Human rights panel orders urgent reforms at institute for children with special needs
The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has issued strict directives to the Divisional Commissioner of Rohtak to implement immediate corrective measures following complaints of severe negligence at the State Institute for Rehabilitation, Training and Research (SIRTAR), Rohtak.
The commission acted on a complaint from a parent concerned highlighting critical issues affecting children with special needs. According to the complaint, physiotherapy tools are broken and non-functional, disrupting rehabilitation. School buses have damaged seats, torn windows, and lack mandatory CCTV cameras, posing serious safety risks. Additionally, speech therapy sessions are being neglected, impacting children's communication development.
The complaint also alleged violations of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) guidelines, including the absence of a parental representation body. Disturbingly, bus attendants have been accused of pulling children's hair to wake them up. Furthermore, unhygienic toilets and water leakage present serious health hazards, including a risk of electrocution.
Taking serious note of these concerns, HHRC chairperson Justice Lalit Batra said such violations constitute a grave breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
In response, the HHRC has directed authorities to take immediate actions, including replacing dysfunctional therapy equipment and appoint qualified speech therapists, installing CCTV cameras in therapy rooms and school buses to enhance safety, ensuring all school buses meet government safety norms and are fully functional, improving sanitation facilities, including placing rubber mats in water leakage-prone areas to prevent electric shocks.
The Divisional Commissioner of Rohtak, who also heads the SIRTAR management committee, has been instructed to submit a compliance report by July 22.
