Assam Floods: Urgent Advisory to Protect Vulnerable Children from Exploitation
Protecting Children Amidst Assam Floods
Children amidst the ruins of their former home following the Assam floods (Photo: AT)
Guwahati, Aug 8: In the wake of devastating floods, children who have become separated from their families are at heightened risk of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation. Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and refrain from taking in vulnerable children or attempting to arrange their adoption.
The State Child Protection Society (SCPS) of Assam, operating under Mission Vatsalya and the Department of Women and Child Development, has released an advisory aimed at safeguarding children impacted by the floods.
The SCPS emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach involving citizens, volunteers, relief workers, media representatives, and public officials to ensure the safety and dignity of these at-risk children.
According to the advisory, floods can leave children orphaned, abandoned, or without proper care, significantly increasing their vulnerability to trafficking, abuse, and neglect. It highlights the collective responsibility of every individual to protect the rights and safety of these children.
The SCPS has cautioned against taking unaccompanied children home, offering adoption, or making social media appeals for foster care. It also warns against transferring such children to individuals or organizations without the approval of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Many children who seem to be alone may still have family members searching for them. Any decisions regarding their care or adoption must adhere to the legal framework established by the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Furthermore, the SCPS advises against sharing photographs, videos, or personal information of vulnerable children on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or YouTube.
If anyone encounters a child who is separated from their family, injured, or in distress, they should promptly notify the nearest police station or call 112. The Child Helpline 1098 is also available for assistance, along with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and the local Child Welfare Committee.
The SCPS has reiterated the importance of not revealing a child's identity, including their name, address, or school details, as such disclosures are prohibited under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and are subject to penalties.
Additionally, the society has urged the public to avoid crowding around or filming children in relief camps or shelters, emphasizing the need for children to have a safe space to recover.
The SCPS has called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant and ensure that children affected by the floods are shielded from trafficking and exploitation while maintaining their privacy and dignity.
Just Rights for Children, a civil society network, has commended the SCPS for its advisory aimed at protecting children during the ongoing flood crisis in Assam.
Given the increased movement of displaced individuals across states, Just Rights for Children has called for heightened vigilance at railway stations and on trains in West Bengal and Assam, which are often used as transit routes for trafficked children from disaster-stricken areas.
The organization has reached out to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), advocating for enhanced surveillance, strict monitoring of suspicious activities involving children, and improved coordination with Child Welfare Committees, Government Railway Police, District Child Protection Units, and other child protection stakeholders.
Rishi Kant, national secretary of Just Rights for Children, stated, “The current flood situation in Assam has created an extremely vulnerable environment for children and women. During such disasters, children who are separated from their families or have lost their parents become highly susceptible to trafficking and exploitation, particularly through railway transit routes. In this scenario, the advisory issued by the State Child Protection Society is a timely and commendable initiative that demonstrates the State’s commitment to protecting children during emergencies.”