CWC ask Orissa govt to stop Budhia's road show marathon

Bhubaneswar, May 12 (UNI) Expressing serious concern over the report of a five-member medical team on wonder kid Budhia Singh, the Child Welfare Committee(CWC), Khurda, has asked the Orissa government not to allow or organise road shows and marathons of the child in future.

In its report to the State Women and Child Welfare Minister, the CWC said the risk to the life of the child needs to be addressed immediately and opined that he should not be subjected to running long distances, road shows and marathons as immediate preventive and remedial measures for the sake of the protection of the child.

Ever since the Child entered into Limca Book of Record for running non stop 65 kms, from the holy city of Puri to temple city of Bhubaneswar on May 2 last, the issue has been mired in a controversy that shows no sign of ending.

Against the background of bad health condition and risk of life of the child as reported by the medical team, the CWC said engaging the child in running long distances would be considered as offence under ''cruelty to the child'' which would be punishable under section 23 of the Juvenile Justice(care and protection Children) Act 2000.

In pursuance of the functions prescribed under section 31 of the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of Children) Act 2000,the CWC had advised Budhia Singh's coach Biranchi Das to refrain from engaging the child for long distance running.

While drawing the attention of state government to the provision of the 151 of the CrPc which empowered the police to arrest anybody even without warrant for preventing the commission of cognizable offence,the Committee advised the state government to instruct the police to resort to the provision to prevent the cognizable offence of cruelty to the child by its custodian if any eventuality arises.

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