Child trafficking continues NGO extends hope to victims
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, August 31 2012: Mao Police on August 29 morning intercepted a vehicle ferrying six minor boys aged between 15 and 16 years on their way to Imphal to be employed as labourers.

The boys were later handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) under the Social Welfare Department by police which later placed the children with a Senapati based NGO MANEDA.

The minor boys were provided fooding, lodging and protection at the Hope Home run by the NGO.

One of the victims was found sick since August 29 evening and later treated at District hospital by the MANEDA Director, Peter Rangnamei.

According to a police source, the boys were contacted by a person identified as Shahidur Islam, s/o Abdul Motin of Nagaon aged 30 years old and suspected to be a labour contractor based at Assam and regularly dispatching young and minor boys to Manipur to work as wage labourers.

The District Police have already contacted the police station concerned in Assam to nab the main accused for trafficking the minor boys.

Four of the six boys have been employed by a company identified as Cineplex Construction Company in construction sites located near Konung Mamang, Palace compound, Imphal since the past many months.

MANEDA, a well established and prominent NGO in the district has been housing and providing food and shelter to many child trafficking victims since many months now.

Previously it has provided facilities for a month to four child victims, another to 11 minor boys till date.

According to the NGO, repeated assurances were made in the past by concerned department and Government officials to extend financial assistance to the NGO, but nothing substantial has been initiated till date.

In spite of such apathy from the Government, Director Peter stated that, the NGO would continue to provide every possible assistance to those victims in upholding the principle and objectives of the NGO to help those children and victims.

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