NHRC issues notice to Tamil Nadu on its missing kids

Chennai: Expressing distress over reports that the number of missing children is on the rise in Tamil Nadu, the National Human Rights Commission has sought “detailed reports” explaining the actual status from the state government.

Notices have been issued to the state chief secretary and the director general of police seeking their reports within four weeks, according to a media release from the NHRC in New Delhi, which said the Commission took suo motu cognizance of media reports regarding the increase in the number of missing children.

The Commission noted that more than two children go missing every day in Tamil Nadu and as such, 271 children had reportedly gone missing from different parts of the state.

A report had said recently that the number of missing kids in the state rose from 441 (2014) to 656 (2015), and in Chennai itself their number rose from 114 (214) to 149 (including 71 girls) in 2015.

“Reportedly, the police do not investigate these cases seriously as these missing children belong to poor segments of society”, said the NHRC release.
Observing that “can there be no bigger pain for the parents and the little children than losing each other”, the Commission said that the contents of the media report, if true, raised serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim children and their parents.

It also drew the attention of the TN chief secretary and DGP to the Supreme Court order on 10 May 2013 (WP, civil 75/2012) wherein a number of directions, including mandatory registration of FIRs and prompt investigation in the matter of missing children, were issued. 

The NHRC had issued many recommendations and guidelines on the issue of missing children, which were also noted by the SC while hearing the matter.

“Reportedly, the mafia that controls begging and even those involved in child prostitution and adoption rackets could be behind these disappearances.  Although, begging is banned in Chennai, seldom any action is initiated against the practitioners.  Beggars are often found accompanied by toddlers and infants.  As of now, reportedly, there is no system in place to check the origins of these people and find out if the children accompanying them are legitimately related to them”, the NHRC lamented.

Is it all true?

“Reportedly, the mafia that controls begging and even those involved in child prostitution and adoption rackets could be behind these disappearances.  Although, begging is banned in Chennai, seldom any action is initiated against the practitioners. 

Beggars are often found accompanied by toddlers and infants.  As of now, reportedly, there is no system in place to check the origins of these people and find out if the children accompanying them are legitimately related to them”, the NHRC lamented.