Child trafficking rampant in Dakshina Kannada'

Mangalore, March 25: Child trafficking is rampant in Dakshina Kannada district and illegal adoptions through children's homes are high, child rights activist Renni D'Souza said here on Thursday.

Speaking during an interaction programme with Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights Nina Nayak, Mr. D'Souza said that the child trafficking prevention committee set up by the Department of Women and Child Development had not met even once in the past three years.

The interaction programme was organised to discuss issues and concerns relating to the well being of children. Mr. D'Souza also said that the quality of education in ashrama schools run by the government was not being monitored. The schools came under the direct purview of the department running them and were not monitored by the Education Department. Only food quality was measured, he said.

Head of Prajna Counselling Centre Hilda Rayappan said that the government did not release funds to institutions under the Juvenile Justice Act on time. The government expected her to keep 50 children in a single house. “Not a single rupee has reached us even though the year is ending. Rents are sky high, despite that I managed to find two houses. But the government tells me that I should keep them under a single roof. Is that healthy?” she asked.

She said: “Keeping so many children together is a task in itself. But these are street children with problems. They have personality problems, psychological problems, bullying, and fights.” It was impossible to deal with so many children under a single roof especially with no financial assistance from the government.

She cited the example of an adolescent girl who was addicted to drugs but could be treated if she was given enough attention for six months.

“We simply don't have that kind of facilities. They (government) closed down the reception centre for women without consulting anybody. Where do we send such children?” she asked.

She pointed out a serious problem in government policy with regard to the rehabilitation of children. Prajna Counselling Centre was authorised to look after children only until the age of 18 under the Juvenile Justice Act, but once the children turned 18, they had nowhere to go, she said.

She stressed the need for the provision of training or skills that would enable the young adults to look after themselves.

Other problems discussed by representatives of NGOs included education in government schools and the functioning of the Childline 1098, which some members said did not function in Udupi and in Dakshina Kannada, was unlikely to be available outside Mangalore city.

A man from Bantwal taluk requested Ms. Nayak to ensure around 5 to 10 acres of land in every panchayat for playgrounds for children.