BHUBANESWAR: Alarmed by the state of affairs in orphanages of the State, the Government has asked the Collectors to go in for a fresh assessment of their status and report within two weeks. After a spate of incidents came to the notice of the Government where the children’s homes and the orphanages were found to be running in violation of the existing norms, the Women and Child Development Department has swung into action. It has asked the collectors to initiate proceedings against unauthorised children’s homes. The Department has shot off a letter to the collectors to identify orphanages and children’s homes which are run by different organisations as well as individuals in an unauthorised manner. Besides those shelter homes, which are recognised as per law but violate the Juvenile Justice (care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006, must also be identified by the district administration, the Department stated. The collectors have been asked initiate immediate action against them. The action taken reports will have to be submitted to the Department by September 5. All children’s homes and orphanages are required to obtain certificate of recognition under Orphanages and Other Charitable Home (Supervision and Control) Act, 1960, and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006. The recent incident wherein 30 inmates of Nirmal Munda Vidyapeeth (NMV) at Rourkela’s Chhend Colony were taken ill with gastroenteritis drawn the attention of the Department. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members had rushed to the rescue of the hapless children and arranged for their treatment. Similarly, the CWC also came to the rescue of inmates of another orphanage in Biramitrapur town recently. The Department found out that the children, mostly in the age group of three to 14, are crammed in small dormitories in extremely unhygienic conditions. In most cases, they do not have adequate amenities for sanitation. “The CWCs in some districts found out that the inmates have to share the same toilets and the bathrooms with the staff while the funds are mismanaged,” sources said. The collectors have been asked to verify the recognition status of the orphanages, investigate the kind of amenities they provide and if the same are in tune with the JJ Act and take swift action.
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