JOIN USFatigue, and the soothing, rocking motion of the train, may have driven him to slumber, given the long, tiring travel.
But, for 15-year-old Dilip Kumar, it turned into traumatic ten days, which he would like to erase from his memory for good.
For, left stranded by his brother and sister-in-law, Dilip, who had journeyed all the way from Gorakhpur to savour and soak in the sights of big city namma Bengaluru, found himself holed up at Yeshwanthpur Station rest house, before finally being reunited with his family.
The reunion, on Monday, happened thanks to Sathi - A Society for Assistance to Children in Difficult Situation.
Like Dilip, 27 other children’s joy, knew no bounds, as they rejoiced at being reunited with their family members.
‘Lure of fast buck’
Unlike Dilip, some had run away from home due to domestic violence, pressure to study or enticed into making a fast buck.
Dilip, who happily burst out on seeing his mother, said: “I had come to Bangalore with my brother and sister-in-law to see the City. But I fell asleep in the train. When I woke up I realised I was all alone in the train. I got down at Yeshwanthpur, and one aunty helped me. I stayed in the station rest house for 10 days and today I will go back home.”
Choked with emotions, his mother Bimala Devi, said she will never part with her son again.
“I got a call from Sathi saying that they have rescued my son. I was shocked because I was under the assumption that he was safe with his elder brother.”
Likewise, 15-year-old Kalu Singh, from Rajasthan, lured by the dreams of becoming rich in Bangalore by one his neighbours saw his working in Nagamangala in Mandya District for the last two months.
However, his ordeal ended, when “last week, while sleeping in the station, people from Sathi rescued” him and called up his family.
“I was going to send home Rs 5,000 which I had earned so far.”
Briefing reporters, Karnataka State Legal Service Authority (KSLSA) Member Secretary Ashok G Nijagannavar said: “Most are in the vulnerable age group of 6-15 years. During these years they can be easily misguided. Sexual harassment and violence against children is the biggest racket after drugs. Children are also forcefully employed in dangerous occupations like quarrying sites and firecracker factories. It is the responsibility of parents and society to save them.”
NGOs like Sathi and parents, can contact us for help. We (KSLSA) help to reunite children with their parents.
South Western Railways Additional Divisional Railway Manager Sunanda Arul said the help centres to rescue children currently only in Bangalore railway stations, will gradually be extended to all stations in Karnataka. This is because these children get down at various stations and not just Bangalore or Yeshwanthpur or K R Puram.”