New Delhi: Teenagers living in observation homes are often victims of past trauma, such as negligent parenting, some form of abuse or some harm inflicted upon by bad company.
Taking cognisance of the situation, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is conducting a detailed study on 50 such homes to check whether the youth living there are getting education and other basic entitlements.
The child rights body wants to ensure that an educational environment is provided to children living in observation homes, which will help them to forget their past horrors.
The Commission has also prepared a report on the availability of quality education and vocational training in observation homes.
After conducting various interventions, visits, and interactions with children in observation homes and special homes, staff and superintendents of NCPCR learned that there is a need to understand the various aspects of education and vocational training situation of these children.
"Children in observation homes are a distinct category of children. They are in need of care and support and are vulnerable, for they may again fall into the clutches of crime," said an NCPCR official.
The Commission also held a meeting with concerned stakeholders and the role of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) was also highlighted to the participants.
The mandate of the NIOS is to develop need-based academic and vocational education programmes for livelihood and lifelong learning up to a pre-degree level to develop an action plan for making education equitable and inclusive for the marginalised and disadvantaged groups.
It also offers a wide spectrum of courses of study in general, vocational and continuing education and life.
NCPCR member Priyank Kanoongo stated that the reason behind the study is to understand the educational and vocational training requirements of children staying at observation and special homes, as well as to identify the suitable vocational trades that can be provided to these children. "We want to provide an environment from where the children can live a good life in the future," said Kanoongo.
The Commission visited observation homes in Agra, Meerut and Delhi, where they found lack of a dedicated teaching staff for children beyond the age of 14 years.