Poor response baffles Authority

* Only 50 have responded so far

* Callous disregard alleges Authority

Priyanka KURUGALA

The National Child Protection Authority has received a poor response from potential women overseas job seekers to the request on providing details about their children's safety.

The National Child Protection Authority requested women who plan to migrate for employment overseas to inform them the places and persons where they intend to leave their children for protection a few months ago. However only 50 women have responded to this message, National Child Protection Authority Chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said.

She was addressing a press conference at the Information Department recently.

"Mothers who hope to migrate should pay their fullest attention to their children," she emphasized. The information can be given on telephone number 1929 which is free of charge and operates 24 hours a day.

It is open for any complaints or requests about children.

Most of the time children also call the authority to speak about their plight. Nevertheless, these women do not pay heed to the request of the Authority.

"This proves the lack of concern among most migrating women for their children,"she said.

Any person who harasses a child will be taken to task by the National Child Protection Authority irrespective of their status. We are only concerned about the welfare of the child, she noted.

The National Child Protection Authority commenced this telephone service line on July 22. Last month the authority received more than 3,800 telephone calls. All the calls could not be considered as complaints.

Daily, the Authority receives about 15 calls that can be considered as complaints.

"Nevertheless we are convinced that there are numerous instances of child harassment happening throughout the country.

These incidents are not reported to the police or any other Authorities," she emphasized.