Shelter for orphans unlivable: CWC

Gurgaon: The child welfare committee (CWC) of Gurgaon has ordered the shifting of three minor girls from Ujjwal Niketan, a shelter home in Sector 4, following an inspection conducted on Thursday. During the surprise check, the team led by CWC chairperson Shakuntla Dhull, found that the shelter home has been violating several norms of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act.
Among the violations, the committee said, were lack of hygiene at the shelter home. Also, drinking water quality was not being checked by the shelter home authorities; there was no library, dining hall or counsellors made available for the children; the kitchen was in a dilapidated condition; and there weren’t adequate staff members at the home.
The committee had received information that a seven-year-old girl, staying at the shelter home, was given up for adoption but the authorities were not informed. Following this, Shakuntla Dhull, along with CWC probation officer Nisha Saini, protection officer Mukesh and committee member Shekhar Jain paid a surprise visit to Ujjwal Niketan on Thursday and carried out an inspection. They observed several irregularities at the shelter home. Three orphan girls, inmates of the home, were found cooking and cleaning the home.
“This home was registered in 2012 and is being run by the elderly Sister Lily. During inspection we found excess storage of rice, pulses, refined oil and other provisions but on enquiring we found that the children were not allowed to use them. Some children were taken to Goa some days ago, but the home operator hadn’t informed the CWC about it. No movement register is being maintained at the home, which clearly reflects that they aren’t following the terms of the JJ Act,” Dhull said.
She added that when the children were asked about the facilities, they spoke in favour of Sister Lily and denied facing any difficulty. “We will shift the trio to Arushi Home in Sector 21. I have informed the authorities and have asked them to shut down the place as it does not ensure a safe environment,” Dhull told TOI.
Ujjawal Niketan’s operator Sister Lily said the allegations were baseless. “All three girls have been staying here from the age of three. It is like their own home. I am ready to face any probe,” Sister Lily said.