Picking up the pieces, post-scandal

Sunit Dhawan in Rohtak

Apna Ghar had hit the headlines following allegations of sexual abuse and mental and physical torture of its inmates by its managers and caretakers. The matter had come to light after a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raided the premises of the shelter home in Shrinagar Colony, Rohtak, in May 2012 and rescued more than 100 inmates.

Six years later, centre in charge Jaswanti and her accomplices have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by a CBI court. 

“Of the inmates rescued from Apna Ghar, minors were shifted to other shelter homes, some adult inmates gained employment, while a few girls got married,” informs B. K. Goel, a member of the Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. The local authorities woke up from their slumber and started regular monitoring of the other shelter homes in the district. CCTV cameras, round-the-clock police/security protection have been provided at these centres after the Apna Ghar jolt.

However, owing to the lack of government-run child-care institutions or shelter homes, the authorities concerned have to depend upon the privately managed charitable organisations which provide food and shelter to the destitute women and children.

As of now, Rohtak has a government-run shelter-home for widows and destitute women and two shelter-homes for women and mentally challenged persons, which are being run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

A visit to the government shelter home for destitute women, which has the capacity to house 116 persons, revealed that 41 women are staying there with their minor children. Apart from accommodation, the women also get a ration-and-upkeep allowance of Rs 750 per month, per family member.

“We also train the women inmates in stitching, tailoring and caning so that they can earn their livelihood. Apart from the allowance, they also get remuneration for the work they do,” says Sneh Lata, officiating superintendent at government-run shelter home.

Another shelter home for women, elderly and mentally challenged is being managed by NGO Jan Sewa Sansthan. There is also an attached school, which provides education, free of cost, to orphans, needy and meritorious students.

According to the head of the NGO, Dr Swami Paramanand, nearly 140 women are staying at present at the shelter home. Another shelter-home, with a capacity to lodge 350 inmates, is being constructed near Lahli village on Bhiwani Road.

The NGO does not get any government grant and is managing with the help of donations. Mentally challenged persons and destitute women are referred here even by the police and administrative authorities.

Sahara Ashram, run by Hari Om Sewa Dal, has also been serving mentally challenged and destitute women for about 20 years. 

“We have got CCTV cameras installed on the ashram premises. A woman police constable is deployed round the clock at the ashram . Male members are not allowed to enter the area where women inmates are lodged,” says Vijay and Sanjay Khurana, who run the ashram. This shelter home, too, does not get any government grant and functions only on donations.