NHRC Seeks Report On Illegal Shelter Homes In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Chief Secretary of Odisha to submit an action-taken report (ATR) over illegal shelter homes in the state within four weeks.

The apex human rights panel passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.

Drawing attention to the alleged sexual abuse, harassment and rights violation of the inmates of Good News India Dream Centre in Dhenkanal district, the petitioner said that  the shelter home was operating in blatant violation of the Juvenile Justice Act since 2015 and Dhenkanal police had no clue about what was happening there.

It continued to operate despite the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) having issued a closure notice to the shelter home in 2015 for not complying with the guidelines of the Act and had even repatriated the inmates to their respective districts. Had the officials concerned cared to carry out inspections at regular intervals, the abuse would not have taken place, Tripathy said.

He questioned as to why no action was taken against the erring institution for years when Women and Child Development Minister Prafulla Samal, in a statement, had said that it was unregistered and running illegally.

In the petition, he also mentioned about the shelter home being run by the NGO in Rayagada and other such hostels in that district, majority of whom flouts norms and parameters of JJ Act, RTE Act and other acts applicable to the welfare of the minor children

According to Department of Women and Child Development, there are 300 recognised child care institutions in the state. Though Good News India Dream Centre has registered child care shelter homes in Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, Deogarh and Baleswar districts, it was denied permission to run the institute in 2015.

Tripathy also drew the attention of the panel to illegal religious conversions of the children and violation of child rights in the shelter homes.

He requested the NHRC to constitute a team of officials headed by the DIG for a thorough investigation into entire episode. He also sought details of unregistered shelter homes/ashrams or any institutions with different nomenclature running in Odisha, besides legal action against the errant officials and rehabilitation of the victims with counseling, alternative arrangements with compensation.