Imphal: Ten children–eight girls and two boys–from Manipur were repatriated from Calicut in Kerala to Imphal on Monday.
As per an official report, eight girls belong to Imphal East district, while two boys are from Thoubal district. All of them are between the age of 13-17 years old, it added.
The children were escorted by eight officials from Kerala, including special juvenile police unit, Kozhikode, district child protection unit and two volunteers.
According to an official, out of the ten children, eight of them were found to be inmates of Ciesco Girls Home, and two boys were the inmate of Calicut Orphanage. The children were repatriated following an order issued by the Child Welfare Committee, Kozhikode, Kerala.
The repatriation team started their journey from Kozhikode on November 19 by surface transport and reached Imphal on Monday evening. They were handed over to their respective parents or guardian after observing due formalities by social welfare director Ngangom Uttam Singh, deputy director Binobala Nongmeikapam and officials from SCPS, DCPUs of Child Protection Services along with Child Welfare Committees of Imphal East and Thoubal districts.
Speaking with EastMojo, social welfare director Uttam Singh said that “this is not a case of child trafficking. Parents sent their children for better education, and they were kept in proper shelter homes in Kerala. But, as per rules, a child cannot be kept in children home of another state and parents were not aware of this.”
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We are in touch with all the ChildLines in a different state, and were connected by Kerala ChildLine informing of some children suspecting from Manipur are kept in children homes. That’s how we went ahead for repatriation and brought them home, he added.
Social welfare minister Henry Okram Singh applauded social welfare director Uttam Singh and other officials for their efforts in bringing back those children to the state safely and handing over the children to their parents.
Minister Henry further tanked the Kerala government for their priceless support on repatriation of the children from Calicut to Imphal.
The government has also appealed to the general public not to send children to other states on the pretext of giving free education and shelter by any individual or organisation.
If any individual or organisation approaches a family or guardian offering free education or shelter, it is requested to contact the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) or ChildLine- 1098 for guidance and verification, it said.
In case the child needs care and protection, he/she shall be kept in a Child Care Institute/Children Homes of his/her respective district in the state after producing before the concerned Child Welfare Committee (CWC), it added.
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