Tamghas street children in need of management

BY TILACHAN PANDEY,Tamghas, Aug. 15: Street children have caused trouble to service seekers at the district administrative office and district headquarters in Tamghas in Gulmi.

There are approximately 18 street children in Tamghas. They are seen around the bus park, near the coordination committee of Gulmi and around the district administration office demanding money from service seekers, asking for food and even forcibly taking it if not given voluntarily. Moreover, they were found damaging structures of 3D Park and causing harm to the parked motorcycles.

Homnath Sharma, who came to the District Administration Office for services, complained that the street children took away the noodles he was eating and harassed him for money. 

Meanwhile, the Education Development and Coordination Unit has already spent around Rs. 700,000 for the management of these street children. Loknath Marasini, head of the unit, said that those 18 street children were enrolled in four schools in the area in coordination with local levels. However, those children had returned to their old ways, forming groups to beg, threaten and forcibly take things from others, he added. He said that the future of those children might turn dark if they were not taken care of. 

Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Sharma, said that discussions with concerned parties would be held for the proper management of these children. He pointed out the need for short-term and long-term approaches to their management.

Mayor of Resunga Municipality Khildhwaj Panthi said that the problem of street children in Tamghas had become a nuisance. He said that the municipality would make plans for the proper management of these children. He said, “It would be ideal to first locate their parents and hand over responsibility to them. If the parents cannot be found, the municipality will implement a long-term plan to manage the children.” He said that the efforts of the municipality alone would not be sufficient and urged the District Administration and District Coordination Committee to take appropriate interest.

Drona Bahadur Khatri, the head of the District Coordination Committee of Gulmi, said that a mini hostel was previously opened to accommodate 18 street children for six months. During the period, they were provided with food, and shelter and were later enrolled in schools. However, the children stopped attending school after a few days, resulting in the re-occurrence of the same problem, he added.