Child panel inspects observation homes

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 14

A team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), New Delhi, today inspected the observation home, children homes situated at Gandhi Vanita Ashram.

Deepti Bahal consultant, Shaista K Shah, senior technical expert, and Dr Deepak Jyoti, member, Child Right Commission Punjab, were part of the team. The team members personally interacted with the inmates of observation and children homes so as to inquire about the problems being faced by them, if any, followed by a visit to washrooms, kitchen, and bedrooms. The team also took stock of medical and education facilities, availability of psychiatric, counsellor, safety and security of inmates, and food being provided to them.

District Programme Officer GS Randhawa on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyan Thori assisted the team during the inspection, where he apprised the NCPCR panel about the steps being taken by the administration to keep up with the requirements of these homes. He stated that all the requisite facilities were being offered to inmates in line with the Juvenile Justice Act. He informed the panel that there are as many as 146 inmates living here including children conflicted with law, victims, orphans or abandoned children.

He further added that a slew of measures including recreational activities and regular consultation by experts were being offered to inmates so that they get best of the facilities here with an aim to being them back into mainstream. He further added that the observation home was aptly synchronised with Sakhi one-stop centre, Child Welfare Committee, and Juvenile Justice Board to ensure welfare and growth of the girls living here as it is one and only government run homes for girls in the state.

District Child Protection Officer Ajay Bharti informed the panel that foolproof security arrangements were put in place at Gandhi Vanita Ashram as whole premises was equipped with CCTV cameras. Pointing out further, Legal Probation Officer Sandeep Kumar apprised the team about the free legal aid being provided to inmates.

Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included Superintendents Harvinder Kaur, CPO Harneet Kaur, and others.