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EveryChild India launches innovative Child Tracking System

19 Mar 2009

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EveryChild India and local partner organisation the Child Rights Trust are launching a new Child Tracking System in Southern India. For the first time children will have information about their health, school enrolment and any child protection issues recorded by local authorities. This will protect them from being trafficked and help resolve cases of suspected abuse and exploitation.

The scheme is being launched at village level through Gram Panchayats (local authorities) in four districts in Karnataka state. Every child will be assigned a unique identification number at birth. If the scheme in Karnataka is successful it is hoped that it will be introduced throughout India.

Unlike in the UK, many of India’s children are not registered at birth, their medical records are not kept on file and school enrolment is not logged. The Child Tracking System will massively increase the chances of reuniting trafficked children with their families and ensuring the child’s medical, educational and welfare needs are met.

EveryChild India’s Country Director, Sriramappa said:

“Lack of current data on children in India, be it a lack of information on migration, malnutrition or trafficking, has been a hurdle in planning for, and protecting our children. The piloting of the Child Tracking System paves the way for a fundamental shift in our ability to protect children in India from social exclusion, abuse and exploitation.”