Shillong, Dec 2: The second incident of the rescue of Meghalaya students from a Karnataka hostel has revealed a lack of monitoring and delayed legal action.
24 minor girl students, who were staying in shabby conditions at the Karnataka hostel, were brought to the city on Tuesday.
Leisynshar Cultural Society had sent the students to Karnataka
In March this year, many students from an illegally-run hostel of the school in Mandya fell ill after they were served with leftover food during the Holi celebrations.
Later, two students died after their health condition deteriorated.
The same Leisynshar Cultural Society had sent the students.
The directorate of the state social welfare department formally received the children from Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district child protection officer, Nautaj B.
The children were welcomed at the directorate office at Lachaumiere in the presence of officials and representatives from various child-rights organisations.
State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Chairperson Agatha Sangma raised concern over the rising number of cases involving children being taken out of the state without proper procedures. She recalled a similar incident a few months ago in which children from Meghalaya were moved without official oversight, stressing the need for stronger preventive mechanisms.
She informed that the SCPCR had written to the Chief Minister recommending the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the movement of children below 18 years to institutions outside the state. The recommendation follows a stakeholder meeting attended by officials from the law, social welfare, education, health, and police departments.
The proposed SOP, Sangma explained, would ensure greater transparency and coordination by requiring prior intimation to District Child Protection Officers, proper documentation of the children and the receiving institutions, verification of the legal status of those institutions, clarity on the purpose and duration of the children’s stay, and mandatory medical examinations before travel. It would also establish communication between District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) of both states to track the welfare of the children. She noted that the absence of such a monitoring mechanism has allowed improper transfers to occur.
Sangma also emphasised the need for parents to remain informed and vigilant. She said that during interactions with the families of the affected children, many parents did not know the name or location of the institutions where their children had been sent. She urged parents to ensure they are fully aware of their children’s whereabouts and safety.
Director of Social Welfare, Camelia Doreen Lyngwa, said the department received notice of the case in August. She noted that most of the children come from marginalised families, making safe housing a challenge.
Lyngwa added that parents had hoped for better educational opportunities for their children outside the state, trusting that they would be placed in secure and supportive environments. However, the DCPO of Chikkaballapur found that the facility where the children were staying was in poor condition and was not registered with the Government of Karnataka, raising significant concerns.
The government has taken action against the organisation sending children from the state to Karnataka without proper documentation and under poor conditions.
The girls aged 8-13 were rescued from Sowmya Kesanupalli Student Home in Chikkaballapur District, Karnataka.
10 children are from East Khasi Hills, 7 from East Jaintia Hills, 6 from West Jaintia Hills and 1 from West Khasi Hills. They were promised free education and hostel facilities, but basic amenities were not provided to them.
The matter came to light when the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, informed the Director of the Social Welfare Department on August 2 this year that there were 25 children from Meghalaya who were rescued from Sowmya Kesanupallii Student Home, Penumale, Chikkaballapur.
The chairpersons of the Meghalaya Child Welfare Committee have conducted a video conference with the children to understand the situation better.
The 24 children were sent to Karnataka by Leisynshar Cultural Society during the month of June this year.
Chairperson Agatha Sangma said the organisation, Leisynshar Cultural Society, is operating illegally and has been blacklisted.
“The DC has given an order to stop the organisation from functioning, and an official letter has been issued,” she told reporters on Tuesday after receiving the rescued girls in the state.
The action follows a complaint filed by the MSCPCR with the Deputy Commissioner, leading to an order for the organisation to shut down its operations immediately.
“Now, they cannot function as an organisation anymore,” she said
The education of the children will be taken care of, and they will be absorbed in the coming academic session. The government and social welfare department will be looking into it.”
Sangma expressed concern over children being sent to other states for education, often being exploited by organisations claiming to provide better opportunities.
“This is definitely a concern where maybe children feel the need to go to another state to find education, but as you can see, most of these organizations taking these children are not even taking them to better institutes as such. It is like a hoax; it is actually being manipulated, and you are not really providing them with better education.
The children will temporarily stay at the Children’s Home Girls Mawkasiang, Shillong.
For the school enrollment, bridge courses and preparatory classes of the children, the Social Welfare Department will have to coordinate with the Education Department since it has to be conducted within the institution to facilitate a smooth transition into the 2026 academic session
