SCAN, is a project of El-Shadaai, an organisation which receives fundings from outside the country.
The caretakers attached to 'Apna Ghar', a Goa government-run shelter home for children in conflict with law, have alleged two of the four children arrested by police recently for robberies were in custody of SCAN which had taken them from the protective home for rehabilitation.
Raising doubts over the working style of SCAN Director, Emidio Pinho, the staffers said he had "monopolised" the functioning of 'Apna Ghar' managed by the Directorate of Women and Children.
The caretakers, who are accused of smuggling out the children from the shelter home and handing them over to alleged gangster Zenito Cardoso, have said SCAN should be probed for its role in the entire episode.
Addressing a press conference under the banner of Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) yesterday, the staffers claimed the children were pushed into crime "when they were not in Apna Ghar custody".
GGEA general secretary John Nazareth said the caretakers were being made a "scapegoat" by the department which turned a "blind eye" to the affairs of SCAN.
Pinho was not available for comments on the issue while Director of Women and Child Development Sanjiv Gadkar too did not respond to phone calls.
Porvorim police had arrested four children, an alleged gangster and a caretaker in connection with the nexus involving the staffers and gangsters.
According to police, the juveniles were used in crimes like robbing vehicles and their involvement was even found in one of the murder cases.
