By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
HALDWANI, 31 Jul: A joint team comprising the Child Rights Protection Commission, Child Helpline, Child Welfare Committee, District Legal Services Authority, Anti-Human Trafficking Cell and police conducted surprise inspections at various locations in Nainital district to check arrangements at child protection institutions and ensure compliance with child safety standards.
The inspection drive was led by Uttarakhand Child Rights Protection Commission member Yogesh Rajwar. The objective of the campaign was to examine the facilities and arrangements at institutions dealing with children and to assess whether the prescribed standards for their safety and protection were being followed.
During the inspection, one NGO operating at Gafur Basti near Haldwani railway station was also inspected. According to the joint team, Meena Singh, an employee present at the spot, stated that the organisation is being run by Father Pais and has received financial assistance from a missionary organisation for its functioning. According to information gathered during the inspection, the organisation is also alleged to be involved in religious conversion activities, although the allegation is still under probe for evidence.
At the time of the inspection, five girls and six boys were found staying at the institution. The joint team sought valid documents relating to the functioning of the organisation, but no requisite documents could be produced at the spot. Preliminary investigation also revealed that the organisation was not registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.
The team further found that the arrangements made for the accommodation and seating of the children were not in accordance with the prescribed safety standards. During the inspection, it also came to light that some of the children staying at the institution were already enrolled in different schools.
Child Rights Protection Commission member Yogesh Rajwar directed the Child Welfare Committee and Child Helpline to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter and submit a report within two days. He also directed the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell to investigate the organisation and its operators and initiate necessary legal action wherever required.
Yogesh Rajwar said that operating an institution dealing with children without statutory registration was an extremely serious matter and raised questions over the safety and security of the children staying there. He made it clear that a detailed investigation would be conducted into the functioning of the organisation, the financial assistance it was receiving and all other aspects related to its operations.
He said that strict action would be taken as per the law against illegal institutions compromising the safety and security of children. He added that surprise inspections of such institutions would continue regularly across the district to ensure that the prescribed norms relating to child protection were being followed.
During the inspection, Anti Human Trafficking Cell officials Renu Adhikari and Govind, Banbhoolpura police station Sub Inspector Jyoti Koranga, Child Helpline District Coordinator Kiran Pant, District Legal Services Authority official Uma Bhandari, and Child Welfare Committee members Ganesh Bisht, Lalit, Sarita, Beena and Suraj, among other officials and staff, were present.
