12 children have so far been handed over to NGO's
The Child Welfare Committee authorities point out that most of the NGOs are reluctant to take more children as their facility is near full. (Photo: DC/File)
Kochi: The number of cases of runaway children landing at major railway stations of the state is alarming. So much so that the railway police have literally no choice but to ignore cases of children begging or selling items, as NGOs are loathe to taking them on board. Reason, they have their hands full and no facility to take more children.
“The figure is in double-digits. The children leave their homes on flimsy grounds. We’re directed to hand them over to the Child Welfare Committee. We handed over 26 such children in 2012, 19 in 2013 and 12 so far this year,” said a senior RPF officer.
The Child Welfare Committee authorities point out that most of the NGOs are reluctant to take more children as their facility is near full.
“We don’t have the required facility to accommodate such large group of children. It would take an average six months to reunite a child with their parents located in some remote villages in North India. Further, the language and food are a problem,” said Padmaja Nair, an official with the CWC.
For instance, the main NGO house functioning in the Ernakulam region, the Aluva-based ‘Snehakoodu,’ is now nearly full.
Railway officials say a lot of cases of such children begging or selling items in local trains occur. “I don't think NGOs have the wherewithal to support all the children that need their help,” said DRM Sunil Bajpai.
( Source : dc )
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