SWD rescues boys taken to Nashik for free schooling
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 09 2024: The Social Welfare Department rescued five boys, who were taken to Maharashtra with the promise of providing free schooling at Shwami Narayan English Medium School in Nashik, and brought them back to Imphal on Friday, where they were handed over to their respective families.

A team led by Social Welfare Department deputy director K Saroja and consisting of programme officer Mala Lisharn, along with DCPO of Thoubal and Bishnupur went to Nashik to rescue the five boys, aged 9-15 years.

The minors were brought to the Social Welfare Department after arriving at Imphal on Friday and handed over to their respective families by Department director Ng Uttam.

Speaking on the occasion, director Uttam recounted that on January 25 this year, four sets of parents made a report to the Department, requesting rescue of their children from Nashik where they had been taken with the promise of free education.

The parents were anxious after their kids could not contact them as frequently and upon contact, learnt of being abused.

Based on the complaint, the Department communicated with the DCPU in Nashik.

Subsequently, a team left for Nashik and rescued the five boys with the help of the DCPU.

Mentioning about the Department's previous notices urging parents/guardians to be extra vigil while allowing their children to taken outside the state on promises of free schooling, Uttam recalled that the DCs concerned had also issued notices against taking away the children from relief camps without valid reason.

While it is appreciable to provide free education to children particularly those from relief camps, it would be prudent to inquire where the children are being taken to, the director stressed.

Advising parents/guardians to contact the Child Protection Units or Child Welfare Committee in the districts on any invitation or offer of free education or schooling for the kids, so that there is enough time to investigate the places where the children would be taken to; the director urged for allowing the opportunity to contact with the local authority to ascertain whether the place of education is appropriate or not.

Parents/guardians should not allow the children to be taken without informing the department so as to prevent any unfortunate eventualities, he stressed.

Uttam continued that as per a ruling of the Supreme Court in 2010, children from Manipur and below the age of 12 years cannot be formed into teams and taken away for any free schooling.

Parents/guardians should understand gravity of the situation and also should not sign on any blank documents at the time of the children's departure, for this is extremely unsafe, especially for the kids involved.

In addition, there are cases of children being taken away and used to propagate a religion.

Denying someone of their right to practice a religion of choice and instead, forcing them to follow another religion, could be disastrous not only for the society but for the state as a whole.

Thus, parents/guardians should first consider the matter in detail, before allowing their children to be taken outside the state.

Meanwhile, strict action under the relevant Act will be initiated after a thorough investigation into the activities of the person(s) who had taken away the children, he said, adding that details for the same are being awaited from Nasik DCPU.

On the other hand, one of rescued boys narrated their ordeal, informing that around 20 children (15 boys and five girls) left Imphal for Nasik in the first week of December last year.

Upon reaching Nasik, they were admitted to Shwami Narayan English Medium School and made to stay at School's ashram located nearby.

Even though they spent the first week at the ashram under proper care, they were beaten up and abused by the guru of ashram later on.

Although they were not beaten up at school, the manager of the ashram even threatened them at gun point for delaying prayer time at Swami Narayan Mandir, located near the gate of the ashram.

Some students of Manipur are still at the school, while several others have been taken to Gujarat, he disclosed.

On top of these, one of the rescued boys also showed a scar below the temple area of the head, sustained after getting hit by an air gun, and for which he was hospitalised.

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