Undertrial juveniles to get new building in Dongri home

In addition to the new building, the PWD officials have recently submitted an estimate of around Rs 60 lakhs to renovate the existing structure and is awaiting approvals for sanctions from the WCD.

Apart from renovating the superintendent’s office and the lobby, a new library will be constructed for the children residing in the home.

“Cupboards will be built in the spaces for the inmates. There will be partitions which will be erected to create a separate those who are ill or need constant medical attention,” said an official of the Dongri home. According to the PWD officials, the renovation work should be completed within four months.

Considering the past developments when on October 29, last year, the Bombay High Court had ordered that the inmates be shifted out of the observation home owing to poor conditions of the home. The orders had been given on the basis of a report submitted by the principal magistrate of the Juvenile Justice board which had described the terrible condition of the toilet facilities, quality of food among others. However, the work can be done by shifting the children within the current building to make way for the work to be done.

A senior official of the Dongri home, however, said, “The children won’t have to be moved out and the work can be completed while they continue to stay here. Currently, we have a lesser number of children in comparison to our capacity of 550. As for the children who are under trial, we have about 45 which is higher than the average but well within our capacity of 100 (75 boys and 25 girls).”

Currently, of the total 185 inmates of the home, there are 90 boys and 50 girls who fall under the category of children who are in need of care and protection.

arita.sarkar@expressindia.com