Being a child in India

We all know that India is the second most populated country in the world. The percentage of children is higher in India when compared to other countries. While taking into consideration their development growth, we lack behind. There is a report that says the death rate of children in India is on the higher level. This is due to many reasons. I would like to point out some of them.

The main and foremost reason is, more percentage of children die due to malnutrition. They dont get enough or proper dietary food or food supplements, that results in underweight children which in turn limit not only their growth and development, but also their capacity to learn things, probably leading to death.

Secondly, there is a data that claims nearly three lakh babies die within a few hours of birth because of infections and preventable causes. Not only this, nearly 4 lakh children are affected by easily preventable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea and they die even before the age of five.

There is one more issue that acts a major role in the death of babies, especially the girl baby- female foeticide. In some parts of the country, the girl child is utterly disliked and the baby is killed the moment she is born. Even if she escapes death, she is forced to face many problems throught out her life. She is given a second class citizenship like no proper food, no education, no rights, etc. Another serious issue which is even now prevailing in many areas is the child marriage. Girl child not knowing anything is forced to marry at the very young age. As a result, she gives birth to a underweight baby due to poor nourishment, as a case there is very less chance of survival at the end, for both the child mother and the baby.

We know that many children die every year due to malnutrition, the other reason that stands for is childhood obesity. This is because of the present day food culture that we follow like junk food and lack of physical play, which leads to many diseases and health related issues in children starting at the very young age of five.

Whatever we have seen as the reasons and causes for the death of children in India, are preventable and avoidable. Only thing is that we should frame strict rules and precautionary measures to eradicate poverty, malnutrition and severe rules and regulations to abolish chid marriage and see that every girl child gets her citizenship rights.

Marc, the Deer Prince

Once there lived a girl named Elvin. She lived in a cottage near the woods. She was very kind and helpful to others. She never ever harmed any living thing in her life. She always rescued the animals which were injured and kept it with her till it recovered. Some went back to their place and many remained with her.

One day, when Elvin was picking flowers and fruits from her garden, Baloo, the bear, which was with her, was fighting with something near the bush. Elvin went nearby and saw that it was trying to kill a deer which by mistake came by this way. The deer was trying to escape from Baloo, but it couldn't, and it was severely injured. Elvin was shocked and she tried to clear Baloo from that spot and took the injured deer to her house and gave necessary treatment. The deer quite after few minutes was out of pain. The deer remained with Elvin till it recovered.

It was a full moon day and Elvin was preparing food for all the animals. When she was about to feed the animals, she found the deer missing. Instead she saw a Prince standing in front of her. She was shocked and confused to see him there. He told her that he is Marc, Prince of Elusia, and that he was cursed by a Witch to turn into a deer. The Prince also told that he will be relieved from the curse once he meets a very kind and caring girl.

The Prince requested Elvin to marry him. On hearing this, Elvin was so happy. But the happiness did not remain for long. She was worried about the animals who stayed with her and she told the Prince that she cannot walk with the Prince leaving her friends behind. The Prince promised her that they will also be taken to the Kingdom and taken care after. Elvin married the Prince and lived happily together in the Kingdom.

Friendship

Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Sahan. Next to his house there lived another boy named Manny. They were just neighbours but not good friends. Manny doesn't like Sahan and he always had an argue and fight with Sahan for nothing.

One day, some robbers entered Manny's house and stole valuable things from his house and ran away. Manny tried to catch them, but could not. The robbers escaped from his house with the valuable things. Manny could not do anything than ran after them. The robbers went into the forest nearby. Manny did not leave his hope and chased them till the forest.

Sahan, who was watching all these, suddenly thought that he should help Manny and save him from the robbers, and earn his friendship. He thought that this could be the best opportunity to show Manny what friendship is. So he immediately called the police and told them what had happened and asked them for help. In a few minutes, the police rushed to the forest, saved Manny and caught the robbers. All the valuable belongings of Manny was given back to him. Manny went and thanked the police for their timely help. But the police revealed the fact that it was Sahan, who called them on time and told them about the situation and it is he, who had requested the police to rescue his friend. Manny felt ashamed and sorry about his earlier attitude towards Sahan. Even though he had done injustice to Sahan, he was kind enough to help Manny, when needed. He relased Sahan was the best friend who was helpful to him when in need. He felt sorry and he remained Sahan's best friend from that day onwards.

