Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services said there are 169 children under state care at present.
While responding to information requested by Mihaaru news under the Right to Information Act (RTI), the state said they currently had 75 girls and 95 boys in state care.
They include three girls and four boys who are not one year old, the ministry said.
Earlier, children were kept in children's shelters Kudakudhinge Hiyaa and Fiyavethi, but since last year, the government have started setting up shelters called Amaanveshi in rural islands as well. Children have been transferred to these places over the year.
Haa Alifu atoll Dhidhoo: one girl and three boys
Shaviyani atoll Funadho: eight girls and 12 boys
Noonu atoll Manadhoo: 13 girls
Baa atoll Eydhafushi: seven girls and eight boys
Dhaalu atoll Kudahuvadhoo: no children
Laamu atoll Fonadhoo: nine boys
Fuvahmulah: five girls and ten boys
In the last five years, 132 girls and 96 boys have been handed over to families or released into the community. According to the Gender Ministry, between 2018 and August of this year, 175 children were taken into state care.
According to the data released by the ministry monthly, children are taken into state care every month for various reasons. Some of the children who are taken for family issues are taken temporarily and handed back to their families later on.
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