Porvorim, Aug 7 (TNN): Chief minister Manohar Parrikar stated that only 34 children actually remain missing and that most have been traced.
Parrikar was replying to a calling attention motion by Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco over the issue of abducted children..
Sardesai and Lourenco had charged the government with not complying with the recommendations of the Goa human rights commission and the Goa state commission for protection of child rights at act upon Supreme Court guidelines in matters of missing children.
In his written reply, Parrikar stated that there are 838 cases of missing or abducted children in Goa from 2011 till June 30, 2014. Parrikar said out of these, 795 children have been traced and that technically, 43 remain untraced. But even from these 43, three children escaped from Apna Ghar and fled to their home state, four children were taken by their mothers and the fathers have complained that they are missing, one child was taken by the father and one child drowned along with his father. If these nine cases were considered, only 34 are "clear cases of untraced or missing children", Parrikar said. Parrikar also said that 18 from these 34 pertain to 2014 and "in all probability, they will be traced as regular investigations are on".
Parrikar, who is also the home minister, listed 15 measures that the government is taking to address the problem of missing children including taking assistance from NGOs working in the field of children's welfare. A missing person's desk has also been started at all police stations for speedy registration of missing cases and for their investigation, Parrikar said.