35 percent of our population is below 15 years of age

1 billion more children are growing rapidly.

A third of the population is below 18 years of age

Nearly 14 million are exploited

12.59 million children are into child labour.

As for children on the streets,

• 33 percent are between 6 and 10 years of age
  
• 40 percent are between 11 and 15 years of age
  
• 27 percent are above 16 years of age
  
• More than 2 million children have been affected by HIV/AIDS all over the world; in India, 70,000 children have been affected.
  
• Every five minutes, a girl or a woman is sold out in India for different reasons.
  
• Apart from this, children are used for drug-peddling; most of the teens commit suicide for different reasons; female children are abused and even their murder is attempted.
  

We see a number of children every time we go out but have we ever thought of their plight? We excuse ourselves by saying, ‘Thank God, my child is not among them’. We relax and convince ourselves by saying to ourselves, ‘I take care of my child’s needs’. If this is what you are thinking, my friend, you are making a big mistake. The foregoing statistics concern children who do not have guardians; even if they have, they do not get any support or help anyway. These children fight at every stage of their life or they have the choice of deciding the way they want to live.


Coming to our own children who have the benefit of our protection and guidance, we fail to realise that they face a greater danger. Has my statement surprised you? Well, then, answer the following questions with a cool and calm mind:

1. How many times you hug your child, when it is sad?
   
2. When your child puts you a question when you are busy, how do you answer it? With a smile on your face or with a serious expression? Or you just shout at it?
   
3. When your child fails to do something or does what you asked it not to do, how do you react? Do you persuade the child or do you shout at it or slap it?
   
4. How much of your time you set apart for the child in a day?
   
5. How many times you go out with your child?
   
6. Do you pick up a fight with your spouse in the child’s presence?
   
7. Do you know where your child’s talent lies?
   
8. Do you allow the child to develop its skill sets or do you force the child to concentrate on studies?
   
9. Do you have some good, clean fun with the child or move with it impersonally?
   
10. When you enter its room, does the child smile at you or manifest any feeling?
    
11. Do you know what the child likes and does not?
    

When a child is born every one in the family is happy; but as it begins to grow, do we love the child as much? It is not just our responsibility to the child that matters; the love and care we shower upon the child matters too and shape its attitude and lifestyle. That is what Amir Khan tried to convey through his film Taare Zameen Par. It was a hit not because of the story or brilliant acting; it was a hit because it showed reality.