On 3 August 2009, the ACHR submitted a complaint before the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking its urgent interventions against the trafficking of 29 tribal minor children including 11 girls from Nagaland to Andhra Pradesh in the name of providing free education. According to the complaint, one Henry Rongmei, claiming himself to be Director of Truth Light Healing Ministry (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), Sarah Tangkul and Ringcham took away 29 children including 11 girls from Samzuiram village under Peren District of Nagaland on the false assurances of providing free and quality education upto Class X besides providing them free meals and accommodation at EARE Ministry Harvest India, Gypsy Orphanage in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. But to their horror the parents after two months came to know that their children were being ill-treated and engaged in forced labour. They were also forced to steal firewood from the neighbourhood areas at night and any child who failed to steal was punished by denial of food. The parents of the trafficked children filed a complaint with the Jaluki Police Station, Nagaland against the three accused persons on 10th June 2009 and subsequently, all the children were rescued from the Orphanage in Andhra Pradesh and brought home.
The ACHR sought a judicial inquiry into the EARE Ministry Harvest India (Gypsy Orphan Children Home) in Andhra Pradesh where the 29 Nagaland children were kept in poor conditions and arrest of the culprits.
The NCPCR took up the matter with the State governments of Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland. As per a report from the Additional Director General of Police, submitted to the NCPCR by Principal Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Women Development, Child Welfare & Disabled Welfare Department vide letter dated 5.9.2009, it is stated that the investigation revealed that EARE (Evangical Association for Revival Education) is a Missionary Institution having its main institution and office at Padisonapeta, Itanagar and at Thenali of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It is being run with the funds from the foreign countries, mainly from USA depending on the strength of boarders (orphans). The Zypsy Orphan Children Home at Srinivasanagar is one of the Orphan Children Homes under it. In February 2009, the accused (Henry and Sarah) acting as agents of Bishop Sudheer Kumar who is the president of EARE brought 26 children who have parents to said Zypsy Orphan Children Home from Nagaland in order to get funds from foreign donors. These children were ill treatred, not given proper food and on the other hand, they were forced to do the labour and odd works such as collecting and getting fire wood from the forests, carrying the bricks and stones for the construction of class rooms etc. Accused Heera Ram Singh Ramesh, Hindi teacher at the Zypsy Orphan Children Home, used to misbehave with grown up female children. On 3 June 2009, the police arrested accused Riamel Ashiyana @ Aswin and Heera ram Singh Ramesh and the court sent them to judicial custody and later released. Accused Sudheer Kumar Bishap, President of EARE surrendered on 3 July 2009 before the court and was released later. However, main accused Henry and Sarah were still absconding. On 5 June 2009, the rescued children were handed over to V. Maria Yawathan, Deputy Resident Commissioner, Nagaland House, Guwahati, Assam by the Andhra Pradesh Police.
Vide another letter dated 18.3.2010, Principal Secretary, Labour Employment Training and Factories Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh informed the NCPCR that the Assistant Labour Officer, Miryalaguda, Nalgonda district has launched prosecution against the erring management and further the police department have also taken up the matter and filed criminal case against the management under section 342, 374 and 417 IPC.
In view of the above, the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission disposed of the ACHR’s petition by its order dated 20.3.2012 and informed the ACHR accordingly.
