Child abuse, in any form, is not only a crime but a moral failure and a reflection of the society that enables them. It is not a question of how many positive stories we can tell to balance the dark ones. It is about the undeniable wrong that is committed when a child is harmed, neglected, or exploited. Whether physical, emotional, or psychological, the abuse of a child violates not only the law but the very essence of what it means to be human.
While news of brutality against children continues to surface, like the recent disturbing case involving a minor which the AKM has condemned, the problem runs far deeper than any single episode. It is not about which community the victim or perpetrator belongs to; it is about the conscience of a home, a society, and a people.
No amount of kindness should justify a system that robs a child of their natural right to a free and protected childhood. A child is meant to grow in safety and love, not in environments marked by cruelty, neglect, or exploitation. And while we do have laws to protect them, the gap lies in enforcement and the public will to act. A crime against a child is not just a legal violation; it is a betrayal of the very duty adults hold toward the next generation.
Across Naga society, many families continue the practice of employing minors as domestic help. Some of these children are treated with care, even given education and support. Their stories are sometimes heartwarming. But that does not make the practice right in the eyes of the law.
On the other hand, it is always more advantageous not only ethically but developmentally to raise one’s children without the dependence on maids, especially child maids. Children who are taught to help with chores, to manage small responsibilities, and to be part of the daily functioning of a household often grow up to be more responsible, self-aware, and empathetic. They are not just raised, they are raised right.
This is not a community issue. It is a human issue. It is about the moral compass of each household and the standards we are willing to hold ourselves to. Every child, regardless of caste, creed, or background, is born with the same right to safety, love, and dignity. In the face of every incident of abuse, the question we must ask is not how common it is, but why it still happens at all.