At least 67 children's homes in Punjab were checked; administration found no complaint relating to abuse or child security

Chandigarh, August 11: In a specialized campaign and as a precautionary measure, the administration of Punjab on Friday conducted a surprise checking in at least 67 children's homes across the state during which no complaint relating to the abuse or child security was found.

 

Notably, on the direction of Punjab’s Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary, as many as 67 children's homes were subjected to checking as a precautionary measure during the course of which no complaint relating to the abuse or child security came to the fore and everything was found in order.

During the checking, whatever suggestions received regarding improvement in the children homes and some minor infrastructural issues were immediately forwarded to the minister. Taking an immediate cognizance into the suggestions, the Women and Child Development ministry released 2 helplines in order to ensure the protection of children on which anybody can register a complaint.

Minister Aruna Chaudhary said that ensuring the security of the children and women is the biggest priority of the government for which the department has formed teams at the state as well as the district level aimed at the regular checking of children homes under section 54 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The minister further said that the incidents which happened at the children homes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have shaken the society to the core which resulted in the department deciding to go in for special checking of the children homes in Punjab by constituting teams under the Deputy Commissioners and the higher officials at the state level.

Expressing satisfaction at the report of the checking teams, Minister Chaudhary assured that the Punjab Government is dutybound for the protection of children with more improved methods in future. The minister also directed the implementation of the suggestions forwarded by the special checking teams and rectifying the few faultlines found in the checking.

Importantly, any person can lodge a complaint 24x7 on the mobile number 70872-23325 while on the departmental headquarter number 0172-2608746 complaint can be lodged from 9 AM till 5 PM. The complaints can be lodged concerning the misbehavior with or cruelty against children, women and the old age people. The identity of the complainant would be kept a secret.

BACKGROUND:

This comes days after as the horrific incidence of Muzzafarpur shelter home case, a similar case was exposed in Uttar Pradesh's Deoria district. The incident of the inhuman activity came into limelight when a young girl managed to escape from the shelter house and reached to the Uttar Pradesh police station for help.

As the girl managed to escape she informed the police officials about the false activities and wrongdoings that were taking place in the Deoria shelter home. The girl victim is a native of Bihar's Betia village who narrated the ordeals. Shedding light on the happenings the girl mentioned that the women were taken from the shelter homes in car. The minor girls were forced for pity work in the shelter home like mopping and sweeping and sometimes they were also forcefully sent to the random men.