Poor conditions at children’s shelter homes need attention

When homeless children or juveniles in conflict with the law are in the custody of shelter homes, they feel safe and secure with a firm belief their new “home” will nurture them to build a better future. However, a few of these very institutions, despite the government support and incentives, have abdicated responsibility by showing the least care to the destitute and homeless that they are sheltering. The Goan examines the issue

Seven-year-old Gressy Nayak was about to be given a bath, a daily exercise in the Missionary-run St Francis Xavier Training Centres for Persons with Disabilities at Old Goa. But February 12, 2023, turned out to be a horrific day not for the child alone but the entire State reeled under shock. She became a victim of a spine-chilling act of alleged negligence by the institution’s staff.

Around 5 pm while she was waiting in the queue with other inmates, she fell in the hot water bucket that was left unattended by the concerned staff. The warden and the helper ran in the room only after the child’s loud cry. She was hastily taken out of the bucket and rushed to the hospital where she succumbed to 79 percent burn injuries nine hours later.

The grieving parents, who had admitted their child to this institution to get treated for intellectual disability, trembled as they took their beloved’s body for final rites. Multiple inquiries are ordered with little chance that its outcome could bring justice to the deceased’s family. The Old Goa Police have registered a case while no further update comes thereafter.

Less than a year ago, another childcare institution’s functioning raised eyebrows. On May 14, 2022, a 20-year-old died by suicide. The boy in the ‘aftercare’ facility succumbed en route to the hospital. In fact, this was the second suicide of an inmate, in the same manner, in two years.

The orphan boy’s death could have exposed several irregularities but both disturbing cases have faded away with time.

The careless attitude of these institutions is pending action by the government. The Goan also learnt that request for admitting the 20-year-old prior to his death to the Institute of Psychiatric and Human Behaviour was pending approval.

Institutions not inspected

As many as 1,700 children in need of care and protection and juvenile delinquents are lodged in different shelter homes including government-run Apna Ghar. Despite a whopping number, the institutions are allegedly rarely inspected on a regular basis.

The Goan has learnt that various agencies such as Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Child Welfare Committees in both districts, etc are bound to visit institutions in their respective jurisdictions twice every month.

De-registered institutions

The institutions need a license for operations but not many will know that quite a few of them are already de-registered under the Juvenile Justice Act.

Out of over 50 institutions, many have been de-registered whereas license renewal of a few others is in the process.  

Sources confirmed that some institutions have taken their independent decision to stay out of the JJ Act purview. While it is not legal to function sans permission, these institutions including hostels/boarding claim their registration under the Children’s Act. 

The reason is that these places do not want to be monitored by the government or High Court Committees and instead carry out hassle-free operations. 

“Nobody is monitoring these institutions. Incidents go unreported and uninspected,” another said fearing alleged negligence and poor treatment meted out to the children could be existing in some shelter homes. 

In one such shelter home, a CWC inspection exposed the unhygienic condition in which girl inmates were living. Used sanitary pads were piled up in the bathroom dustbins indicating these were not disposed of for many days. Several homes are also lacking proper washrooms and play areas. 

Dire condition of some institutions

Despite being funded by the government and revenue also pouring in through charity, some of these institutions fail to provide basic necessities to their inmates. Inexpensive metal roofing sheets, poor quality dormitory, beds, mattresses, and at times compromise on nutritious food have become a common phenomenon across many such shelter homes. 

Children housed illegally

The State authorities are caught in a dicey situation. Some shelter homes are admitting children in need of care and protection without producing them before the CWC. Some are also found to be housing children more than the permissible capacity.