Entangled in bureaucratic procedures, 30 children from West Bengal, who were rescued by the police during recent drive against child labour in the Old City, continue to languish in rescue homes.
These children were rescued by the Falaknuma police on January 29 following a raid on a bag-making unit at Nawab Sahab Kunta. Following the raid, police shifted the children to the Government Boys Home, Saidabad. For the last 20 days, they have been lodged at the rehabilitation centre with little hope of returning to their native place as police have not issued a First Information Report (FIR) in the case.
“An FIR is compulsory to take a decision on sending the children back to their native place. The police issued FIRs in other cases but are citing official procedures when it comes to the case of these children. The police themselves raided the premises and rescued the children,” an official said.
The District Child Protection Office authorities approached the police asking for a First Information Report, but they were asked by them to contact the Labour Department. Ironically, the latter refused to intervene maintaining it did not participate in the raid.
After repeated attempts, the Hyderabad Child Welfare Committee (CWC) addressed a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) arguing that delay in filing an FIR would affect investigation into child trafficking, and also delay repatriation of children to their respective States. It also brought to notice the meeting officials of Labour Department had with SHO Falaknuma a fortnight ago where the latter was directed to file an FIR.
“Only after registration of FIR will the CWC take up the case. The West Bengal government will have to be shown all documents, including the FIR to convince them to take the children back,” District Child Protection Officer Mohd. Imtiaz Raheem told The Hindu .
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has agreed to take the children rescued from different workshops in the Old City. A total of fifty six children were rescued from various workshops, including the 30 rescued from Falaknuma belong to West Bengal, another 17 hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. “A list was sent to the West Bengal government and they have traced the parents of the children. We will be sending 26 children shortly, the remaining 30 have to wait till the issue is sorted out,” Mr. Raheem said.
