Child gangs harming $100m housing project

A torrent of vandalism unleashed by a group of children has begun to adversely affect a $100 million housing project in Sitra. The project has 745 housing units and many of them now have broken window panes and damaged doors caused by pelting of stones and other objects by these children. The absence of security guards also enable these children to easily carry out their acts of vandalism. 

Speaking to Tribune, MP Majeed Al Asfoor, lawmaker and representative of Sitra district, said it’s high time parents control these children from doing acts of vandalism. “The project is almost over and the keys will be handed over to beneficiaries once the power and water connections are provided. Children are known for mischievous acts but these are undesirable behaviour, which should be stopped.” He said the only solution would be to complete the distribution of units so that the families will not allow children to do such harmful acts. “These things are causing huge amounts of losses to the Housing Ministry.” 

Hasan Ahmed, an expert in social issues, said the blame should be on parents as they are failing to take care of their children. “Emotional deprivation of children is the biggest cause behind these acts of vandalism. If this is not addressed now they might end up doing much worse things for the society.” Hasan said that with the advent of technological world, parents are often forgetting to take care of their children. “No parent these days engage in conversations at length with their children. None at home got time to teach moral values to children. “It’s not about breaking window panes, but what matters is how these children can become good citizens of tomorrow when they go against social values?”