Circular issued to CWCs for checking abuse at shelter homes

The Maharashtra government has issued a circular to all district offices of Child Welfare Committee with suggestions and guidelines on checking sexual and physical abuse of minor inmates in shelter homes.
This was informed to the Bombay High Court by Advocate General Darius Khambata earlier this week during the hearing of a suo moto PIL on a news report, which highlighted alleged sexual abuse of 35 girl inmates in a Nashik shelter home.
The issue came to notice in April after the inmates sent a letter to NGO Childline alleging sexual and physical harassment by a trustee and four other male employees.

"A circular has been issued to all district offices of the CWC regarding modalities on how such children shelter homes should be conducted and the role of CWCs. A district- wise committee shall also be formed which will conduct surprise inspection on shelter homes," Khambata said.
The committee, apart from overseeing the condition of the shelter home, shall also interact with each inmate individually, he said, adding, "the committee shall submit its findings to the district child protection unit."
The circular also mentions suggestions such as male and female inmates should be kept separately, girl children shall be looked after by female staff only and a complaint box shall be kept in the home where inmates can drop their complaints anonymously.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha, however, observed that the complaint box would not evoke much confidence if it is kept inside the shelter home's manager or trustee's room. "If so then the inmate's identity would be revealed," Chief Justice Shah said.