Mental trauma children exposed to

A survey on children carried out by the Campaign for Popular Education (CPE) and the BRAC Institute of Education Development (IED) has exposed the mindless invasion of the young ones' special mental space by their intrusive elders. Marked by limitless open violence on the street, bloody strife, mob 'justice', it is a hostile world in which today's children discover themselves. With impressionable minds, they struggle hard to cope with the hostility of the environment around them. Not all could cope with the blatant display of crudity, violence and killings particularly during the heady days of student movement. At least 32 children lost their lives and many others were injured during the July protests, according to the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF). As many as 30 million children lost 10 days of school as well. They are too tender to absorb the cumulative shocks. Naturally, many of the children viewing such brutalities on screens have become traumatic. Their trauma in certain cases has been as damaging as the 'Down Syndrome' characterised by an extra copy of chromosome responsible for adversely affecting body and brain development.

The CPE-BRAC's jointly conducted survey has confirmed such a traumatic experience that the children in this country are going through. As high as 55.2 per cent children are anxious or scared and 36.9 per cent of them do not like to go to school. Also, other 36.5 per cent are inattentive to studies, 7.9 per cent have turned irritable and worse, 28.6 per cent have suffered mental damage. Clearly, society has been grossly uncaring of the young ones' sensibilities when rivals are pursuing their conflicting interests through mortal engagements. This is an indication that children feel insecure and have lost confidence in their elders as protectors and saviours in time of danger or crises. It is a terrible loss for blossoming human beings who need to be confident of the protective power of their parents and guardians and of their own soaring spirit to pursue their dreams.

Evidently, the fear psychosis developed in a large number of children is a cause for serious concern. That Bangladesh society in the grip of mindless violence is thus highlighted by the paranoia of the powerful who brought the country to the brink so much so that the budding generation finds life terribly depressing. The damaging effects of violence on the young minds were of no concern to the perpetrators. Even social scientists failed to forewarn the public about the harmful impacts of mindless violence.

Now, the most important task is to heal, as much as possible, the scarred minds of children. Several roving teams of child psychologists at the district levels can be assigned the job of counselling children who are suffering from the trauma. Sports and cultural programmes should be arranged for young students so that there is a diversion from mental stress and strain. Schools without playgrounds are at a disadvantage in this respect but they can have alternative spaces for games and sports on consultation with local communities. The bottom line is to create an enjoyable environment for learning along with physical and mental exercise full of fun and amusement. This has to be done in the interest of society's well-being and the future of the young generation.