A thief, desperate and disillusioned, confessed, “I steal because no one cares. No one offers me a chance or a job. The government ignores me, leaving me no choice but to commit crimes.” A beggar, equally desperate, pleaded, “I don’t want to beg, but what else can I do? I lack the awareness and opportunities to change my circumstances.” Shopkeepers, frustrated with the lack of infrastructure, lamented, “We have no choice but to dispose of waste improperly; the government provides no facilities.”
In our cities, nobody seems to care about the ongoing social evils. Theft, child labour and begging are rampant, yet nobody intervenes. Similarly, no one bothers to counsel parents about their children wandering the streets, forced to work or beg. This alarming indifference has become the norm.
The consequences of this apathy are unbearable. Children, who should be in schools, are instead forced to labour or beg on streets. Their parents, overwhelmed and unaware, receive no guidance or support. Meanwhile, governments turn a blind eye, failing to provide adequate waste management systems or enforcement. The result? Trash-littered streets, polluting the environment and harming public health.
These testimonials expose a societal failure. The absence of effective governance, education and social support has created a culture of hopelessness. It’s clear that the onus falls on individuals, communities and governments to work together to address these issues. Yet, the question remains: who will take responsibility and drive change?
The answer is elusive, but the question persists. Will we continue to ignore the cries of the marginalised, the environmental degradation and the breakdown of social norms? Or will we rise to the challenge, acknowledging our collective responsibility to create a just, safe and sustainable society? We must confront these problems head-on, fostering a culture of empathy, awareness and accountability. Only then can we solve these uprising issues.
Mohammed Saleem
Hub
