Members of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and child rights activists have found fault with the Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Department for the illegal stay of Bangladeshi girl Sona for the past two years.
The girl, a native of Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh, escaped from an international flesh trade gang and approached the police about two years ago. She was referred to an NGO home by the CWC.
WD&CW Krishna district Project Director K. Krishna Kumari criticised the Childline, an NGO, for not intimating about the issue to the officials concerned then. She served a notice on the Childline staff.
The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the illegal stay of the girl and over the sexual harassment on the minor. About 18 months ago, the WD&CW officials shifted her to a home in Krishna district and later to another shelter home in Guntur district.
However, officials say that the matter is pending with the District Collector.
Officials blamed
Speaking to The Hindu on Saturday, CWC Chairman B. Nagesh Rao said the girl was staying in India for the last two years. The girl was insisting on repatriation, but the officials were not taking the matter seriously, he alleged.
“We gave orders for shifting Sona to Bangladesh three months ago, but was not repatriated till date. Officials should investigate on why the girl was shifted to different homes and on the reasons for delay in repatriation of the foreign national. This is nothing but violation of child rights,” Mr. Nagesh Rao said.
Another NGO and a child rights activist said that Sona requested the WD&CW officials many times and even observed fast protesting delay in sending her back to Bangladesh. Some NGOs and officials were delaying the process in repatriation of the girl with vested interests, the activist alleged.
“Like Sona, some other girls who were rescued at railway stations and from flesh trade gangs were slogging in homes and were upset over the ill-treatment being given to them at shelter homes,” a CWC member alleged.
When contacted, Collector Babu. A said the officials spoke with a Kolkata-based organisation for reunion of Sona with her parents.
“We spoke with Sona’s mother and expedited the process. The girl would be sent back shortly,” the Collector said.
