46 innocent kids in Odisha jails: NHRC

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New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday took sou moto cognizance of reports about the plight of 46 children languishing in Odisha jails on account of trial of their mothers and issued a
notice to the state.
The NHRC here said that if the media reports on the issue are correct it accounted for violation of human rights of innocent children and also accounted for flouting of the guidelines of the Supreme Court on the matter.
As per some media reports, 46 boys and girls, aged between one month and six years, are living in prisons of Odisha with their mothers, including nine convicted and 36 under-trial prisoners. Broadening their notice ambit, the NHRC said that although the report suggested violation of rights in Odisha but similar tales could be found in other states too.
Accordingly, the Commission Monday issued notices to the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Prisons of all the states and UTs calling for reports along with statistics showing how many children are being kept with their mothers in the jails under their jurisdiction without ensuring facilities, necessary for psychological and physical growth as well as educational upbringing. The responses from all states and UTs are expected within six weeks, a release from the NHRC said.
The NHRC said the Supreme Court has formulated guidelines into these matters and had said that the cases of women prisoners with children should be disposed of expeditiously but the reality is different. There are many inmates who have been granted bail by the competent court but they cannot be freed as they are unable to furnish the sureties.
SC norms ensure that kids below three years shall be allowed in crèche and those between 2-3 years should be looked after in a nursery run by the prison outside its premises and that small kids should not be kept in sub-jails unless facilities are ensured for their biological, psychological and social growth, the NHRC said.