The district child welfare committee has started a survey in Halmira tea estate of Assam’s Golaghat district for identifying the orphaned children, who have lost their parents in the hooch tragedy.
Halmira tea estate is the epicenter of the worst hooch tragedy in recent times which have claimed more 100 lives in the tea garden itself.
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Also read: Assam hooch tragedy: Deaths, trauma and arrests mark fourth day in Jorhat
“Till date, we have so far identified a total of seventeen orphan children in Halmira. The ages of these children are in between 2 years to 16 years. We are trying to find out the next of kin of the orphans but in order to claim the ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh which was announced by the government to the deceased of the hooch tragedy many people are coming forward claiming to be their near relatives,” said Lukumoni Goswami, chairperson of the Golaghat district unit of CWC while talking to Northeast Now.
Adding further, Goswami said, “As per the guidelines of CWC, we are going to open a bank account in the name of these orphans in presence of their actual guardian after gathering their proper address so that only they can get the money.”
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“Yesterday, we rescued two children from Halmira tea garden and brought them to our office. We are sending to our children home situated at Bokakhat. All our educational and other needs will be taken care of by CWC,” she said.
“Our survey is still going on and once it is over we are going to file a detailed report before the deputy commissioner and will request the district administration to ensure that the orphans will get the benefit of the compensation,” she said.
As per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 (amended in 2006) state governments are required to establish a CWC in every district and they are designated as the final district-level authorities for the care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection .