16 CHILDREN GO MISSING DAILY IN NEW DELHI

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, March 5 (Bernama) -- On an average, 16 children are reported
missing in the Indian capital daily, as parental and police efforts are up
against a wall to trace them, according to a recent survey by non-governmental
agencies.

Backed by police data, the Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS), a youth
organisation, claimed that children, mostly from poor families, fall victims to
human trafficking rackets.

The children are kidnapped and sold.

"This is a frightening trend. Many are from poor families. Some run away
from poor family conditions but many others are kidnapped for financial gains by
well-organised rackets across the country.

"We have even found children keeping sand in their pockets as means to
protect themselves from kidnappers, to throw at their face during any attempt,"
Tapish Maindole, NBS coordinator told Bernama Wednesday.

The NBS and another social organisation, Bigul Mazdoor Dasta, jointly
released a report on missing children in two major cities -- New Delhi and
Ghaziabad, an industrial township located about 20km from the capital.

Besides, their sample survey revealed that 5,600 children went missing from
Delhi in 2007 and another 2,264 last year. The victims were aged between 18
months and 15 years.

Many are abducted from their homes while their parents are away at work.

"These children are sold as domestic helpers, child labour in the carpet
industry or used in camel racing or organ harvesting and child pornography.
"The increasing demand for adoption, both at home and overseas, is another
factor. The numbers could be more, because only 10 per cent of the cases are
reported," said Maindole.
-- BERNAMA