Missing children website launched for Delhi; to unify child protection agencies

The Zonal Integrated Police Network (ZIPNET) would be closed soon, as a new website to track Delhi's missing children has been launched, an official from the department of Women and Child Development (WCD) said Monday.

"ZIPNET will now be closed and the national website to track children (www.trackthemissingchild.gov.in) has been launched and will work in a full-fledged manner, so that there is integrated detail to track missing children," said Premoday Khakha, assistant director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).

He was speaking at the public hearing and consultation event organised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) between the parents of missing children and stakeholders.

"The figures of missing children collected through the Right to Information (RTI), ZIPNET and National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) are different, which shows lack of convergence between child protection agencies, which is a matter of serious concern for the implementation of child rights in the state," said Soha Moitra, regional director, Child Rights and You (CRY).

Parents of missing children from across Delhi presented their case before the panel, comprising National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Integrated Child Protection Scheme, Delhi, and officials from Delhi Police, who promised strict action.

"As soon as the child goes missing, all relevant child protection stakeholders should be alerted for fast-tracking the case," Nina Nayak, member, NCPCR, said, underlining the need for convergence between different authorities in the state.

As per figures corroborated by CRY and Alliance for People's Rights, between January 2012 and Dec 31, 2012, around 4,364 children went missing in Delhi.