35 runaway children restored to families

Thirty-five runaway children, aged 13-16 years and hailing from various states mostly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, were restored to their families today.
The children were rescued from railway stations and streets of the city and were restored to their families in the presence of Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Sandeep Kumar at the Gandhi Peace Foundation here.
According to officials, the children were taken to a camp started here in February by a Bangalore-based NGO, which had activities such as meditation, yoga, non-formal education classes, moral stories and cultural programmes.
Those restored belonged to various states chiefly Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Most of them had left their homes for three months to five years, an official of the Women and Child Development department said.

The one-month camp was organised by NGO SATHI (Society for Assistance to Children in difficult situation).
Minister Sandeep Kumar emphasised that the government was fully committed to rehabilitation of runaway children rescued by various organisations.
"The government is determined to protect the interests of the children and ensure all the children go to schools," he said.