I REFER to the news report, “Helping Indian kids without birth cert” (NST, Jan 21).

The setting up of a special task force by the government to address this problem and the efforts of the NGOs to trace these children are truly commendable and heart-warming.

Unlike government departments that often operate strictly according to the letter of the rules and procedures, the special taskforce set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs, will no doubt be imbued with more discretionary powers to sympathetically consider this human problem, and approve genuine cases of non-registration of children born to Malaysian parents.

I hope leaders of the community at the grassroots will impress upon the less educated and ignorant the importance of registering the birth of their children and where possible, assist them in obtaining the birth certificate.

M. GANESHADEVA, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 23, 2008