Kids in Nellore play with human skulls

Hyderabad: Children of around 300 families Bodiganigunta in Nellore town play with human bones and skulls instead of toys. The families live on a burial ground and the children get addicted to drugs like whitener and often live on food thrown for the corpses during last rites, while girls
of the community take up flesh trade for a living.

Mr Raheemuddin, member of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who visited the site said that for the last 50 years, these families have been virtually living on the burial ground of Bodiganig-unta in Nellore town.

The community has migrated from Tamil Naidu.

They have no ration or Aadhaar card. Burying and burning is an ongoing process at the site.

This apart, a massive garbage-dumping yard is next to the dwelling area and many are malnourished and suffering from infections.

The Child Rights Commission visited the place following a complaint and found that the children were playing with human bones and skulls.

“They were all addicted to gutka and drugs like whitener. They eat food thrown for the corpses during the last rites. They beg and pick rags while the girls are into flesh trade. There is no Anganwadi centre or school,” added Dr Mamatha Raghuveer, another member of the Commission.

In 2011, the Nellore superintendent of police and NGOs had mobilised about 100 children to a hostel run by the Police department (Child And Police — CAP). But now this building will have to be vacated as it belongs to the Police Welfare Association.

The Child Rights Commission has directed the district collector of Nellore to evacuate the people from the burial ground and provide basic amenities.

The children should have proper nutrition with an Anganwadi centre and school and vocational training should be given to the older children. If not, the commission will take the case to the High Court, stated commission member Mr Achyuta Rao.