SEHORE (M.P. ) : In this day and age, when our country is endeavouring to rank among developed nations, can anything more horrible be contemplated than poverty compelling a tiller to employ his daughters – in place of oxen – to pull the plough at a farm in order to prepare the soil for sowing corn?
The fact that there are ‘two Indias’ within this nation’s borders – one’s denizens living in the very lap of luxury and the other’s residents condemned to a semi-best i a l existence – again came sharply into focus in Basantpur Pangri village. Peasant Sardar Barela’s girls Radhika (14) and Kunti (11) abandoned studies so that they could help their sire in agricultural activities.
Though our politicians generally draw more brickbats than plaudits, Karnataka Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar – who learnt of the family’s plight after a video went viral and caused a furore – recently extended assistance of Rs. 50,000 for the minors’ sustenance and education. The state Human Rights Commission sought a report from the Collector.