Theirs Is Not The Reason Why 23 kids from state still in Kerala homes
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 09, 2012: In God's own country as they called the state of Kerala, as many as 23 innocent children from Manipur and as young as 6 year old, are still left crying for the warmth of their mother's bosom.

For no false of theirs, the fate of these children from Ukhrul district of Manipur still hangs in balance even after a year has elapsed since their rescue from the southernmost part of the country.

In May last year, 26 children comprising 13 girls and boys from the State were rescued after they were brought to Kerala on promise of providing free education.

Since then, they are kept under the protection of Child Welfare Committee of Ernakulam, except for three others who have now been restored to their respective parents on July 23 last.

Blame it all on the callousness of Social Welfare Department (SWD) of the State, the repatriation mission that was initiated since their rescue last year, has hit a hurdle due to communication gap and ignorance of the concerned authorities.

"The repatriation process of 26 children from Kerala has been stalled due to non-cooperation of concerned department of the State," Ukhrul district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chairperson, Gajendra P Mohanty, told mediapersons on Thursday.

On May 19 last, the SWD deputed two persons to bring home the children from Kerala, but returned empty handed.

The SWD mission failed after they were turned down by Child Welfare Committe (CWC) of Ernakulam for failing to follow legal procedures.

Unfortunately, the SWD deputed the mission without coordinating the Child Welfare Committe (CWC) of Ukhrul - the rightful body that has been dealing with their counterparts in Ernakulam.

In this wake, the blame game goes on.

The Ukhrul CWC informed that the SWD passed the buck to Ernakulam's CWC and also blame them.

However, as a matter of fact, it was learnt that the concerned department did not abide by certain provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The SWD mission of deputing two men, one reportedly from other district CWC and the other from Ukhrul's ICDS cell, was in total contradiction to legal norms to escort 13 girls and 13 boys.

The trafficked children, who are all minors and hailing from various villages of Ukhrul district, include a girl as young as 6 years.

The ignorance and non-cooperation on the part of SWD Director G Satyabati Devi on the issue has come under severe criticism, including from Child Rights groups.

UDACR leader Achui termed the conduct of Satyabati as total callousness on the issue of child rights.

"(We) unequivocally express the ultimate disappointment and condemnation upon the deliberate and incessant acts of dishonour, utter humiliation meted out to the Child Welfare Committee, Ukhrul by Ms..GSatyabati Devi..." read a press statement issued by it member secretary Ringyuichon Vashum.

Expressing serious concern over the inordinate delay in restoration of the 23 children and considering all the unjustifiable manners from the SWD, the CWC has resolved to tender mass resignation anytime from now and a copy has been made ready to be submitted to the Governor of the State.

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