Nagapattinam – More than 14,000 people perished when the tidal waves ravaged the south and southeastern coastal regions of India, and of these more than half of them were children. However, the ones that at first seemed lucky to have survived have been seemingly exposed to a new suffering, as rumours of child trafficking and kidnapping in Tamil Nadu circulate from the region. The source of this terrible problem is people's greed to get money that the government has set aside for those orphaned by the disaster.
A UNICEF representative in Nagappattinam narrated the horrifying story of a man who claimed to be an orphan’s uncle only to be unmasked by the child’s refusal to go with him.
This is happening because, owing to the large number of children who lost parents, the government in New Delhi is granting each orphan Rs. 2 lakhs (around US $4500) - half available immediately, the other half when the child reaches 18. This is a huge sum of money in a country like India where the average monthly salary is below US $100.
On condition of anonymity, a Tamil Nadu state official expressed concerns "for the fate of the orphans because it is understandable that their families want to claim them hoping they would get government money".
For S. Vidyaakar, founder-director of Chennai-based NGO Udhavum Karangal (Helping Hands), "these orphans are precious to their relatives and even others not related, for the money relief offered by the government."
Bishop Devadass Ambrose Mariadoss of Thanjavur expressed that he "did not know whether such things actually happened [but] was conscious that trafficking in children was a dangerous possibility."
All India Catholic Union (AICU) President, John Dayal, said that there have been no confirmed reports of children being stolen and sold. However, the problem may be there, he agreed, as many people will try to get their hands on the aid money that the government has promised, he said.
Surojit Chatterjee
Ecumenical Press
