News
‘Photo-Focus’ brings desired results
This little girl was pensive, was the sympathy genuine or an NGO trick to make use of their poverty
Last week’s ‘Sunday Times Photo-Focus’ report on the plight of children in the poverty–stricken village in the Naula, Divisional Secretary area in Matale has received an outpouring of sympathy.
The report which highlighted the fact that many children of school-going age were unable to attend school due to poverty and were forced to work in tea estates, paddy fields and other menial jobs to support their families caught the attention of the Prime Minister.
The PM’s office ordered an immediate report on the situation.
Accordingly the Naula DS directed his staff to work extra hours on poya day to collect the data of the school children to compile the report.
The police however reacted differently. They sent out a jeep with policemen warning the parents to send their children to school. Police threatened parents that any child failing to attend school would forcibly removed and sent to children’s homes.
The police campaign came to a halt when one parent reacted strongly saying he would poison his children, rather than see them sent to probation homes.
He said it was their poverty which prevented their children attending school.
Other well-wishers and donor agencies also visited the area and gathered the affected people to seek ways they could jointly help the children.
In response to the PMs query the Pradeshiya Sabha operated even though it was a poya day
Most of the kids were happy with the attention they were receiving and promises of help
Sad but true, the son of man has no place to lay his head in comfort
Well-wishers and donors brought the affected villagers together to discuss how their problems could be overcome.