Bandhs violate child rights

This is with reference to the news story “Use of children in protests slammed” (THT, Aug. 18, Page 2). Using children in political rallies and demonstrations and sit-ins to be organized by the political parties to get their demands fulfilled is illegal and such practice is against the child rights. This is a kind of child rights abuse. This kind of activities not only affect the mentality of the children but also risk their lives. Children are used in any forms of political activities because they do not know what is right and wrong, and they also have no idea why such rallies are taken out by the political parties.

They are easily influenced by the local surroundings and their mindset and psychology are shaped by what happens in society. Studies have shown that the children in a volatile and violent society easily get involved in crime or violent activities after they grow up. So, the children should be encouraged to go to schools and to play games so that they engage in education and sports. Therefore, the concerns expressed by the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) and NHRC should be addressed by the bandh enforcers.

The bandh enforcers should allow the schools and colleges to open even during the bandh or general strike as they allow the press, ambulances and other utility vehicles. They must understand the fact that closure of the educational institutions time and again will not help fulfill their demands. Such act will only deteriorate the quality of education and teaching-learning environment. Will the bandh enforcers listen to our voices? Closure of educational institutions is a nonsense practice and it should be condemned by all walks of life.

Nishan Lal Joshi, Little Angels’ School

Sanitation

Recently, I got a chance to visit the Kathmandu Medical College for a few hours and during that time I got an opportunity to know about the hospital very well. Everything is fine, except for the toilets. The doctors are fine, and some nurses need to be

trained on how to behave with the patients that will help to heal the pain of the patients.

I have heard about the ill practices of some nurses at Thapathali Maternity Hospital. But in comparison to Thapathali Maternity Hospital the nurses at KMC are more polite. Some of them need to be professionally trained.

Moreover, the toilet in the post-operation gyno ward is in a very sorry state. I fear that such a deplorable condition of the toilet can be a source of spreading infectious diseases within the hospital premises. Instead of healing the wounds, the toilets may encourage the spread of the source of epidemics. I would like to advise the hospital administration to make the hospital toilets clean and pay proper attention to the overall sanitation of the hospital where thousands of people visit every day.

Raman Adhikari, Jorpati