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Street children off the streets
A committee has been appointed to assess the situation of street children and propose as to what could be done about the number of street children in the country, the National Child Protection Authourity (NCPA) said today
The Authourity said that they would take necessary action based on the report that is to be submitted by the committee in a month’s time. “These children are different due to their circumstances and need to be treated with special care,” said NCPA Chairperson, Anoma Dissanayake.
Ms. Dissanayke said that the Authority had in an attempt to reduce the number of street children invited children’s homes who were willing to take them in to come forward. “There were close to 420 homes that volunteered,” she said.
She however said that, though a large number of children’s homes had come forward, they were not up to standard. “We have no alternative but to take up there offer if we want to eradicate street children in the country,” Ms. Dissanayake said.
Speaking of the 24 street children taken into custody by the Authority recently, Ms. Dissanayake said that the children were now being monitored in two children’s homes. She said that the children taken off the street in Welimada, were between the ages of 3- 14 but said that the ages of some could not be said as they had no birth certificate.
“We can not take the children directly under our care as we don’t have the necessary facilities and these children need special attention due to their circumstances,” she said. Ms. Dissanayake said that they would be monitored till the age of 18 and that a report will be submitted about their daily activities. (Nabeela Hussain)
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