The Hindu : Relocation of child reception booth hampers NGOs work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Relocation of child reception booth hampers NGOs work

By Ramya Kannan

CHENNAI MARCH 25. With the Child Reception Booth at Chennai Central, the prime interception point to counter trafficking, being shifted out of its prime location, NGOs are worried that much of the intervention work would be thwarted.

The old booth, located in the main (old) hall, right outside the main platforms, was set up on October 13, 1999, to identify `runaway' children who touch at Chennai Central, when major southern trains come in. It is also a nodal spot through which a majority of children are trafficked out of the State.

The `reception centre' has apparently prevented a number of children and youth from falling into crime or labour and provided them with alternate livelihoods and education. The booth was handed over to `Mariyalaya' and Don Bosco Anbu Illam, for running and maintenance.

On an average, the counsellors and volunteers say the booth intervenes in at least a 1000 cases, per year. On busy days, at least 15-16 children are helped on an everyday basis.

``The booth was strategically placed, so that we could identify the children as soon as they alight from the train'', according to Don Bosco Anbu Illam director, Arokiasamy.

A number of children run away from their homes and take trains to land in the Central Station. ``Since they have no plans and have run away on impulse, they have no idea what to do once they reach the station'', Fr. Arokiasamy adds. This puts them at the mercy of anti-social elements.

Most of the children are in the age group 5 to 16 years, with more boys than girls being rescued.

In most cases, children have run away from homes, either because of parental censure or to come and see the film stars in Chennai. Some of them are even trafficked by brokers who buy them from villages. Once at the station, they stray into criminal gangs, or are used for labour or are diverted to prostitution.

Because of expansion work undertaken at the Central Station, the reception centre was temporarily shifted out to the erstwhile Moore Market complex, where the suburban station is now located.

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