Govt to monitor child care homes

NEW DELHI: Poor environment, lack of space and sanitation issues have made the lives of children vulnerable at the child care institutions in Delhi.

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, has received a number of complaints from these homes, followed by formation of a committee to inspect these homes.

The government has 21 child care institutions, built under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

"The department has received various complaints on these homes and we want to take action against the violations," said an official.

He added that if children of these places are staying in such bad environment, the government will take every measure to improve the situation.

Talking to the Millennium Post, an official of child protection unit of the government said that the homes need better infrastructure and as the budget is approaching, the government might sanction more money for development of infrastructure at Child Care Institutions.

Following the complaints, the Delhi government has appointed a six-member state inspection committee, which will conduct random visits to all facilities housing children in the national capital and get feedback from the kids there.

According to the WCD department, the panel will conduct inspections of child care institutions once every three months and submit its report to district child protection units or the state government for action.

"The state inspection committee shall carry out random inspection of the institutions housing children to determine whether such institutions are housing children in need of care and protection," the department said in its order.

It stated that the committee will also interact with children during their visits to determine their well-being and get their feedback.

The committee has been appointed under the chairmanship of the director of WCD and member secretary of state child protection society.

Apart from this, the department has also appointed 10 district inspection committees, which will carry out such inspections in their respective districts. Each district inspection committee has five members.

The department said the district child protection unit will take necessary follow-up action on the report of the inspection committee.