After discussion between the Jharkhand Government and Kerala Government over managing the funds for rail transportation of 120 rescued children of Godda from Kerala’s Pallakad district to their respective hometown, the later has agreed to bear the entire amount of rail transportation.
Confirming the information, Palakkad District Social Justice Officer Mrithyunjayan on Sunday told The Pioneer, “Our Government has accepted Jharkhand Government’s request on paying Rs8, 74,000 for reservation of the two bogies accommodating 120 children with the 12 member team that arrived here last week to verify these kids who were rescued from a train on May 24 with other children of Bihar State while some agents were taking them to Mukkam Muslim Orphanage for free education and food.”
“We are departing in two AC three tier bogies of Patna-Ernakulum on Monday. By Wednesday we will be reaching Jasidih,” said Pramod Kumar Verma, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh Programme Coordinator, a member of Jharkhand team at Pallakad.
Another team member Seema Sharma, the Ranchi District Child Protection Officer said, “We are almost sure to depart from Palakkad on Monday in two added coaches of Patna-Ernakulum Express. As of now the 120 children aged between 4 to 12 years from Godda are accommodated in Palakkad Orphanage and we are staying in State Guest House around eight kilometers away from the orphanage. The children are healthy and are under the regular observation of our team doctors and Palakkad doctors.”
Notably, on Saturday Jharkhand Government authorities had asked NGO ‘Save the Children’ to provide a part of mentioned funds since they alone were unable to manage the train reservation amount. Also, Chief Minister Hemant Soren had requested Kerala Government to finance the overall budget.
According to the sources, the money was arranged since Palakkad Railway DRM had asked to pay the amount required for attaching these two Air Conditioned bogies.
Senior District Commercial Manger Dhananjay maintained that a state government committee from Jharkhand had met them last week for knowing the reservation procedures.
Speaking about the state level efforts, Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Ranjana Choudhary said, “The children are expected to reach Jasidih by Wednesday. Thereafter, they will be taken to Godda under the supervision of Godda DC and Deoghar DC wherein the local CWC members will verify their address and hand over them to their respective parents.”
Notably, the 12 member team headed by State labour Commissioner Manish Ranjan which left Ranchi for bringing the children on May 30 was financed by UNICEF. “We paid the travel fare for the team from Ranchi to Palakkad after Jharkhand government approached us for financial support” a senoir UNICEF officer said.