Northeast children return after Chennai ordeal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Malda: Seventy-six boys from the northeast, who had left home for Chennai in the hope of education, food and a better life two years ago, are on their way back. And they are not complaining. For, the life they got in Chennai was far removed from what they had been promised.
On Wednesday, the kids were given refreshments and food by local NGOs at Malda station. The boys were returning to their respective hometowns and villages in the northeast by the Chennai-Guwahati Express. Intervention by a government agency and an NGO has given these children a fresh lease of life.
More than 100 children — all belonging to the 6-12 age group — were taken to Chennai two years ago by an organisation whose details have not been disclosed by the authorities in Tamil Nadu. The kids were told that they would be put up at a children’s home and properly looked after. But the dream soon turned sour and the children had to cope with shabby living conditions, poor and irregular food, and no education. The hapless Uttams, Rajus and Roberts did not know where to go.
“We did not get regular meals or treatment when we fell ill,” said Uttam. A few months ago, a raid by the Child Welfare Committee of Tamil Nadu, along with NGO Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), blew the lid off the kids’ condition. “The home did not provide basic facilities to the children and the government decided to close it down”, said CACL activist Amit Sanyal.
Accordingly, the children were rescued and arrangements made for their return. Some of the kids had reportedly fled earlier. However, Sanyal could not say whether the government took any legal action against the authorities of the children’s home.
Among the 76 children rescued, 24 are from Assam and 52 from Manipur. The kids will be handed over to police in the two states and sent home. “The government must take responsibility,” said Sanyal...published in TOI on 18.02.10