DCPCR launches operation 'Khoj' to trace missing children

Concerned over increasing number of children going missing from the city, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has launched operation 'Khoj' to trace such children.
"Under the operation 'Khoj' the DCPCR will tap information regarding missing children from all sources and circulate the same along with photographs to all networked homes for immediate action," said Arun Mathur, Chairperson of DCPCR.
A network of approximately 45 children's homes in Delhi has been created and in case the child is found in one of the Home, DCPCR will take appropriate steps to identify and rehabilitate the children with his or her family as per law.

Mathur said that DCPCR intends to enlarge the network to include more Homes and organize regular meetings for sensitization of the home in-charge, home manager, house father and house mother.
The Commission expects that through proper follow up many more cases related to missing children will be solved.
In 2008, 6268 children were reported missing from Delhi. In the year 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 the number of missing children reported was 5946, 5091, 5111, 5248 and 7235 respectively.

DCPCR has been monitoring the issue both at an individual case level as well as policy level, Mathur said.
"In individual cases the Commission issues notice to the concerned police station for an Action Taken Report in the matter.

"It was seen that generally at the police station level compliance of the notice given by the Commission is within the stipulated time but these replies reach the Commission quite late as they are sent through proper channel by the office of the ACP concerned," Mathur added.