Time for extra caution

Nine-year-old Nikitha A, who went missing recently, may have been reunited with her parents but not less than 25 children of Nikitha’s age go missing in Bangalore city on a daily basis.

Cases of missing children have been on the rise and the police, child welfare activists and psychiatrists blame this on the lack of supervision by parents, especially among the working category. Metrolife interacted with them to understand what precautions need to be taken to ensure children’s safety.

Aslam Ahmed, assistant director of women and child development, Bangalore Urban, points out that the responsibility of a child first lies with the parents.

“Parents must keep an eye on their children when they go out to play. Children must be told not to speak, mingle and accept anything from strangers. Working parents don’t make time to sit down and listen to the happenings at school or even get their children to be open with them,” explains Aslam.

According to the statistical report from the Missing Child Bureau (Bangalore Urban) from 2008-2013 (March), the number of children missing in 2008 was 882. In 2010, the figure shot up to 4,512 and in 2013, it stands at 731. The numbers always fluctuate and are never constant. Binu Varghese, state coordinator for Missing Child Bureau, confirms that not less than 25 children, aged between 8 and 16 years, go missing on a daily basis.

“These are confirmed cases that we get but many go untraced. Most of the children run away from home due to physical and sexual abuse by the relatives or someone known to the family. We also come across children who have been physically tortured,” explains Binu.

The police feel that people must be more vigilant and alert. Kamal Pant, additional commissioner of police (law and order), points out that there are about 300 patrolling vehicles moving around the City at all times. “We hold regular campaigns in schools and colleges about safety, intensify patrolling in sensitive areas and watch out for any illegal activity,” says Kamal. The sensitive areas in the City from where children go missing are Kalasipalayam, KR Market, Shivajinagar, Kengeri

Satellite Town, areas around Majestic and the outskirts of the City.

Dr Roshan R Jain, consultant-psychiatry, Apollo Hospitals, says that parents bring their children to him for the silliest of reasons. “If parents would spend quality time with their children, they wouldn’t have to bring their children to us for small reasons. It takes a counsellor to tell a child what’s right from wrong. This is what parents must be doing. Parents should also stop buying their children gifts because it’s not only misleading but easily lures them. This is the tactic that most strangers employ,” he says 

The fear of a child getting lost is not so much in a gated community or apartment block, where round-the-clock security ensures that children don’t leave the premises.

Supervision by parents is key to ensuring a child’s safety. Ishita Talreja, a mother of two, who lives in an independent house, says, “I keep an eye on my children when they go out to play and always caution them against talking to strangers. We don’t allow them to play away from our lane.” Radhika Sadhwani, another parent, thinks that parents must take turns in watching over their children. “Strangers should not be allowed in the premises where children play. If allowed, they should give in their details to the security,” feels Radhika.