The Social Justice Department has launched a month-long drive to track and repatriate missing children.
The mission titled Operation Vatsalya is being carried out by the Child Protection Unit in association with the police, Child Welfare Committee and Childline.
The project aims at not only tracking the missing children but also helping them join their parents. The project has added significance in the district especially as there are thousands of migrant labourers in Malappuram engaged in various fields of work.
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A team of officials led by District Collector T. Bhaskaran inspected the hired housing quarters at Puthuparamba near Kottakkal on Monday following information about migrant children being used in beggary.
District Child Protection Officer Sameer Machingal offered guidelines to the migrant families living at the rented apartments.
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District Collector has asked District Medical Officer V. Ummer Farook to provide a medical team on Friday to conduct a health check-up on the children.
Mr. Sameer said that a meeting of house owners would be convened soon to ensure better living conditions for the families, especially children.
Special teams of the Child Protection Unit will visit vulnerable places like bus-stands, railway stations and bazaars to find and repatriate the children separated from their parents.
The team will focus on Kottakkal, Malappuram, Kondotty, Areekode, Edavanna, Manjeri, Parappanangadi, Tirurangadi, Tanur and Tirur in the initial phase.
“We are trying to create awareness amongst the people,” said Protection Officer Mohammed Fazal.
Details of the missing children will be posted on a portal called trackthemissingchild. The officials requested the people to alert either Childline (1098) or the District Child Protection Office (0483 297888) or the police crime stopper (1090) if they get any information about missing children.
“This is an intensive drive to track and repatriate the children and also to create awareness among the people about the importance of keeping vigil against children being pressed into labour,” said Mr. Fazal.