India: Sixteen children who had been taken to various states in India for hazardous work have been rescued and handed over to their families under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare of Madhesh Province today.
Everest climber Kalpana Maharjan, who has been active in the campaign against child marriage, has recently become involved in awareness and rescue programs against human trafficking. After declaring the campaign against child marriage from the summit of Mt. Everest, and subsequently becoming the Global Brand Ambassador of “Kine India”, she also began engaging in anti-human trafficking and rescue activities.
The rescued children, originally from various districts of Madhesh Province, were found in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bihar, India. They were rescued with the help of Indian police by the organization Kine India, and after completing all necessary procedures, were handed over to their parents under the supervision of Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare, Ranjit Yadav.
According to Sanjiv Kumar Mahato, the provincial coordinator of the National Child Rights Council in Madhesh Province, the rescued children are from Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Rautahat, and Saptari districts, and their ages range from 9 to 17 years.
Among the rescued are:
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From Jaleshwar Municipality Ward No. 6, Mahottari: Vikas Kumar Mahato (14), Krishna Sada (17), Ravi Sada (14), Vikas Sada (12), Vivek Sada (12)
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From Samshi Rural Municipality Ward No. 6, Mahottari: Ravi Thakur (9)
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From Shahidnagar Municipality Ward No. 1, Dhanusha: Vivek Sada (12), Karan Sada (13)
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From Dhanushadham Municipality Ward No. 11, Dhanusha: Rohit Sada (12), Surat Kumar Sada (12)
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From Rautahat: Mugle Azam (15)
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From Dakneshwari Municipality, Saptari: Jeet Kumar Pandit (14)
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From Siraha: Sameer Kumar Bhujel (14) and Saugat Bayalkoti (12)
Similarly, two girls aged 15 and 16 from Saptari district, who had been forced into sexual exploitation, were also rescued by Kine India with the support of Indian police. They were handed over to their guardians through the Child Welfare Committee and Child Rescue Center, Janakpurdham, by Kine India’s Chairman, Naveen Joshi.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Joshi said that a large number of children from Madhesh Province are being trafficked to India for illegal activities such as screen labor, organ trade, and sexual exploitation, emphasizing the urgent need for awareness programs across the province.
The rescued children were reunited with their families in Janakpurdham with the assistance of Rotary Club Lumbini. During the program, Acting Secretary Ranjit Kumar Yadav of the Ministry of Sports and Social Welfare stated that the rescued children will be provided with education and skill-based training to help them gain employment opportunities.
He further mentioned that the Madhesh Province Government has initiated the process to establish a long-term rehabilitation center for such children and safe houses in each district.
Also present at the program were former Secretary of the Government of Nepal Prem Upadhyay, social worker Nirmal Kumar Chaudhary, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dhanusha Ganesh Bahadur Bam, officials of Rotary Club Lumbini, Lions Club of Chabahil City, and journalists.
Chairman Naveen Joshi also informed that Kine India, in collaboration with the Peace Education Campaign Nepal, has launched awareness programs against human trafficking within Nepal as well.