The Unending Violence

A call came from medical college hospital, Trivandrum to our child helpline number (1098) saying that a boy Vinu (given name) was admitted and was suffering serious burns and they suspected the same as a case of deliberate punishment to the child. Our Team rushed to the spot and found that both the hands and the chest of the child were seriously burnt. We spoke to his mother. She fearfully revealed that one of their relatives, Mr. Titus had burnt the child after pouring kerosene on him.  It was because he was accused of stealing a purse from neighbor’s house. Vinu refused that he had taken the purse though there were instances of previous stealing by the child. But Mr. Titus came to the boy’s house and threatened him many times. One day, he came and tied both hands of Vinu with a cloth, poured Kerosene and set fire. The child presently has stumps as hand and has severe burns on his chest and throat and requires many operations and long treatments to live even a semi-normal life.

The incident had taken place three months before and they had not reported the same because Titus had threatened them not to reveal it to anyone saying that if they did so he would repeat the same to other children too. So they kept it as secret. Initial treatment was done saying that Vinu was injured from a lamp. With our intervention Vinu has received help from the Social Justice Department for treatment. We initiatiated criminal proceedings against the culprit and he has been apprehended. Though the child’s spirit is indomitable, he may never be able to lead a normal life.

Stealing is a common problem among children. There are a number of different reasons a child steals and a number of different ways to handle the problem. Young children do not steal. Children below the age of four or five do not have a concept of ownership. They do not understand that it is wrong to take things that belong to others. By the time a child enters elementary school, he should know that stealing is wrong.  Often children at this age take things because they lack self-control. A preteen or teen may steal for the thrill of it or because that is what friends are doing. He may be trying to gain a feeling of control over his life or to fill an emotional void. Whatever the reason a child is stealing, the parents need to approach the problem with wisdom. It is important to observe the child’s behavior and correct them early so that the child can grow knowing the value of truthfulness.

It is often difficult to correct the behavior once the child is already into it and has become a habit. It is important to monitor who children makes friends with and timely intervention to direct them to good friends is necessary. So we can say that it is often irresponsible parenting that result in children stealing.

Corrective measures need to be child friendly and in keeping with the gravity of the offence. Often emotion takes over and the child has to bear the brunt of the anger of the guardian all through life. It is impossible to comprehend the amount of suffering a child has to undergo at the hands of cruel and insensitive guardians. Here again the cruelty of a person has crippled the future of a child.