Living on the edge

The recent military confrontation between Indian and Pakistan may have ended in a ceasefire, giving the people in the region a reason to feel relieved, but there is a sizeable population that is still reeling under the after shocks. The shelling in border areas resulted in mass evacuation of people, that saw families running for cover. The lives lost will remain a permanent loss, and nothing can be done to compensate that loss. The scars left by the deaths will remain fresh for a longer period than one may presume. But the movement of people away from their habitations to safer places has brought its own share of hardships.

With the announcement of ceasefire the people living in border areas have started returning though, but the clouds of uncertainty will hover for more time. In such a situation the government has an uphill task that it must perform, no matter what the cost. The components of this task that can be immediately enumerated may be: one, ensure immediate return of all the people that left in the wake of shelling. Two, compensate the destruction of their properties, at least as much is required to rehabilitate them. Third, create an atmosphere in and around these habitations to give a sense of normalcy returning back. Fourth, talk to these traumatised people so that there is a psychological healing.

If these measures are taken quickly we can ensure that the suffering of these otherwise displaced people doesn’t prolong. Easier said than done, it must be acknowledged that it needs a massive effort on part of the government and it cannot happen overnight. Whatever has been done uptill now by the government agencies needs to be appreciated, while pushing for more measures in the right direction. The people living in these border areas are suffering for no crime of theirs. May be a curse of geopolitics, we need to do everything possible to mitigate their sufferings. Lastly, a prayer. May the clouds of war disappear for ever and may the sun of peace never set on these lands.