Children of border areas stare at bleak future

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Arnia (International Border), September 25

As the shelling has destabilised the life of people living along the International Border (IB), children are losing precious days and their education has been hugely affected.

Children of border areas affected by shelling have either been confined to their homes or have been sent to their relatives’’ homes in safer areas. They are neither able to attend school, which have been shut due to ceasefire violations, nor are they able to enjoy other activities in their villages.

Some of them roam around in lanes and bylanes of their villages aimlessly, seeing older people playing cards or discussing things not of their concern. They are being kept away from studies and sports, must for their well-being and future.

Around 47 schools falling within a 5-km radius in the Arnia and RS Pura sectors on the International Border have been closed since September 13. The authorities are waiting for the situation to return to normal so that they can reopen the schools.

The border children are at the receiving end. In most of the villages, sports infrastructure has been either closed or is not accessible to them as it is being used by the administration or security forces for their own purposes.

The children live in constant fear of getting hit by mortar shells. The loud explosions make them feel insecure even inside their homes.

Talking to The Tribune, some children expressed their displeasure on not attending school and being away from friends.

“We remain indoors during shelling as there is a fear of a shell landing nearby. Schools have been closed and our studies have been affected,” claimed Harish Chib, a Class II student of Pindi camp village, 12 km from Arnia town.

Seven-year-old Tania Singh, who was standing next to Harish, did not speak much but said that as school remained closed, they did not have anything to do. “Our studies have been affected since schools closed. I miss my friends,” Tania said.

In Allah village, where Ratno Devi (35) was killed in shelling a few days ago, no children can be seen. Most of them are either inside their homes or have been sent to their relatives’ homes.

In nearby Sohagpur village, Class II student Akshay Verma and his younger sister Uditi Verma were returning home after buying some eatables from a nearby shop. There is constant fear of shelling. Akshay said: “The shells land with an explosion and the loud sound wakes up everyone. We don’t sleep whenever shelling starts in the area.”

A few metres away, Rukmani, a Class VIII student of STS Convent School, Arnia, said: “Continuous firing and shelling on the International Border is hurting our interests. In this time of competition, when children of other cities get more facilities and time to prepare for various exams, we wait for the schools to reopen.” “Our future is at stake but nobody seems interested in securing it,” she said.

As their lives have been badly hit by shelling and firing, most of the children said they wanted to join the armed forces in future.

“We want to join the armed forces and give a befitting reply to Pakistan,” said Sumit, a Class IV student. Another Class II student, Harman, also said he wanted to join the armed forces in future.