Co-existence of Two Contradictory Worlds

• A packet of 48 diapers costing Rs 1050 ($ 21) sufficient only for 20 days.

• 220 grams worth of Gerber fortified cereals with DHA costing around Rs 700 ($ 14), sufficient for just 25-30 days- Rs 3100 ($ 62 per kg).

• A bouncer costing Rs 3000 ($ 60) but used on couple of occasions during past 6 months.

• A Jungle Gym worth Rs 2000 ($ 40) and already out of favour in past 1 month......

• Costly branded clothes dumped after 4 or 5 times use.......

• Small sign of discomfort and harried parents rush to a child specialist; have already spent upwards of Rs 25000 ($ 500) just on vaccination during first 6 months.....

I can go on compiling this list from my life but then that’s not what this post is about. Rather, it is about recognising a world completely oblivious to me; a parallel world that exists alongside mine.....A contrasting world that I have no knowledge of. A world, where kids of my age still have to struggle for two square meals under a blue roof with bare minimal clothes covering their soft tiny but frail structures. A world, where kid’s toys means nothing but stones, mud and garbage. A world, where parenting is just about ensuring that kid life survives; unlike the other where it is about survival as well promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of the kid.

Worrisome is the fact that the stark contradictions of the two worlds are increasing by every moment. And, hapless small kids have to ultimately bear the brunt of all those contradictions for no fault of theirs....Or, perhaps their only fault is that the cell that formed life out of them took shape inside a womb in acute financial distress......