Report on Nari Niketan submitted
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, April 19
Sarojini Kaintura, president of the State Women’s Commission, submitted the report of an inquiry in the Nari Niketan case to Governor KK Paul at the secretariat here today.
An inquiry committee was constituted in January 2016 to look into the functioning of the Nari Niketan in Dehradun and other places. Besides Kainthura, former presidents of the commission Sushila Balooni and Santosh Chauhan, advocate Alok Ghildiyal, Additional Police Superintendent and commission member secretary Sujata Singh were nominated members of the committee. It met inmates, who had left the Nari Niketan, and stated in the report that the complaints about human trafficking at the Nari Niketan, Kedarpuram, were baseless.
The committee was formed after the rape and alleged forced abortion of a deaf and dumb inmate by staff members of the Nari Niketan and the death of two other inmates.
The committee inspected Nari Niketans at Dehradun, Almora and Haldwani and gave suggestions on 27 points. It gave suggestions regarding cleanliness, training, safety and health facilities. While the report was submitted, a discussion was held with the Governor about the condition of women and the need and scope for improvement in it.
Kaintura was accompanied by Sushila Balooni, Santosh Chauhan and Sujata Singh. She also presented the Governor with an oil painting.
The report has rejected allegations of trafficking of women and has instead suggested 25 suggestions for bringing improvement in the functioning and day to day care of the inmates.
Speaking with the Tribune, Kaintura said the commission had prepared the report after the case of sexual assault and forced abortion of a speech and hearing impaired inmate had come to light. “We have also made some suggestions in the report that was submitted to the Governor with the hope that appropriate measures would be taken,” said Kaintura.
After the matter came to light, a slug fest had ensued between the BJP and the Congress. The BJP Mahila Morcha had prepared its own report and had made allegations of women trafficking at the Nari Niketan.
