By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 13 May: In a shocking revelation, several reputed institutions registered under the Social Welfare Department for disabled welfare as NGOs, have allegedly refused admission to 20 disabled girls seeking shelter in a district centre. The incident has raised serious questions about the functioning and actual intent of these organisations, many of which receive foreign funding as well as grants from the state and central governments in the name of serving disabled children.
District Magistrate Savin Bansal has taken cognisance of the issue and has expressed deep displeasure at the refusal by institutions working for the welfare, uplift, and treatment of disabled children to admit those in need. Reliable sources have reported that the capacity, resources, staff, and number of children claimed by these institutions on paper do not match the reality on ground. The human resources shown in official documents during registration are often missing at the centres. Unfortunately, several well-known institutions are reportedly involved in such irregularities. When approached, these organisations have directly refused to provide welfare, treatment, or admission to disabled children without even considering their cases.
Disturbed by these developments, DM Savin Bansal has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the matter on ten specific points. The committee has been directed to submit its investigation report within the stipulated time frame. The DM has made it clear that if any violation of standards is found, the registration of such institutions will be cancelled immediately. At the same time, the DM has also reprimanded the Social Welfare Officer and District Probation Officer, instructing them not to limit their roles to mere paperwork and recommendations but to take strict action to ensure social welfare. He asserted in clear terms that exploitation of disabled and helpless individuals and violation of their rights will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and stringent action will be taken against those responsible.
It is worth reminding that most of these institutions receive substantial foreign and government funding in the name of welfare, education, and treatment of disabled and helpless people. However, the resources, doctors, teachers, experts, and staff shown in their records during registration are often not present on site, and the actual number of children is much lower than what is officially reported.
Many of the institutions working in the field of disabled welfare under Dehradun district are under the scanner. They include Bajal Institute of Learning, Rajpur Road; Latika Roy Foundation, Vasant Vihar; Bharat Mandir School Society, Rishikesh; Raphael Rider and Cheshire International Centre, Mohini Road; Arunima Project with Autism Unit of the Gateway Village, Sinola; Yashoda Foundation, Doiwala; MDRS, Tapovan; Mushi Sabha Seva Sadan and Rehabilitation, Herbertpur; Divya Education Society, Nimbuwala; Dyslexia Society of Uttarakhand, Rajpur Road; Setu Sanstha, Dalanwala; Herbertpur Christian Hospitality Society, Herbertpur; Cheshire Homes India, Dalanwala; Vasundhara Manav Kalyan Sanstha, Dehradun; Learning Tree Special Children’s School, Dharampur; Nanhi Duniya Deaf and Dumb School, Kalidas Road; Asha School, Garhi Cantt; Sashakt Special School, Balawala, Dehradun, under Ashonic Welfare Society; and Nanda Devi Nirdhan Divyang Welfare Association, Dehradun.
The committee has been directed to submit its detailed report to the DM after probing all ten points, and strict action is expected against institutions found guilty of negligence or violation of norms.
