Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) on Tuesday expressed concern that some organisations and individuals are allegedly trying to lure the parents and guardians of internally displaced children, so as to carry out illegal transportation of children in large numbers on the pretext of giving free education and accommodation outside the state.
A release issued by MCPCR stated that for the last one year, thousands of children of Manipur particularly of the two warring communities have been exposed to such a dreadful violent situation which had never happened ever before.
The brunt of the unresolved ethnic conflict which erupted on May 3, 2023 has incapacitated precious childhood of many children unimaginably, and infringed the undeniable fundamental rights of the victim children, it asserted. In wake of the unprecedented crisis, some individuals are allegedly attempting to lure the parents of the displaced children to carry out illegal transportation of children, it reiterated.
It maintained that transportation of large numbers of children without fulfilling set norms for verification and other legal procedures, only to place the children at certain religious educational places, unregistered homes and institutions instead of providing formal quality education under RTE Act, potentially amounts to child trafficking, it maintained. The same falls under JJ Act, Section 370 (IPC) and in stark violation of Supreme court’s directive dated August 1, 2010, it added.
It mentioned that NCPCR New Delhi, in its letter No. F.No.99-05/2024/NCPCR (PD)/0021793 dated May 3, 2024 strongly recommended to prevent such illegal transportation of the children. Available testimonies of the rescued children have also shown that they were allegedly subjected to sexual, physical and mental harassment in many instances, besides not giving proper food and care, it asserted.
MCPCR categorically appealed to the parents, guardians, CSOs concerned and all the right thinking citizens not to solicit such illegal transportation of children from relief camps and community as well, all the while urging everyone to remain vigilant and not let the children fall prey to the ploy of child traffickers and exploiters, it added.
