Unique survey for better future of Surat streetkids

Surat: The city police has initiated a unique survey to identify children living on the streets. As part of the drive that started recently by the anti human trafficking unit of city police, 339 street children have been identified from within the jurisdiction of 10 police stations. Of them, 179 are boys and 160 girls. The survey is yet to be done in 22 police stations. The survey was started in association with Friends for Women and Children (FFWC), and CID crime initiative. The police formed 10 teams, comprising one cop and a FFWC volunteer in each team. One team visits the assigned police station area and collects details of children living on the road.Earlier, on January 5, the AHTU had rescued 11 kids from the road in different areas in a joint operation with the department of social justice and FFWC. The children were sent to the children’s home and arrangements were made for their education. Of these kids, seven have returned to their parents while five stayed on in the children’s home. “From the first rescue drive, we found that many children wish to live with their parents and not stay in the children home. Hence, we made some changes in our approach,” Bishakha Jain, assistant commissioner of police, AHTU told TOI.“We are now exploring options to provide education to the children near the place where they live. It is an attempt to bring them in mainstream of society and ensure that they are not isolated,” added Jain.In past week, 12 children were found living without parents and were admitted to children home during the survey. “This will help police identify children if their missing report is registered in any part of the country. The data of missing children from across the country is available with police in New Delhi,“ said Piyush Shah, coordinator, FFWC. Of the total children surveyed, more than 260 are from different districts of Gujarat. They are brought to city by their parents who would search for short term employment and live on footpaths.