Chaibasa/Kannur, Feb 19: A 20-year-old youth from Chaibasa in Jharkhand, who was separated from his family at the age of six after boarding the wrong train, is set to reunite with his family after 14 years, following coordinated efforts by activists and government agencies.
Raja Gope was travelling with his father to Howrah in 2012 for brick kiln work when he was separated at a railway station and accidentally boarded a train that took him nearly 2,500 kilometres away to Kerala.
He eventually reached Ernakulam, where he was rescued by activists and placed in a shelter home. Raja later came under the care of child welfare authorities and participated in rehabilitation and skill development programmes. He was subsequently shifted to Kannur, where renewed efforts began to trace his family.
According to activists associated with the non-profit Railway Children, Raja remembered only limited details about his past. “He remembered only the name of his hometown, Chaibasa, and the first names of his parents,” an activist said.
The breakthrough came after activists circulated a video of Raja in Jharkhand, which eventually reached his family in Harimara village in West Singhbhum district. His family identified him, paving the way for reunion after more than a decade.
Raja’s father had died four years ago, and his mother, Mani, along with his siblings, had been surviving as daily wage labourers. Expressing her emotions, Mani said, “I’m very happy that my son is alive and will return home. I would have been happier if my husband were alive today to see his son.”
Officials from the Jharkhand Women and Child Development Department said coordination is underway with authorities in Kerala to complete the necessary transfer formalities. MD Shamim, a member of the Child Welfare Committee in Chaibasa, said, “Efforts are being made to bring the boy back to Jharkhand and link him to rehabilitation schemes.”
He added, “The first step would be to complete the transfer process. After the transfer, we will try to link him with the After Care scheme and skill training programmes.”
Officials said Raja will be connected to rehabilitation and skill development initiatives to help him reintegrate into society and build a sustainable livelihood as he prepares to return home after a 14-year separation.
