Measures to check child abuse in shelter homes

Following the recent spate of child abuse cases in shelter homes, the Haryana government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to check such incidents.

Following the recent spate of child abuse cases in shelter homes, the Haryana government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to check such incidents.

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It plans to strengthen the monitoring mechanism for Child Care Institutions (CCI), orphanages and other charitable homes. The steps include child mapping, biometrics, regular health check-ups, registration of CCIs, police verification of staff and collection of standardised information regarding all CCIs, women and children staying in these institutions.

Dheera Khandelwal, financial commissioner and principal secretary in the women and child development department, made the announcement in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Khandelwal said the state government was “very concerned about the children”. She said the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) were being implemented in “letter and spirit”.

She said the department considered the CCIs and NGOs working as their “dedicated and committed partners to serve the needy children and the society”.

Khandelwal also said the department was seeking detailed information about all NGOs working in the state and the compiled information would be considered for providing better facilities to the children.

All CCIs have been directed to ensure their registration in the prescribed format before June 30.

She said provision of a landline phone connection and e-mail ID has been made mandatory for all CCIs.

Besides, doctors from the health department will visit the CCIs for periodical health check-up of all children.