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Case-Studies

12. Case of reuniting a child with family:
Case 1: 10year old .

In the month of March 2006 during one of its outreach programmes, the CHILDLINE Jammu team came across a 10-year-old child crying near a shop. The child was brought to the centre. Initially the child refused to give any details. Also the language spoken by the child was different and the team could not comprehend. Finally after two days the child revealed that he is from Udhampur. CHILDLINE contacted the police. The police could trace him to Panchairi and managed to trace his uncle.

During the interrogation the uncle revealed that he had brought the boy to Jammu to employ him in one of the shops. The boys' uncle was warned not to indulge in such activities as it amounts to child trafficking and he could be punished for the same. The child was finally handed over to his parents after verifying the relevant documents and obtaining a written statement form them.

Case 2: 8 year old.

Chennai CHILDLINE received a call from W-20 Police station on 11th February 2006 about a 8 year old girl found near the police station. CHILDLINE team rushed to the police station and brought the child to the centre. The child was not willing to give any information that would have helped the team. The only information gathered from the child was that her mother had left her near the bus stand and that she is from Keerapalayam village.

Since the village was closer to Cuddalore, the Cuddalore CHILDLINE team was contacted and requested to investigate the case. Team members visited the village and enquired and were able to contact the child's mother. Since her husband was an alcoholic he was not providing for the family. To cater to the families' need she was working as a domestic maid. She had sent her daughter to her mother's place at Kumbakonam.

The mother was asked to visit the CHILDLINE centre with the required documents for verification. On the 15th February, the mother visited the centre to collect her child, with her ration card as proof. The child expressed her desire to return home with her mother. Mother and daughter were provided counselling at the center before they left for their village. The child was very happy to return home with her mother.

Case 3: 7 year old.

Ranchi CHILDLINE received a call from the Ranchi G.R.P informing of a seven-year-old missing child. The child was found at the railway station. The child was unable to give much details of her home. Following 2-3 counselling sessions the team was able to make out that the child was from the nearby village of Khalari.

Khalari which is approximately 75 Km from Ranchi falls outside the 1098 connectivity. Hence it was difficult for the team to trace the address. However, with limited details that the team had collected, they visited the village and enquired with the people around. Following two-three visits and sessions with people around the village, the team was ultimately able to locate her house. Following verification the team along with the Ranchi G.R.P handed the child over to her family.

Case 4: Nagamma.

Nagamma had lost her mother in her childhood. Soon after her father remarried. Nagamma's father was an alcoholic and was not bothered about his daughter. She was ill treated by her stepmother. She was kept locked in the house and not allowed to go to school. Unable to take more of this treatment she ran away from home and was found at Tirunelveli bus stand by an auto rickshaw driver.

The auto driver brought her to Tirunelveli CHILDLINE. At the center she expressed her desire to study. The child was admitted into a school where she scored well in her exams. CHILDLINE team members meanwhile tried to contact her family. Neither her father nor any family members showed interest in receiving her. Following consistent counseling she finally agreed to visit her family during the summer vacation. CHILDLINE team accompanied her to her village. Only her aunty accepted her.

The child is keen on continuing her education and achieving something in her life. In this direction she is pursuing her higher education.