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New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a newspaper article raising the issue of large number of missing children across the country, existing legal framework and gaps and loopholes in the technology to trace and unite the missing children with their families. Appreciating the contents of the article, the Commission has observed that the proper use of technology with zeal can reunite the missing children with their families.

Accordingly, in order to know the present status of the technology being used to trace the missing children and unite them with their families, the Commission has issued notices to the Home Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Women & Child Development. They have been asked to give their comments in the matter along with the status of the initiatives taken including the portals developed by them by specifically mentioning whether the tools like ‘Facial Recognition Software’ have been added to match the records of the ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children, according to an NHRC release.

The NHRC has also asked them to inform whether the guidelines on missing children have been circulated and are being followed by the agencies concerned or not. The response is expected within six weeks.

Post Nithari incident, the NHRC had formed a committee of experts in 2007 to examine the problem of missing children. Their report underscored that both the Central and the State Governments have to ensure realistic plans of action so as to make protection of children, a reality within a specific time frame.

According to the newspaper article carried on May 16, 2018, through strategic interventions, strong legislation and judicious use of technology, the state can bring back smiles to thousands of families.

Reportedly, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, with the help of the National Informatics Centre has developed a national portal “Track Child” which contains data on missing children and also has live data base to track the children kept in various child care institutions.

It is also written that due to absence of Facial Recognition Software on the portal, developed by the Government of India, a large number of recovered children were not getting united with their families.

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