‘First 4 hours crucial’: Why tracing missing children in Tamil Nadu remains a challenge

With reports of nearly 10 children going missing across Tamil Nadu recently and incidents of juvenile violence raising concerns, questions have emerged over the state’s child protection mechanisms.

In an interview with The Federal, Andrew Sesuraj, child rights activist and director of the IDEA Child Rights Group, discusses the rise in missing-child cases, investigation protocols, administrative delays and the functioning of child rights bodies in Tamil Nadu.

Excerpts from the interview:

What does the recent cluster of missing children cases reported across Tamil Nadu indicate and why are we seeing an increase in these instances?

Children have always been soft targets because of their inherent vulnerability. Unless administrative mechanisms spring into action and respond immediately, these incidents will continue because it signals to perpetrators that the system is failing and they can escape consequences.

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Regarding the concept of a geographical cluster, there is no localised cluster within Tamil Nadu like you might observe in states like Bihar or Rajasthan. In Tamil Nadu, missing cases occur across various districts. While we have specific regional clusters for issues like child marriage or altered child sex ratios, missing children cases are spread out across the state.

What does the recent case of a six-year-old child missing from Gingee near Chennai reveal, where 600 mobile phones were tracked without establishing any conclusive trace?

This case highlights significant operational challenges. When a child goes missing or trafficking occurs, the victim is moved across district or state borders within hours. In this case, while authorities searched locally in and around Gingee and Alampundi, there were also contradictory statements from witnesses. Neighbours claimed to have heard the child, whereas family members sleeping in the same house heard nothing.

Local inquiries suggest multiple possibilities under investigation, including child trafficking or illegal adoption sales, given that this was the family's second girl child. The fact that search teams were still combing the same local area and re-questioning family members after 15 days without conclusive evidence indicates that investigation procedures must become far more scientific beyond standard local policing, CCTV checks, or basic ground searches.

What factors contribute to nearly 10 missing children cases being reported within a month?

Missing children cases are constantly present, but reporting fluctuates.

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Historically, whenever a single high-profile case comes to light, such as a child missing from a hospital, it triggers a chain where multiple other cases are reported immediately after. Violators often utilise this heightened public and media focus on one specific case as a diversion to move undetected elsewhere.

We observe a similar reporting pattern with suicides and child marriages, where one major reported story is followed by a surge in documented cases over subsequent weeks.

Don't you think this reflects an alarming trend that requires immediate intervention?

It is an alarming situation, and we have consistently advocated for rapid tracking protocols. Senior police officials acknowledge that unless a missing child is traced within the first four hours, rescue becomes exceptionally difficult.

Child trafficking operates as a decentralised network where individuals handling the child at one stage have no knowledge of who receives the child at the next link, making post-facto identification extremely complex.

Opposition parties, including the DMK, have announced statewide protests highlighting crimes against women and children. Do you view these concerns as politically motivated or as a reflection of a real crisis?

Crimes against women and children are undeniably on the rise due to both an increase in actual incidents and improved reporting. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data frequently places Tamil Nadu among the top five states for reported crimes against women and children, partly because public awareness and administrative reporting mechanisms function relatively better here than in many other regions.

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However, addressing child safety cannot remain limited to political statements or routine police interventions. Whether raised by the DMK, TVK, ADMK, VCK, BJP, or Congress, child protection must evolve into a sustained public and social movement. Governance alone cannot solve this without active public oversight from non-governmental organisations, voluntary groups, and civil society raising a collective voice to deter perpetrators.

What is the current status of the Justice K Chandru One-Man Commission report regarding juvenile home reforms and violence against children?

When the Justice K Chandru Commission report was submitted, only select recommendations were released, while the complete report was not placed in the public domain for review. Certain administrative changes followed under the previous administration, such as renaming the Department of Social Defence to the Department of Child Welfare and Special Services and constituting a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

However, despite being constituted nearly three years ago, that high-level committee failed to meet even once. While the report provided valuable insights on vulnerability, caste dynamics, and observation home reforms, recommendations were largely treated tokenistically. The current TVK-led administration has not demonstrated concrete action or follow-through regarding those committee recommendations since taking office.

How effective are the District Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) in Tamil Nadu?

District-level Child Welfare Committees are functional, though we receive ongoing complaints regarding improper functioning, lack of member training, and instances where members lack child-friendly intervention skills.

At the state level, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) suffers from severe structural neglect. The commission operates with only one or two staff members for the entire state, unlike child protection commissions in Delhi, Karnataka, or Kerala, which employ dedicated research officers, legal consultants, and administrative infrastructure.

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While SCPCR members conduct field visits across districts to monitor the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act, and Right to Education Act, there is no dedicated administrative staff inside the commission office to handle documentation, issue formal follow-up notices, or track compliance.

Furthermore, the Department of Child Welfare and Special Services lacks a full-time director, operating merely under additional charge arrangements, reflecting bureaucratic indifference toward child rights administration.