Twenty-four children from Meghalaya, who had been taken to Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district, were reunited with their families on Tuesday following a coordinated repatriation effort led by the Social Welfare Department and the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR).

The children arrived at the Directorate of Social Welfare, where officials from the department and child rights organisations formally handed them over to their families. SCPCR Chairperson Agatha Sangma said the operation prioritised the safety and emotional well-being of the children.

Concerns over illegal transfers

Agatha Sangma expressed gratitude to authorities in both Meghalaya and Karnataka for their cooperation but raised concerns over the increasing number of minors being taken out of the state without following proper legal procedures. She cited a recent case that prompted the government to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing transfers of children below 18 years to institutions outside Meghalaya.

“The proposed SOP mandates prior intimation to District Child Protection Officers, proper documentation, verification of the receiving institution’s legal credentials, clarity on the purpose and duration of the stay, medical examinations, and direct communication between authorities of both states,” said an official from the Social Welfare Department.

Agatha also urged parents to remain vigilant, noting that several families were unaware of the names or locations of the institutions to which their children had been sent.

Children from economically weaker families

Social Welfare Director Camelia Doreen Lyngwa said the department had been alerted to the case in August. Most of the affected children came from economically weaker households, where parents had hoped to provide them with better educational opportunities outside Meghalaya.

An inspection by the Chikkaballapur District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) revealed that the facility housing the children was unregistered and in poor condition, leading to their return.

The Social Welfare Department and the SCPCR have assured continued monitoring to ensure the safety of children and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share