Mail News Service
Imphal, April 2 : The Tangkhul Shanao Long, Delhi (TSLD) thanked the government of Rajasthan for the safe repatriation of the children from
Manipur who were rescued on March 12 from Grace Home, The Father’s Children Home and two others who were rescued from Pastor Jacob John’s house on March 25.
According to Tangkhul Shanao Long Delhi, the government of Rajasthan besides bearing the flight expenses of all the children hailing from Manipur, has also extended monetary
support of Rs 10,000 each to the children through the Social Welfare Department and CWC of Manipur. TSLD was given the assurance by the state representatives that a bank account for each child would be made and the money deposited.
The children, especially the girls have withstood a very difficult and traumatic phase in their lives and TSLD said it would like to ask of the government of Manipur and its concerned authorities to be sensitive especially while interacting with the media.
“The statement from the chief minister of Manipur that some children were sent with the knowledge of parents due to their poverty is a proof that the state government and its officials are so disconnected from the grim reality of life in the different districts where people are struggling not just with poverty but is also grappling with want for very basic quality education and health service,” TSLD said.
“The statement also smacks of blame game that seems to suggest that the parents are responsible for it. Parents of these children were lured, deceived,
lied and coerced into believing that their children were going to be provided with quality education and good living. However, they were exploited and abused in various forms. This
is a Human Trafficking crime committed by Pastor Jacob John and his associates who helped recruit these many children from our districts. It does not however absolve the
Government of Manipur from its responsibilities to ensure that every child is entitled to Right to Education which constitutionally guaranteed under Article 21-A. Had these programmes and policies been effective children would not be sent away from home to seek education,” TSLD clarified.
Moreover, the parents did not send their children to be exploited and robbed of their childhood and innocence.
It is worth taking note that the identities of all the children were changed. It is also worthwhile to note that as many as 8 children were found with severe leg deformity that requires medical surgery. “They used to be brutally beaten up and often starved. They were shown a picture of a school but were never sent to one. They were never allowed to go out but 29 girls kept cooped up in a room without electricity and a broken toilet. They were not allowed contact their families without supervision-the most heinous act of all is that pastor Jacob John sexually abused the girls, most of them below 13 years of age for years altogether,” the Tangkhul Shanao Long Delhi further said.
TSLD demanded that the government should not deal with this case in an abrupt and adhoc manner like in the past but should work on a well planned long term rehabilitation support that includes professional counseling and good school education so that they will not be re-trafficked.
TSLD said it has every reason to believe that there are many more children who have been trafficked and the government and its subsidiaries should track every child and ensure that they are safely brought home.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/children-beaten-up-brutally-at-grace-home-tsld/
