Last month, over 70 such malnourished children from Manipur, Nagaland and other NE states were rescued from a home at Kuzhithurai in Kanyakumari district.
The newest trend is gaining momentum among traffickers who disguise as evangelists to defraud gullible families willing to send off their children if promised with education and jobs.
This sort of modus operandi seems to relatively work well among families in insurgency-hit states like Manipur.
After being trafficked, they are taken to states like Chennai where they are finding safe havens. In Tamil Nadu, there are 1,096 children's homes housing 3.5 lakh children. However, there is almost an equal number that reportedly operates without registration.
The children aged six to 15 are kept in pathetic conditions and are often made to do jobs like carpentry, cooking and laundry. There have even been cases of children dying under suspicious circumstances and some being molested and abused.
"These institutions exploit religion to make money. With many of them not registered with the government, the homes escape scrutiny," Vidya Reddy of Tulir, Centre for Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, was quoted by Times of India, as saying.
Church is now equally concerned and is wary over such nefarious groups indulging in fraudulent activities.
"This trend is shocking and deplorable," says Dr. Hrangthan Chhungi, a North East theologian and Secretary of Commission on Adivasis/Tribals, National Council of Churches in India.
"It is indeed very ruinous and gross that Religion is used for the trafficking business," she lamented. "Taking the name of Christianity, they lure gullible Christians, specially the parents of poor families or guardians of homeless children and make it a thriving business."
She explains why Manipur is an easy target. "In that state, Kukis are one of the most victimized tribe among the inter-tribe conflicts. These conflicts and killings have rendered children without parents in recent past."
"This sorry situation is taken advantage and made a business by vested interests," she points.
The National Council of Churches in India, as an apex body of the Protestant churches, she said, will organize a symposium to conscientise churches and NGO organistions and bring awareness among people.