are your parents? She replied they are at another traffic signal. Before I move to the next question, I had to move with my ride as I was blasted with the variety of horns behind me and the signal was on.

Another morning at some other traffic signal, I was among that public who were waiting for their turn to get a green signal. A girl holding around a one-year-old baby girl asked me for money. She gave me a gesture that she is very hungry and in need of money for food. Dirty clothes, running nose, tousled hair...oh...difficult; but after getting a green signal, I had to move on that day also.

It was a beautiful evening and I was enjoying my ride. As expected, stopped at a traffic signal. Almost a similar scenario that I was experiencing for the last few days came in front of me in a little different character. A small baby held by her mother....came to me and the mother started blessing me. Showing her pity face, she asked me for money for her child. I gave a coin, yes, a coin and started my scooter but frankly speaking, I did not enjoy the ride after that.

Slowly, slowly during an everyday pause at the traffic signal, I started noticing these scenarios where a child or a baby is a must character. I also noticed few are giving them money while few are simply denying it. I do not know whether the money they get every day is sufficient for them or their family but one thing I could observe after a few insights is that this is the way they have chosen to income money which is 'wrong', absolutely wrong. Even more, using...yes, using a child, a baby who does not even know what the matter and the purpose is; but simply getting involved in such a pathetic process.

Why they do not go to school? Why are not they getting a simple or even simplest lifestyle of having food, clothes and shelter in a proper way? Did their parents want so or do they have some compulsions? So many questions like this wondered around me and I..., I was completely clueless.

For a change in society, power is needed. Power of politics, power of a position and power of a personality. Unfortunately, I do not have any of these three powers. So, I can just think for a change because to incorporate those changes, I may, I may take a number of years from today. Being a youth of this country, I have the right to think for a change, to propose an idea for a change and have the possibility to carry out those proposals at least up to some extent through the cooperation of the public, if intended.

Seeing these scenarios of gaining money by utilizing children as a medium is an insult for society, for the nation and is a barrier to the progress of the nation. In the current time where 'Padhega India, tabhi to badhega India' is one of the missions for the nation's progress, these kinds of poor practices at a traffic signal is an offence to such missions. Government should look into this matter. Not only the children of rural areas but also the children of rural families in urban areas should be focused on by the government. The sole reason for this vulgar way of income need to be investigated, then only, it can vanish from the root. These children should know about education, should taste the essence and benefits of education. Their birth and their presence in our motherland need to be valued. They should also be realized, how special they are to society and how special they can be for their country. At the same time, the government can provide work to their parents for their daily income. While the children will go to school, their parents will go to work. They will work and get their own money. They will not beg and be given with others money.

Being a youth with an aspiration for the progress of the nation, I humbly pray and request the government to take care of the matter, to look after these families and to implement a rule to ban such practices at traffic signals. This will lead to progress at an individual level for the growing children and their families as well as will bring progress for the nation. Let us not allow their lives to stuck at the red signal but allow them to move ahead and prosper like getting a green signal...

In this country, in this life, the presence of each and everything has a purpose, each and everything has a value. Let's not dilute that. 

A traffic signal is meant to bring a break on our rapid-fire movement, not for utilizing it as a platform for witnessing a daily basis pathetic program.