Kathmandu, November 13

Hundreds of children abandon their homes feeling neglected and opt for the streets of the capital every year, said a report of the Central Child Welfare Centre, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu.

Programme Officer at Central Child Welfare Centre Santosh Chandra Adhikari said that a large number of street children left home due to neglect. In the fiscal year 2015/16, nearly 240 children were registered as missing in the Valley, of which 195 children were found and handed over to their parents.

Among the missing children, 167 were boys and 73 were girls. In the same way, the latest report dating from July 16 to September 16, 2016, showed that 38 boys and 22 girls were registered as lost in the Valley.

Of these, 45 children were found while 15 are missing till date.

“Our centre records data of missing children between the ages of 12 and 15. We have learned that most missing children ran away from their homes feeling neglected,” he said.