Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Mental illness
Covid-19 has an adverse effect on the mental health of people belonging to different age groups. Unemployment, global warming, political instability and poor distribution of basic resources among the masses are the topmost factors ramping up mental illness cases e.g. anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Besides this, the generation gap is another emerging factor contributing to mental illnesses.
Parents are unable to understand the problems of the modern generation. Their conventional thoughts and methods to deal with real-life challenges are pushing this generation into turmoil. No doubt, parents are more experienced than their children, yet they need to understand the concept of the generation gap. People as well as situations are evolving with time, hence, solutions. Home is where you live with your family in peace. If parents fail to provide a peaceful environment to their children, it could increase the number of mental illness cases.
Furthermore, deteriorated mental health affects the productivity of the individual and damage brain cell activity if prolonged. Educational Institutions should play a vital role to fill this generation gap by providing counselling sessions to parents and parents-to-be. Moreover, media could help in this case by bringing out several campaigns regarding mental illness and the generation gap.
NIMRA ANJUM
Faisalabad
Inter exams
The intermediate examinations across Balochistan commenced from 17 May. Reportedly, more than 50,000 students are appearing in the exams. However, the arrangements made by the concerned authorities are not satisfactory. The students face multiple issues in their examination halls.
Like rest of the province, the city of Turbat is no exception. In 50 Celcius temperature, students are compelled to take their papers in acute load shedding for hours. Similarly, no arrangements of generators are either made by the concerned schools or board officials in the respective examination halls.
The tears scrolling down the faces of students affect their answer sheets which resultantly bring a discouraging result for them. The students are also compelled to drink hot water during their papers. However, the concerned authorities have yet not paid heed toward these issues which show negligence on their part. The higher authorities and the District Administration need to sort out the problems faced by the students in their examination halls, please.
BA BALOCH
Kech
Sharing bond with children
I want to draw attention towards very first and important relationship of children which is called parents-children relationship. The sharing bond between parents and children is not in strong position in our country, especially in rural and remote areas. The parents deal with their children strictly due to which children are unable to share their feelings and problems with their parents. When children don’t share personal matters with their parents due to their strict behaviour, then children face a lot of problems like loneliness, sexual harassment and bad company etc.
I think parents should make strong level of sharing bond with their children by giving them free hand to share their feelings. With having strict behaviour, parents should increase level of closeness up to that level with their children that children would share all types of feelings and problems without any hesitation.
Most of the harassment cases are occurring repeatedly due to lack of the mutual sharing of parents and children. Parents should make strong and complete bond of mutual sharing with their children by appreciation when they share their feelings. This would lead to reduce the problems in society. It is hoped that this piece of mine would help bring a positive change in the attitude of parents.
UMER SIDDIQUE RANA
Toba Tek Singh
Child marriages
Child marriage occurs when one or both spouses are below the age of 18. While boys can be affected, the issue primarily impacts girls. Child marriage takes away a girl’s right to safe and healthy childhood, quality and complete education that can lead to decent economic opportunities, and social and political empowerment. Pakistan has the 6th highest number of girls married before the age of 18 in the world.
Child marriage is prevalent due to several reasons including deeply entrenched traditions and customs, poverty, lack of awareness. Early and forced marriages occur mostly in rural and low-income households, where education is less. Moreover, in 2020, 119 cases of child marriages were reported in Pakistan, of which 95% were of girls and 5% were of boys. Addressing child marriage in Pakistan is challenging primarily because of its links to tradition and religion.
Another challenge is that those who conduct marriages the Qazi or Nikah Khwan, village-level government officials may not seek to verify the couple’s ages or inform the relevant authorities if they suspect that a bride is under the legal age. Although fines and punishments exist, laws on child marriage have little impact as they are not well enforced. In Sindh, it is illegal for those under 18 to marry, whereas according to national law, legal minimum age is 16.
KHANZADI
Via email
Elders deserve care
It is very true that old people are not welcomed in their own homes. They don’t get proper care and love from their children and grandchildren. They are considered a burden on them. The children do not realize that they are the ones who were brought up by parents. They deserved to be respected and loved.
Nowadays people are too busy to take care of their own parents. This scenario needs to be changed. Old people should be in their own homes and not in an old age home. People do not have time for their parents and when they think they are becoming burdensome to them. They drop them off at old age homes. I think the younger generation can stop this practice. They should have moral values to take care of their grandparents, love.
GULE MAHEEN
Karachi
