Such A Long, Tortuous—And Illegal—Journey...

June 9, 2015 31 tribal girls, between the age of three and 11, from five border districts of Assam are taken to Delhi on the Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express

June 11, 2015 The 31 girls travelling with Rashtra Sevika Samiti pracharika, Sandhya, rescued by Childline Delhi. They are taken to Paharganj police station. But on a dubious order from CWC, Surendranagar, and perhaps other pressure, the girls are still sent off to their eventual destinations.

June 16, 2015 Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights terms it ‘child trafficking’ and against the Juvenile Justice Act 2000. Directs Assam Police, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and others to bring back the 31 children to Assam for restoration to their parents.

June 17, 2015 Ahmedabad edition of Gujarat Samachar publishes news that Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Halvad, which is affliated to Vidya Bharati Trust, adopted 20 girls who have been ‘orphaned during the recent floods in Assam.’

June 18, 2015 Kumud Kalita, IAS, member-secretary, State Child Protection Society, Assam, writes to CWC, Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon, informing them that though Childline Delhi rescued the 31 trafficked girls with the help of police, some political power managed to take them to the destined place at Gujarat and Punjab. Expresses shock at CWC, Surendranagar, which passed an order to keep 20 girls in children’s home in Rashtriya Seva Shikshan Seva Pratishthan, Halvad, without informing the CWC of the source district. Asks several CWCs in Assam to bring back the children at the earliest.
June 22, 2015 CWC Kokrajhar writes to CWC Surendranagar to request the restoration of the girls. CWC Surendranagar does not respond.

June 23, 2015 Childline Patiala visits Mata Gujri Kanya Chatravas, Patiala. Find the home is illegal and the girls in abysmal situation. They are threatened and physically attacked by local RSS members.

June 23, 2015 Vasuben Trivedi, Gujarat’s minister of state for women and child development, endorses RSSP Halvad for adoption of “20 orphan girls” from Assam. Calls it the ‘Pride of Gujarat.’

February 2016 Probationary officer, CWC, enquiring about the 31 girls physically threatened by local RSS worker. FIR registered in the Gossaigaon police station in Kokrajhar.
March 2016 CWC Kokrajhar informs the High Court and the CJM and district sessions judge, Kokrajhar, that affidavit filed on behalf of parents by Sangh outfits are false. Requests action. No response.
July 2016 One year later, 31 girls still not back in Assam. Parents desperate.

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Timeline: Such A Long, Tortuous—And Illegal—Journey...