National Conference on 'Missing Children'<br>

The National Human Rights Commission organized a National Conference on 'Missing Children' in New Delhi on 15th January, 2013. Addressing it, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC expressed serious concern over unabated instances of missing child-ren in the country. He said that all the States needed to act proactively to check this menace.
He indicated that des-pite so many interventions, including from the NHRC and Home Ministry, data on missing children was not being maintained pro-perly by States. There is a need to overcome the chasm between the intent and implementation of initiatives for the protection of children.
Justice Balakrishnan said that India is blessed on having the largest child population in the world. Of 43 crore (430 million) children in the age group of 0-18 years, it is estimated that about 40 per cent, living in difficult situations, were vulnerable to many natural and man made circumstances leading to exploitation.
Quoting NCRB data of 2011, he said that 76,125 children were reported missing and of these, 30,811 were still untraceable and most of them were girls. West Bengal reported the highest number of 19,254, followed by 12,154 from Madhya Pradesh, 6,054 from Delhi and 5,470 from Andhra Pradesh. Situation was not encouraging in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, he added.
Prof. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), inaugurating the conference said that prompt information on missing children to the Commission would help their cause. She said that without cooperation from all the stakeholders one faces at times a situation of extreme helplessness.
Shri Prem Narain, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development said that as per an official estimate 60-70 thousand children went missing every year. Out of this, 30-40 per cent remained untraced. However, the government was committed to overcome this problem. He said that missing children tracking system developed by the NIC, if used effectively, would help reduce the problem. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) was also being implemented.
Earlier setting the tone, Sri A.K. Shrivastava, J.S., NHRC stressed that the issue was of deep concern. Parents losing children only know how it pinches and pains. Social circumstances as also psychological conditions abate crisis despite sensitivity of the civil society and govt. agencies.
Some of the re-commendations that emerged at the end of the marathon five sessions were as follows:
o Child related problems have to be made more visible. Various planning measures should not stop at district level. There is a need to go down upto household level;
o Community has to play a major role through Welfare Committees, involving school teachers, Anganwadi workers, Panchayat reps etc;
o There seems to be divergence between official and non-official statistics relating to missing children. Tracking System being developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development would help (under ICPS);
o States having child tracking system should migrate to the National Tracking System for missing and vulnerable children. Child Line Services being important, have to be streamlined and encouraged;
o Emergency Response System not only to be provided but to be taken very seriously by all stakeholders as first 24 hours are crucial;
o FIR should be allowed to be lodged in all cases of missing children;
o Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) need to be developed in all States;
o Establishment of a Central Agency to trace missing children and Missing Persons Bureau of State level were necessary;
o Accountability not only needs to be ensured but responsibility to be fixed for deviant action of public servants;
o Regular reports by States have to be sent to NCPCR. Also feedback needs to be given to parents. In order to update data, parents also needed to inform the concerned authorities if their child was found;
o Inclusivity in School Education curriculum is necessary;
o There is a need for regulation of placement agencies;
o There is a strong need for Child Relief Fund, and residential facilities for homeless. Sufficient compensation has to be ensured for trafficked children;
o Children up to 18 years should be covered and distinction made between hazardous and non-hazardous industries should go;
Different stakeholders, including senior civil servants, police officers representing the concerned Union Ministries and departments, 26 State governments, 20 representatives of NGOs, Child Rights Commissions, UNESCO, SHRCs, NHRC Member and senior officers participated in the discussions.