India celebrates children’s day today

The birth anniversary of India’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, is to be celebrated in India today as Children’s Day ,because of his love for children.

The day is marked by activities for children nationwide. Schools organise events and activities for their students. Many organisations working for the welfare of children take this opportunity to spread awareness about the plight of less privileged children.

A survey carried out for the Times of India showed that 94 per cent of children in urban areas watched television in their leisure time, compared with 40 per cent of adults in their childhood. Studies have gained more importance, with 82 per cent of today's children receiving tuition outside school, compared with only 55 per cent of adults. Nearly 48 per cent of the children preferred English, while 37 per cent of adults preferring maths in their childhood.

The poll also showed that the new generation is a healthy generation, with 61 per cent of children enjoying playing outside, 66 per cent feeling healthy, only 19 per cent not eating vegetables and 64 per cent enjoying home-cooked food.

But not all children are so fortunate. In contrast to this happy picture, in a poorly constructed government school in Hebbal, a huge portion of plastering gave away and fell on students of class VI. Six students are said to have suffered minor injuries. The students are spending their children’s day in the hospital in a state of shock.

In another incident, 71 school children fell ill yesterday after taking milk at the Adivasi Residential School, Baridih, in Ranchi. Five children died on their way to the hospital, where a further 26 were admitted.

Source: itexaminer.com