Horrific state of beggar home: DCW sends recommendations to Sisodia

Delhi Commission for Women's chief Swati Maliwal on Monday issued recommendations to Manish Sisodia, Minister of Women and Child Development in regard to the inspection at the beggar home on the night of January 4. The Commission, considering the horrific condition of the beggar home and the complaints from detainees in this regard, feel that the recommendations should be taken up urgently.

The Commission's interaction with the 17 detainees (who were all foreign nationals) and staff brought to light the deplorable condition of the beggar home. The Commission also stated that notices were issued to the Department of Social Welfare and FRRO but the replies submitted by these agencies portrayed that the beggar home is being used as a detention centre for foreign nationals by FRRO since 1999.

The Commission was also reported about serious human rights violations when the detainees informed that they were being subjected to physical checks of their private parts by the staff on their arrival to the Home. The caretaker and superintendent of the Home confirmed this practice during the team visit.

To this, the Commission recommended installation of metal detectors in the Home and also that in case of absence of metal scanners, the practice of internal checking of detainees should be stopped with immediate effect.

The Commission also recommended appointment of adequate number of cooks and assistants in the Home as serving of unhygienic food which is prepared by mentally challenged women was observed during its visit.

Denial of basic legal rights to foreign nationals was observed as the detainees were completely unaware of the reasons for their detention and were not allowed to contact their families. Also, access to lawyers was denied to the detainees. The Commission in this regard recommended the department to take up this issue with DSLSA and set up a mechanism to provide free legal aid to the women detainees.

The Commission was informed that two women from Uzbekistan and Kenya had only one pair of clothes since 22 days and 12 days respectively. On questioning the departments, they stated that the women denied help. Later, Home superintendent informed that the women were provided clothes. Also, the women detainees had not been provided mattresses and were made to sleep on hard beds.

The Commission recommended provision of clothes should be made for women detainees and incase they refuse the same, it should be recorded with their signatures in their individual files. Also, proper mattresses should be provided in the beggar home.

A serious lack of standard operating protocols was observed. Further, it was observed that the Home did not assist an Uzbek national in filing a molestation complaint against an FRRO officer. Similar stories were narrated by other detainees as well.

To this, the Commission mentioned that the department should immediately consult its stakeholders, develop detailed standard operating procedures and it should be ensured that allegations of cognizable offences should be immediately reported to Delhi Police.