IMPHAL, April 18: Three children who were rescued from a centre in Uttar Pradesh were today re-united with their family members after their arrival from New Delhi this evening.
The three children from Choithar village, under Ukhrul Police Station have been rescued from India Hope Centre, Motipur, Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh by Shakti Vahini, New Delhi acting on the information received from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Ukhrul on April 6, claimed a press statement of the Child Welfare Committee, Ukhrul.
“After the rescue, the children were handed over to CWC, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi and after necessary investigation and process the CWC, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi transferred the children to the hands of an official representative from Social Welfare Department, Govt.of Manipur and member of Child Welfare Committee, Ukhrul who went to Delhi to receive the children to take them back to their native place” it added.
On their arrival from Delhi on April 18 afternoon the children have been restored to the family.
Further according to the release, “the children were taken away by their own auntie identified as KH Leishimi of Paorei village in the name of better education on March 6, 2006 after the death of their mother”.
“Since the time the children left till November-December of 2011, father could not have any contact with his children because Leishimi did not disclose the whereabouts of the children however she continued to ask for money from the father regarding the expenditure of the children”.
Becoming suspicious of her behaviour, the family found out the address of the children home at Motipur and visited the home last November-December.
They found out that the children were in a pitiable and exploitative condition and demanded to take back the children. But the children home authority did not agree. As such, the father filed a petition to the Child Welfare Committee through the DPO, Ukhrul on April 5, 2012, it added.
“On receiving the petition the information was sent to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR ), New Delhi and Shakti Vahini New Delhi seeking help to rescue the children”.
Shakti Vahini acted promptly and rescued the children and handed the children over to Child Welfare Committee, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi for safe custody, taking up necessary process for restoration of the children to their family and initiating necessary enquiry process about the children home, it further added.
Meanwhile, it has become clear from the investigation of CWC, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi that KH Leishimi misappropriated Rs 13,000 from the father of children as the institution (India Hope Centre ) has given in writing that they provided all facilities to the children free of charge, it added.
“Leishimi has also used the girl child as domestic help which is punishable offence under the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and the Juvenile Act,2000.The copy of the complaint from father of the children has been submitted to SP, Ukhrul. We are yet to receive the investigation report from SP.Ukhrul” the release added.
While thanking the NCPCR, Shakti Vahini and CWC, Lajpat Nagar for their prompt act, the release has also appealed to parents and general public not to send away children to other states in the name of free education as it has been experienced time and again that children have been exploited instead of receiving good education.