Where the lost wards find path to growth

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 26

Lost and found is a theme that is not unique to just Hindi films. But unlike in the celluloid world, the reality is more grim in the world outside with lakhs of children going missing but only some getting united with their families or falling in the hands of good samaritans.

Take the case of Anil. He was barely nine and illiterate when he went missing over two years ago. Earlier this week, the anti-human trafficking unit of the Panchkula Police was able to unite him with his family. Anil, once illiterate, has returned, a certificate of having passed Class III exam, in his kitty. His daily wager mother is now sending him to his elder sister, who lives in Benares after her marriage, so that he can continue his studies.

Siblings, Kalyani and Johny, recovered from Gurdwara Nadda Sahib by the same unit a year ago, have also started studying. They were orphans, who had studied a little. Kalyani (10) has appeared in her Class V exam.

These children are among those, who go missing in India every year. From being lost, they are now on the path of development, thanks to workers and some dutiful policemen, whose mission it is to trace their parents.

When Anil went missing, it didn’t create much fuss in the slum near Saketri village, where he along with his five elder siblings and parents lived in shanties.

It actually didn’t matter much to most if he was around or was missing. His father was on death bed due to liver damage caused by excessive drinking. He passed away a week after Anil went missing. His mother, who also can’t sleep without drinking, cried for a short while. But she didn’t approach the police or any agency for help for fear of the men in khaki or her inability to pay money for the job.

Without making efforts to find him, she along with the other children went to her village near Benares, returned some months later but, still no search was undertaken. All this while, Anil was living in Snehalaya, near Maloya village, just 15 km from his house.

Now, united with her son, Raj Kumari has no fear of cops. “They are actually nice people,” she said. She ekes out a living, washing utensils at Mangu’s Punjabi Vaishno Dhaba in Mansa Devi. Life seems to have taken a turn for the good as Anil’s recovery has changed her outlook on life.

“Only my eldest daughter studied up to the middle school level. She is married in Benares. Anil learnt to read and write and has passed Class III exam also. He wants to study further. My eldest daughter has called him to stay with her. She will ensure he studies further,” said Raj Kumari.

“It was a blessing in disguise for Anil as he took to studying,” says assistant sub-Inspector (ASI) Rajesh Kumar, in-charge of Panchkula. Quoting the slogan of the National Centre for Missing Children, the police officer says, “Such kids need help. A missing child is counting on each of us.”

“Children found abandoned often end up at such help centres if they still have some luck. Others end up as beggars after losing a limb or two. Or worst, they become a victim of child abuse or trafficking. He ended up at the home for the abandoned children, probably helped by some cops or good samaritans, who found him. Our cell keeps meeting such kids to try and trace them,” said the ASI.

“Anil, like most children found abandoned, doesn’t tell immediately about his address or location. The ones, who run away from their home don’t reveal their address. It is only after regular counselling that they drop some hints,” added the ASI.

With ASI Mukesh Rani, who sweet talks the kids into revealing their address or hints at it, the cell has traced some missing kids. She and other team members found Anjali from the Ambala railway station. Nearly 16 and mentally challenged, Anjali has learnt to stitch clothes at Prabh Asra Centre. Another girl, Kajal, found from Ambala, is learning alphabets and would get admitted to a school soon.

Since January 2016, the anti-human trafficking unit has united as many as 50 kids with their parents. “It is a momentous task,” said Rajesh. He is on way to Dehradun today to trace the roots of three kids, who may belong to that city.

“Just last week, we were in Dehradun with 15-year-old Rahul, who had run away from home some 10 years ago. He stayed in different homes before his case was notified at the Children’s Welfare Centre of the police. He remembered little, but it proved to be enough when we reached the location. He recognised an older cousin,” he added.

The joy at the sight of a missing child meeting his parents finally moves the cops as well. “We often join them in celebrations and some tears flow as well,” said Rajesh.

Happiness in a few cases apart, the incidence of missing children has assumed grave proportions in the country. Alarmed at the large number — some ten lakh per annum, claims the National Centre of Missing Children — the Supreme Court had in October, 2014, ordered the state police to give special attention to tracing children. Many of them became victims of begging gangs or were trafficked in other states or even abroad.