: As many as 16 children, including six girls, who were brought from Arunachal Pradesh to an orphanage near Aluva in an alleged case of child trafficking, are slated to be repatriated to their home state on Friday.
Padmaja Nair of the District Child Welfare Committee said steps were in place to send the children back and hand them over to their parents in the presence of the concerned CWC activists and the District Collector.
“The children, escorted by six police officers and a social worker, will be boarding the Dibrugrah Vivek Express from Ernakulam at 5.30 p.m. The tickets have been booked and we have made all other arrangements to meet their expenses,” she said.
The decision is based on an order from Kerala high Court directing the CWC to ensure the welfare of these children, aged between six to 12 years.
According to CWC officials, the orphanage authorities failed to produce requisite documents, including certification from the local CWC and the police for transporting the kids to another state. In their opinion, the children hailing from Chakma village, were brought to Kochi by an agent after paying off their parents.
“The kids, during an interaction, gave us statements in this regard and we have shared it with our counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh for further verification. Violating our directions, the orphanage also admitted them to different schools in the locality,” they added. Meanwhile, Jose Maveli, chairman of the Aluva-based Janseva Sisubhavan confirmed the receipt of an order from the CWC to produce the children by 6.p.m on Thursday. “We have approached the High Court seeking a stay for sending them back as this will ruin their future,” he said.
