The state government is planning to test the DNA of beggar children across the state to help reunite them with their parents, said minister of state for women and child development Vidya Thakur.
Thakur explained the beggar children's DNA test results will be put up on a website specially created for the purpose, and will be downloaded and matched with DNA tests of parents who report their children missing. The minister said the proposal would be placed before the upcoming cabinet meeting, which should be held on Tuesday.
NGOs have welcomed the move. "The government has to implement the project properly. They should involve NGOs who have been working for child rights for a long time. Apart from this, the government should also think about individual childcare, and the children who are abandoned and orphaned. While taking blood samples for a DNA test, they should take permission from the child," said, Uma Subramaniam, co-director of Aarambh, an offshoot of the NGO Prerana, which works for child education and child rights.
"Trafficking is a complex child rights issue. It is the children of the poor and marginalised communities who are often kidnapped or bought from their families to be forced into labour or sex trade. Parents of these children are either betrayed or lured due to their poor socio-economic conditions thus forcing them to send or sell their children for better livelihood options. DNA testing could be one of the direct aggressive methods to identify victims of child trafficking, however Child Rights and You (CRY) believes the government should also focus on developing and implementing comprehensive child protection systems which prevent trafficking — such as early birth registration, provision of good quality early years support, access to education and strategy for combating early marriage."said, Komal Ganotra, Director, policy, research, advocacy and documentation, CRY.
