Hyderabad: Around 15,600 people, including 5,200 children, go missing every year in the state and most of them are never traced. Officials say that most of the missing girls end up in the sex trade and the boys in begging rackets and on the streets.
CID records state that 57,218 people, including around 20,000 children, are missing since 2009. Not much efforts are made by the Women and Child Welfare department to trace the kids and even the police has only recently started initiatives following a Supreme Court ruling.
According to additional DG (Coordination), V.K. Singh, around 40 per cent of those who go missing every year in the state are never found. Hyderabad and Cyberabad top in the number of missing persons according to State Crime Records Bureau. Many of the missing cases later turn out to be kidnapping, sex abuse and murder cases. Several of the girls are exploited sexually and trafficked out.
Records state that more girls go missing than boys and are never traced. Around 13,158 girls are still missing from 2009 including 3,591 in 2012. Also, 15,959 women have been missing since 2009 including 4,711 in 2012. The state police and department of Women Development and Child Welfare has sought the involvement of NGOs, parents, and other agencies in their initiative to address the issue of missing persons.
The SC had recently issued notice to the Centre and all state governments on a PIL seeking its direction to them for tracing missing persons in the country.
Missing Persons cases have multiple complexities and are broadly categorised into people who are missing, runaways, abducted, deserted, untraced, escaped, unidentified bodies or persons. The Child Welfare department and CID run a website on missing persons.
Child rights activist S. Suresh Reddy said, “Most of the cities and towns have shelters now. If they do not end up with shelters, they are caught up with the begging mafia. They also end up as bonded labour and girls end up in the flesh trade. State shelters have to be networked with the police and Child Welfare department. The website www.missingpersons.ap.nic.in has to be popularised.”
Next: with little help, they turned their life around
with little help, they turned their life around
Hyderabad: A helping hand can often turn a homeless, deprived youngster into an independent earning member of society, capable of extending a helping hand to others who are in the same situation that they were in.
Venkatesh Nayak was an orphan at the age of eight with no resources. He was rescued by the Don Bosco Navajeevan, a home for children at risk in New Bhoiguda.
“I was eight when I came to this home. I then finished my schooling, college, graduation and landed a job as a traffic cop. I just could not believe that I would ever be something some day” said Venkatesh. His friend Arun K, from the same background, is currently working in the Air Force as a line guider and is posted in Kashmir.
The Don Bosco Navajeevan has received about 13,000 children in the last 14 years. They have three such shelters across the state for boys in the age group of 6 to 18.
Director of the home, Father Bellamkonda Sudhakar, says the children are encouraged to pursue whatever interests them. “Many have chosen software, dance, arts and more. It is very touching to see them do well.
We send them to school and junior college and depending on their interest, either mainstream them or send them for non-formal training,” he said.
Don Bosco Navajeevan is one of nine licenced institutions in the city that can bring in kids from the streets and house them.
Venkata Ramana, a 19-year-old is a student of St Mary’s Junior College and teaches dance as a part-time job in schools. “I came to this home in 2001. Before coming here, I was roaming in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai. I was a rag picker. I was brought here by a streeteducator. I liked the place and I started living and learning here. Now I earn about RS 7,000 every month and contribute as much as I can to help others like me.”
Next: 718 street kids picked up in AP
718 street kids picked up in AP
Hyderabad: The state police department will, henceforth, take missing persons cases much more seriously. Special teams have been created at each police sub-division to locate people reported missing.
According to additional DG (coordination) V.K. Singh, instructions have been given to policemen that all missing persons are to be taken seriously and the cases are to be investigated as serious cases. Constables will be rewarded when they trace a missing person.
“All superintendents of police were asked to review in their monthly crime meetings and ensure tracing of missing persons, especially women and children,” said Singh.
He added, “Street children are not only the responsibility of the state and society, but may pose a future threat to law and order. They may turn into criminals if they are not taken care of. The AP Police has picked up 718 street children, sent 446 to rehabilitation homes and returned others to their parents. District special branches are monitoring the progress of these children.”
Next: Not many shelters for homeless girls in city
Not many shelters for homeless girls in city'
Hyderabad: The number of homes for girls is less in the city compared to those for boys. One of the main reasons for this is the mindset about a girl child in the country. Apart from their basic security, these homes also have to take care of their educational needs, career choices and get them married.
Sister Crochetta Thomas, director of the Auxilium Navajeevan, said, “There are just a few homes for girl children at risk in Hyderabad when compared to other cities. There are many homes for boys. Hence, we do face a lot of challenges, especially with space constraints, funds, emotional support, getting their caste certificates, orphan certificates, etc. The government must help us as these certificates will be beneficial for their future.”
Vijaya Devi, chairperson, CWC cautioned against running these homes without registering them. However, it is tough to get a licence. Of the 100 institutions that applied for one, only nine were deemed fit and issued licences.
“Once a child is rescued, the Child Welfare Committee has to be informed within 24 hours. They have to be registered with the CWC and a photo proof must be maintained. Our first effort will be to home-place them and if not, after getting permission from the CWC, they start living here,” said Father Bellamkonda Sudhakar, director, Don Bosco Navajeevan.
With the number of rapes and abuse of minors increasing, child rights need more focus than ever say experts, adding that with the number of homeless children rising, the role of society in protecting them has also increased.
Apart from police, street educators from rescue homes across the city take up the role of counsellors for homeless children. Some of the children are picked up and housed at either of the three government homes across the city or at the many private homes specially built for children at risk.
However, of the 100 institutions that applied for licenses to conduct these rescues, only nine were deemed fit and issued licenses. “Once a child is rescued, the Child Welfare Committee has to be informed within 24 hours. They have to be registered with the CWC and a photo proof has to be maintained. Our first effort will be to home-place them and if not, after getting permission from the CWC, they start living here,” said Father Bellamkonda Suresh, director, Don Bosco Navajeevan.
The children are permitted to stay at the home depending on their needs, else they are transferred to other homes. Street educators visit the most vulnerable places every day, counsel the children and with their consent, house them in these homes.
A few boys at these homes also take extreme steps like slitting their wrists or jumping off the building in an attempt to escape.
However,
