Kerala: Missing kids still unaccounted for

 

That still leaves more than 50 children. Of this, 21 boys went missing from the homes between 2010 and 2012. “This clearly shows that no effort has been made by the authorities to trace the missing children. They have  been conveniently forgotten,” Sajee-van Pulinkunnu, a child rights activist said. 

 

“The number of missing children would be considerably higher if a roll check was conducted in all the 14 children’s homes in the state,” he added.

 

Even officials admit, under the assurance of anonymity, that there was no proper follow up in many cases. “Normally when a child goes missing, a complaint will be filed. But often the case follow-up is never done,” said J.  Sandhya, lawyer and member of state commission for the protection of child rights. 

 

Ms Sandhya said that it was only two years ago, after the advent of ICPS, that the state began intervening in the affairs of the homes in a sensitive manner. “So the disappearance of children between 2010 and 2013 is not a big surprise,” she said.

 

It is feared that most of the children who leave the homes after 18 years are sucked into a life of crime. “So it would not be alarming to say that the missing children could have been co-opted by some mafia gangs or even terrorist groups,” said Sena Sugunan, a former policeman who runs an NGO for children.

 

However, social justice department officials insist that most of the children who have not been traced are children belonging to other states.

 

“The addresses given when these children are brought to the homes are either incorrect or vague. It is virtually impossible to trace them,” a top official said.