All is not well at Gandhi Vanita Ashram

Delay in release of inmates from shelter home after turning major leading to ‘immense psychological stress’ among girls

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Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 17

The state’s only home for victims of underage marriage and sexual abuse has been in the news mostly for wrong reasons. In the aftermath of the escape of 37 girls from the Children’s Home at the Gandhi Vanita Ashram on March 8 this year, the mental health of the home inmates has also found a mention in a report of the administration for the first time.

The Jalandhar DC’s report has found grave lapses in the ashram’s functioning and it also refers to the “immense psychological stress” among inmates and notes that the belief of some that “the wrong recording of their age in documents”. Notably, the home inmates are cut off from the outside world due to their cases being sub judice. There is a strict restriction on their interaction with mediapersons. Charges against a house mother of getting an “unauthorised exertion” from inmates raises questions over staff competence.

While the ashram has been in the news for frequent incidents of escapes of girl inmates regarding which disciplinary action has been taken against some staff members. Ironically, the same set of staff is re-deputed at the same home due to the lack of better substitutes. Sources say despite many CDPOs, the same staff is re-deputed.

A Superintendent of the Children’s Home, suspended in 2019, has now been deputed again at the same home after the present Superintendent was transferred a month ago. To address this, the Social Security Department says that the staff now deputed will be put under a mentorship by the Joint Secretary, Women and Child Development Department.

The DC’s March 8 report had said, “The main concern highlighted by the inmates was the delay in their release from the shelter home, even in case of turning major (attaining age of 18 years). This has caused immense psychological stress among them and they went on to press for their demand for immediate release from the shelter home. As per the report received from the Superintendent, Children’s Home, four girls have attained the age of 18 years and their release orders are pending with various courts/CWCs. The cause of delay has been observed to be pendency at Judicial/CWC level.”

The cases of three of these aforementioned girls have been resolved as per the administration and at present, one girl over 18 is at the home.

The report further states, “Further, many girl inmates expressed their demand that even if they have not attained the age of 18, their cases be initiated and favourably decided for release by competent courts/authority. In addition, some girls stated that their age has been wrongly recorded in their original documents lesser than the actual age. They have demanded bone ossification test for determining their real age so that they can be released as per their actual age.”

Raji P Shrivastav, Principal Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, said, “An inquiry was held against the superintendent, but she was absolved of charges. To make sure, the staff performs properly, it is now being put under mentorship of Joint Secretary Social Security Vimmi Bhullar. Training for the staff is also being considered. These are girls keen to reunite with their partners. The March 8 escape clearly shows that the girl overpowered the staff, broke gates. It is not easy to handle them. We are revamping security with the police’s cooperation. Recreational activities, dance events, block printing workshops, etc, are also being held to keep them busy.”

The Principal Secretary said, “As far as the house mother’s attempt to get a written declaration from the girls is concerned, it is totally uncalled for. Counselling and therapy is the proper way to deal with these girls. Strict action will be taken against her.”

Timeline of previous escapes:

On September 16, 2018, a 14-year-old girl, a resident of Patiala, went missing from the home. She was brought back on October 5 by the police. She went missing again on the same day. An FIR in the case was lodged on October 6, 2018, and a DDR was lodged again on December 14 after she ran away again.

On February 22, 2019, the housekeeper of the home and outsourced worker Bhupinder Kaur was dismissed by the Additional Director, Social Security, for gross negligence.

Minor girls ran away from the Children’s Home on March 4 and March 6, 2019. The minor who ran away on March 4 resurfaced from Jalalabad and was returned to the home the next day.

On March 6, 2019, superintendent Manjit Kaur of the Children’s Home was suspended by the state government.

The CWC in a letter to the DPO on March 8, 2019, also pointed out security lapses at the ashram many of which were addressed.