Experts express concern; fears trauma, epidemic among kids
Waheed Bhat
Bandipora, March 29: Much blood has flown into Govt Middle School (Town) in Bandipora district and it is haunting kids of the school to great extent so much so that parents now plan to change the school of their kids as the administration has miserably failed to protect and secure kids from this menace.
A drain near the school has become a nuisance for the resident of Nowpora especially for the students of this school as the Municipal Committee fails to clean the drain regularly thus choking its flow. “The blood coming out from nearby slaughterhouses drain into this channel and owing to choking of it, the blood floods the premises of the school and turns it red”.
The scary scenes can be witnessed in the Middle School where kids study and the blood scares them every day. “Every morning the students witness blood. We fail to understand why the administration is so insensitive towards the welfare of these kids,” said a local Shakeel Ahmad Shah. “As if our kids have witnessed less bloodshed and every day these kids are being made familiar with more blood,” he added.
Rubia, a research scholar in Department of Psychology, University of Kashmir says the blood around will have a severe impact on the psychological, mental and physical health of the kids. “It can develop Post Trauma Disorder, night terror (dreaming flashbacks), develop haemophobia, anxiety, discomfort and fear among the kids besides turning them insensitive and affecting their thought processing. Such scenes can cast the drastic impact on their (Kids’) cognition and performance in studies and routine activities,” she added.
Dr. Shariq, a doctor said with rising temperature there may be fear of an epidemic as the stagnant blood will attract more infection carrier mosquitoes and kids are more prone to infections and also can cause severe health hazards.
The students said the playground of their school presents a picture of “Pool of Blood” every day thus creating the hindrance for them to take part in co-curricular activities and are restricted to their classrooms.
The locals blamed the administration for failing to take action against the butchers who slaughter their livestock in their homes instead of established slaughter-houses. “The government is playing with our health as well as with our future our teachers informed higher-ups regularly but all goes in vain,” said Ahtisham Bashir, a student.
Parents said it has not happened for the first time but they are suffering from the last couple of years. “We were assured time and again that our grievance will be addressed but on the ground, the reality is open to everyone. We are putting our lives in danger as the temperature is rising and it will be a cause of an epidemic,” said a parent.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Khurseed Ahmad Sanai, said that the issue has come to its notice now and assured a special team of Municipal Committee Bandipora will be deputed there to address the grievances of children.