Anantapur: Take stern action against child exploiters says Pragna Parande

Anantapur: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Pragna Parande, who reviewed the status of child rights in the district, has issued a stern warning to agencies, who are exploiting little children for furthering their vested interests and sexual ends. She issued a veiled threat to those running children homes just for exploiting them commercially and sexually of closing such institutions and take legal action against them.

Talking to reporters after her review meeting with district officers concerned and stake holders including NGO representatives at Revenue Bhavan here on Friday, she said that social audit was performed on the state and status of children in 7,500 children homes in the country. Also, 10 children homes with dubious distinction were shut down permanently.

She had a dig at those exploiting children and particularly girls in sex trade with the tacit support of middle-women acting as pimps. Women who were supposed to be playing mothers role in rescuing the children are acting as middle-women in advancing child-sex trade.

She had a word of praise for Anantapur district and women officers concerned who have a good track record of taking good care of children in government homes and in tackling children exploitation and child marriages. She said that Bala Sadan and Sishu Gruha homes run by Women and Child Welfare department were well maintained and also clean and hygienic. She hoped the homes would emerge as model homes in the state.

She lambasted the involvement of women in child exploitation and warned that the child would lose respect for women if they continued with their evil tendencies. She told the officials and police, do not forgive such criminals even if god forgives them.