I was shocked to learn that children from both rich and poor families are begging in desperation in the tornado-stricken villages in Netrakona (ref Schoolchildren beg in twister-torn Netrakona, 19.04.2004, The Daily Star). The prime minister and the opposition leader visited the affected area on the same day. It seems that the only outcome of such visits is the same old empty promise and harassment, thanks to the tight security measures. The government seems never tired of detailing the 'huge' amount of relief distributed to the twister affected people while they are starving. Do our 'leaders' understand the situation in which parents tell their children to go to beg? Can they imagine themselves in a similar situation? Why should they? They know that we will write so much about them, and still elect one of them. The cry of the un-fed children will never move them. The opposition will try to make a issue out of it, the government will be busy countering that, while the minor children will be un-fed, injured and go without treatment. The NGOs and the affluent section of the society should respond to the cry of those children.
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