                       

Hiwi, the Naughty

Once upon a time, there lived a little boy, named Hiwi. He lived with his parents in a small town. He went to school in bus. He did not have friends at all. He was so hard and tough, that everyone hated him. He always troubled others and made them cry. His parents were very much worried about him.

One day, his teacher told the class students that they are supposed to do a project (real time project – project based on rescue of living things) for which the best student will be selected and given a prize. All the students, except Hiwi, were so happy and started preparing for the project, hoping they get the prize. Hiwi reached home sadly. He was so sad because he did not have any real time experience on rescuing anyone or anything in his life time. So he will not be able to submit a project on the same. He seemed to be worried about it.

Days passed by and the due date for project was nearing. Hiwi was nearly in a critical situation not knowing what to prepare for his project. He was not in a mood to play with his little puppy also. He left home and went to a pond, very near to the railway station.

While he was thinking about the project, he heard someone screaming. He immediately went the way following the sound. It lead him to the railway station where he saw an elephant struck in the rail track and it could not life its leg from it. Hiwi was shocked to see this and did not know what to do. He also saw a train coming fast in the same track. Suddenly he got an idea and immediately removed his red shirt which he was wearing and tied in a long stick. He waived the red shirt high so that the train engine driver could see it. The stick was too thick and heavy, that he could not waive it continuously. But Hiwi tried his level best. The engine driver saw this and he immediately stopped the train. Out of pain, Hiwi fell down on the track. People came running to the spot and saw the elephant and Hiwi. Immediately they released the elephant from the track with the help of the railway people and Hiwi was also taken to the hospital.

The Government and the forest department appreciated Hiwi for saving the elephant. Everyone praised Hiwi for his bravery. Hiwi shared his real time experience with all. His project was selected as the best project and he was given the prize. Not only he got the prize, but the Government also rewarded him for saving the elephant and for his bravery. From that day onwards, Hiwi changed his attitude and started helping others.

My Visit to Tirumala

It was a nice Friday when we started our journey from Bangalore to Tirumala. Since we (me and my brother) were in school, our parents came to pick us up. It was quite a hot day. After an hour's travel, we stopped and had our food, home-made food, very delicious and tasty. On the way, we saw many pottery selling shops (place known as Palamaner, famous for pottery works), different types of trees, plants and small animals like mangoose, hamsters etc. Me and my brother watched kids movies in our I-pad. Since we came directly from school and were tired, we fell asleep. When we woke up, we were in Tirupati, checking counter (entry point for Tirumala). We took all our luggages to the entry point for scanning. After that we reached our car and started our journey to Tirumala.

My father had already booked a room in Tirumala. We went and settled down, took rest, had dinner in a nearby hotel, where the food was really yummy. Then we came back to our room and went to sleep, as we had an early darshan the next day. The next day, we got up early, had bath, dressed up in our traditional way, to have darshan of the God. On the way, we finished our breakfast in the same hotel, and started in search of the counter. The moment we reached the darshan counter, there were many people already waiting in the queue. We stood in the counter and waited for some time and had the darshan of Lord Balaji, came out with full of satisfaction and little prasadam which was issued near the exit gate. My parents went to collect the laddus and we were with our grandma. In the meantime, I played with my brother. My parents came with the yummy and tasty laddus, which is my favourite, and we started. There were so many shops in and around Tirumala, where one can see lots of stuff from a to z, loved and liked by kids and adults. Me and my brother purchased so many toys and our bags were filled with colourful toys and our heart was filled with happiness and joy.

In the afternoon, we had our lunch and started from Tirumala back to Bangalore. We saw so many deer in the Tirumala hill deer park, stopped on the way, had ice-cream in a shop, then started our journey. In Tirupati, we went to a nursery, where my mother got some flowering plants for her garden. Early evening, we reached Bangalore. The trip to Tirumala was a memorable one.