22 Meghalaya children rescued from Mutt shelter in Karnataka

Shivamogga: A team of officials led by District Child Protection Officer Manjunath rescued 22 Meghalaya boys, aged between 11 and 15 years, who were staying in a building run by Sri Kudali Sringeri Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam, near Holehonnur on Thursday.

Speaking to DH, District Child Protection Officer Manjunath said, "Childline India received a complaint that 22 underage boys from Meghalaya are residing in a building at Kudli run by the mutt. So, we visited the spot and found that the building where these kids were lodged lacked basic facilities such as a bed, a cot, and they were sleeping on a mat. Besides, there was a dearth of toilets. Initially, the authorities of the mutt did not furnish the documents, including the parents' consent letter. So, the children were rescued and brought to the Bala Mandir in Shivamogga. Later, they produced the superfluous documents, including parents' consent letters and affidavits. We have asked the authorities to provide basic facilities so that children could be sent back."

He also stated that he is in constant touch with the officials of the child welfare committee in Meghalaya and asked them to verify whether the parents of these children voluntarily sent them here or not. Based on their response, children will be sent back to the mutt.

He said that most parents of these children have more than five kids, and these are their 7th or 8th kids to their parents. So, they appear to have been sent here a year ago, and they have been studying in a private school in Holehonnur. No case has been registered against the mutt as the issues are minor.

Speaking to DH, Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde said that there seems to be no major violation by the mutt. The parents' willingness certificate is essential in this regard, and the mutt authorities produced it. "We have asked them to improve the basic facilities for the benefit of children."

Muzrai tahasildar Pradeep, the officials of the labour, women & child department and police were part of the team.