NGO rues violation of Nari Sewa Sadan inmates’ rights

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, March 22

Umang Foundation, a public trust working for the rights of disabled and under-privileged sections, has expressed concern over “continued gross violation” of human rights of poor inmates at the state-run Nari Sewa Sadan, Mashobra, near here.

It demanded a high-level inquiry to fix the responsibility for the violation of human rights of the destitute inmates and a newborn girl. Alleging that a newborn baby girl of an “abused unwed inmate” has been shifted to Kids Home in Shimla, Chairman of the foundation, Ajay Srivastava said the last rites of the dead inmates were not being performed as per their religious faith.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said, “A young girl inmate of Nepalese origin, who was earlier residing in the destitute home, was missing. Moreover, as per the information procured through the RTI, the Director of Women and Child Development never visited the destitute home during the past one year”.

He said out of 30 inmates, 26 were suffering from severe mental illness and many of them were physically disabled. They were unable to meet natural calls and no sweeper was there to care for them, especially during nights.

He alleged one unwed woman who was brought to the destitute home from Una some months ago, delivered a baby girl in January, but the child was separated from her mother violating the guidelines of the Government of India which says that mother’s milk was mandatory for child’s health. Now, the baby girl is staying more than 10 km away from her mother.

Srivastava said the department which did not supply sanitary napkins to inmates, also failed to provide kafan (white cloth) to the dead inmates. Kiran, an inmate, who died on November 15, 2013, was not cremated as per her religious faith (Hindu). The department spent Rs 2,470 on firewood and no other material was purchased for cremation and no pundit was engaged.

“The inmates shiver in winters. The three heaters in the destitute home are in the possession of staff members,” Srivastava said. He demanded an immediate removal of the Director, Women and Child Development.

Meanwhile, refuting the allegations, Director, Women and Child Development, Madhubala said Umang Foundation was asked by the department to conduct training session for the inmates today but it did not do so. She said “ I have visited the destitute home number of times and it was not possible for us to contradict him as he organises a press conference every fortnight”.