Karnataka - Bangalore   

Forcing them to go back home

BANGALORE: Eight-year-old Kiran clings to his mother Thayamma’s sari as she speaks to presspersons who quiz her on everything from her home in a slum in Bangalore Rural to the circumstances under which her son ran away. The silent boy nods when asked if he will go home and says, “I do not want to go back to the railway station. I want to go to school and want to be with my family.” His eyes are moist but he is happy to be reunited with his mother.

The concluding day of the month-long de-addiction and home placement camp was held here on Saturday. Fifteen boys were reunited with their families after successfully completing the programme. The event held at the Government Children’s Home for Boys had children singing songs and narrating poetry and anecdotes from their life on the railway platforms. The camp was held by Sathi, a non-governmental organisation which works with children on railway platforms with the Child Welfare Committee.

Telling a tale of poverty, fear and drug addiction, Yelappa narrated his story. He said that he had learnt a lot at the camp. “Besides providing food, shelter and rest, the camp also taught me about differentiating between right and wrong,” he said.

The event was attended by Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee Vasudev Sharma and Deputy Director of Department of Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Kantamma. “I encourage parents to go ahead and lodge FIRs with the police when their children go missing. Children need protection; it is our duty to ensure that they are safe,” Mr. Sharma said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Authentic Hoysala style of sculpture kept alive
KBA submits report of its work to Government
Public-private tie-up in schools proposed
Questions as expected, say students
36-yr-old hearing impaired couple write SSLC exam
It is a marathon task, indeed
Watch out! You will be Intercepted
BWSSB rectifies contaminated water problem in Ulsoor
Many houses in Puttenahalli flooded
Vedike activists stall screening of Tamil films
Golden Chariot to roll again from April 7
BMTC launches Suvarna buses during peak hours
Governor launches e-procurement
People want mining stopped
Robbers have a field day in city Crime Notes
Forcing them to go back home
‘Children who sleep less more likely to be obese’
Child care centre opened at Jnana Bharati
Retail asset hub
Welcomed
Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu