Parents who work for children’s future end up in old age homes, says writer

Writer Kumbar Veerabhadrappa speaking after inaugurating a district-level Children's Day programme for 2026-27 at the Zilla Panchayat Conference Hall in Ballari on Thursday.

Parents who work hard and make immense sacrifices to ensure that their children settle abroad or secure prestigious positions often end up spending their later years in old age homes, a growing social concern, Kannada novelist and writer Kumbar Veerabhadrappa said.

He was speaking after inaugurating a district-level Children’s Day programme for 2026-27 organised at the Zilla Panchayat Conference Hall in Ballari on Thursday.

Expressing concern over the growing number of old age homes in the country, Mr. Veerabhadrappa said that the present education system is increasingly centred on money, leaving little room for human values and respect for elders.

He stressed the need to preserve village traditions, folk arts and cultural practices and pass them onto future generations. He also described people donating the bodies of their dead elderly parents to medical colleges as a commendable practice that others should consider adopting.

Appreciating the State government’s attention to child welfare, nutrition and the quality of food provided at anganwadis, he said that Karnataka is giving serious thought to these issues from scientific and rational perspectives.

He expressed concern that the semester-based education system and the excessive homework assigned to children are affecting their opportunities to play and develop communication skills.

Mobile phones, he said, have also become a major obstacle to the all-round development of children.

Urging officials to go beyond routine meetings and administrative pressures, Mr. Veerabhadrappa called for serious attention to the health, safety and overall development of the younger generation.

Senior Civil Judge and Member-Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Rajesh N. Hosamane, who also spoke on the occasion, stressed the importance of inculcating moral values, discipline, traditions and respect for culture among children.

He expressed concern over the increasing tendency among underage children to ride motorcycles and urged parents to prevent minors from driving vehicles.

Respecting the law is every citizen’s responsibility, he said and added that wearing helmets and following traffic rules are mandatory.

Parents should teach children the importance of legal compliance and ensure that they do not violate traffic regulations, he added.

Various competitions and activities were organised for children aged between nine and 16, covering creative arts, writing, performing arts and scientific innovations.

Prizes were distributed to winners during the programme.