139 children in state homes, 124 elderly in Senior Citizens homes - Bhatnagar

There are 139 children in state homes and 124 elderly persons in Senior Citizens homes.

Assistant Minister for Women and Children Veena Bhatnagar says these numbers are very large for a small country like Fiji and it poses a question on whether we are conserving the value of families enough to be there for the vulnerable members of our family at all times.

She says it is important for parents to instill in their children the love and respect for elders.

Bhatnagar says it is important that parents keep their children free from abuse and violence and give them a memorable childhood to look back at when they grow older and treat them with the same love and respect.

She has urged men to treat their wives with love and respect as well as set an example for their children, especially boys as to how they must treat women and girls.

Bhatnagar says if parents perpetrate violence they should remember that children watch and learn from them.