Dhenkanal: The chief of a shelter home at Belatigiri in Dhenkanal district has landed himself in trouble after surfacing of sexual harassment charges against him. Girl inmates of the shelter home accused the chief of sexually harassing them.
The serious allegation was levelled by the girl inmates against Fayaz Rahman, head of ‘Good News India’. An NGO that runs the shelter home located at Belatigiri in the district, reported.
The incident has spread tension in the area as irate villagers demanded immediate closure of the NGO and action against those found guilty.
As per sources, the shelter home which is located at a secluded place has been running for the last two years. Minor children—both boys and girls, mostly orphans are staying in the shelter home.
The NGO takes care of the children as they go to school and reside there. They are provided with free food and accommodation. While everyone thinks that the NGO is doing a noble job by providing future to the children, the horror happening inside the shelter home is beyond imagination.
According to reports, the girls have alleged that he touches them inappropriately and harasses them sexually. They also alleged of being both mentally and physically tortured at the shelter home.
“The head often calls girls to his room and touches them inappropriately. He also makes us do his personal work like washing his clothes,” an inmate said.
Similarly, the boys also accused him of throwing casteist remarks at them. They are often referred as dogs, beggars and illiterate, the boys said. Moreover, they alleged of being provided with low quality food and often have to live under fear and threat.
They are threatened of dire consequences, if they open their mouth. They are also beaten by canes by some staffs. Being given the power by the head, some staffs also harass the children, it was learnt.
The children are often held inside the shelter home and not let outside. They are punished for silly small things. Most of the children are in a state of fear and panic, sources said.
Irate locals demanded the administration to stop the license of the NGO and close it. They demanded the children be rehabilitated and provided with proper care as most of the children do not have their parents.
PNN