18 children go missing everyday in capital: CRY report

Indian Express: New Delhi: Tuesday, 23 September 2014.

The number of children going missing in the national capital has increased in the last two years 18 children went missing everyday in 2013, compared to 14 children in 2012. The data has been compiled by CRY (Child Rights and You) and is based on statistics from Delhi’s 12 districts, which was collected through questions filed under an RTI.

“In Delhi, the numbers related to missing children, sexual abuse and other child protection indicators have been increasing each year. This clearly shows that children pay the price… of an environment of gross negligence, weak implementation of laws, insensitivity, apathy and no safety nets. The need of the hour is to work towards ensuring an environment where children get top priority in terms of policies, schemes and budget allocations,” Soha Moitra, north regional director of CRY, said.

According to the data, the number of missing children cases has shot up drastically in some districts. West Delhi showed a 54.82 per cent increase while Northwest Delhi showed a 47.24 per cent increase. However, others like Northeast and New Delhi districts have seen a decline.

The data also shows that 6,494 children went missing in the city in 2013, of which 3,059 were girls and 2,709 were boys. In 2012, the number of missing children was 4,086 children. Of the 2,887 children “reported” missing in 2012, only 832 were found.

According to a report compiled by the NGO last year, in association with the Alliance for People’s Rights (APR) on the status of missing children, 14 children went missing from Delhi’s streets everyday in 2012.

The report further said that Northeast Delhi and outer districts had the highest number of missing children, and that “children of migrants, poor and marginalised were in a vulnerable state always.”

“Data from our intervention areas in Delhi presented a grim reality of child protection in the capital. Collaboration between states and police is integral to limit the growing number of child protection issues in the city. Steps should be taken to map vulnerabilities of children and available initiatives/resources. Our system currently lacks cross-departmental linkages to ensure protection of children,” APR convenor Reena Banerjee said.