27 child care institutions in Odisha lack basic facilities: NCPCR report
New Delhi: Lack of minimum standard of care and poor security arrangements were found in most of the Child Care Institutions (CCIs) run by NGOs and government in Odisha, revealed the report of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
Accessed by Millennium Post, the NCPCR report said in 21 homes, security arrangements were inadequate.
"Police verification of the staff working in the child care institutions has been not carried out in 14 homes," added the report.
According to the Commission, children are supposed to be cared with emotional and their psycho-social issues have to be dealt by a trained counsellor. However, this basic requirement was lacking in as many as in 27 care institutions. In 13 homes, the management committee was not formed and in four homes children were not produced to CWC.
The report further claimed as per the Juvenile Justice Rules 2016, provision provided for separate children's homes for boys and girls in the age group of 7-11 years and 12-18 years (sub-section iv (b) of section 29) and separate facilities for children up to the age of six years with appropriate facilities for infants (sub-section iv (b) of section 29). However, this segregation is not maintained in 12 of the homes.
In 22 homes, no suggestion book/box was found functional during the inspection. "11 homes had no electricity back-up. Counselling and Guidance Room was lacking in 24 homes inspected by the team," added the report.
The officials from child rights body also found that in 10 homes, there was no provision for age-appropriate games whereas, in 14 homes, the 1098 – child helpline was not displayed. Implementation of the track the missing child was not implemented in 20 homes. The NCPCR team led by Yashwant Jain and RG Anand inspected as many as 50 CCIs. "There was complete laxity from the authorities in regards to safety and security of kids," said Yashwant Jain.
Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson NCPCR, said there was the complete failure of state officers. "The Government should monitor and make sure identities of children not taken from them," said the chairperson.
