Post News Network
Balasore, May 30: In the wake of sexual assault and torture on a minor girl at two short stay homes—Bapuji Seva Sadan and Santwana Swadhar Gruha, the district administration has initiated the process for their closure.
The minor girl was first sexually assaulted at Bapuji Seva Sadan. After that she escaped from there. Few days later, the administration rescued her. On being rescued, she narrated the tale of her sexual assaults. Following this, she was sent to Santwana Swadhar Gruha. But there also she was subjected to sexual assaults.
Taking serious note of the incident, the state government directed the administration to begin the process of sealing the short stay homes.
Friday, a team of officials led by Balasore sub-collector visited Santwana Gruha and examined its various documents and records. The team comprising the sub-collector, additional district social welfare officer, DBO, CDPO, members of child welfare committee and programme officer of child protection unit also inquired inmates about their well-being.
There are 11 inmates staying there while three women are staying with their children. All of them will be shifted to Balasore Nari Sangha.
Another team led by the district social welfare officer visited Bapuji Seva Sadan at Chandipur under Nilagiri police limits and verified its documents. They collected various data about the inmate. Official records showed that 24 girls and 78 boys are accommodated there. Sources said the inmates will be gradually shifted to some Balashrams and Kanyashrams in the district.
It may be noted here that the women and child welfare department has recently issued a directive to the administration to shift the inmates from there to other safe places.
However, shifting inmates has become a tough job for the administration, because the Sishu Gruha at Chandmai padia has as many as 33 kids in the age of upto one year. There has been no additional provision for these children at short stay homes at Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Bhadrak.
This had added to their problem. The child welfare committee will write to the department about the problem of accommodating these children.
Two officials had been dismissed from their jobs in the sexual assault on a minor girl. Collector Sanatan Mallick Wednesday sacked district child protection officer (DCPO) and programme officer (PO) from their jobs.
