87 illegal orphanages in Kerala: Report

Laxmi Ajai Prasanna, TNN | Feb 9, 2014, 02.23PM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KHRC) report reveals that 87 illegal orphanages are functioning in the state with no proper monitoring mechanism to ensure child rights at these homes.

"After the report of molestation of a minor girl at an orphanage in Palakkad by the institute's general secretary, the girl's mother had registered a case under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, according to the police. Later it was reported that 17 inmates of the orphanage were molested, but the police feared to take action against the culprit. Then the state human rights commission had decided to go for suo motu investigation," KHRC chairman Justice J B Koshy said.

The state crime records bureau had registered 66 criminal cases of sexual abuse in orphanages and charitable homes in the state in the last 10 years, he said. Of that the maximum number of nine criminal cases were reported from Thiruvananthapuram and the least (one case) from Malappuram.

"Many cases of sexual abuse and violation of human rights of inmates in orphanages and charitable homes go unreported as there are no records or registries about the inmates at these homes or for that matter, any accountability to ensure that the donations received are utilized for the children," he said.

Even in majority of the cases registered there were no efforts to trace the missing children and the police could not track the culprits. And to make matters worse, the orphanages do not have the whereabouts or address of the missing children from these institutions, he said.

State orphanage control board has informed the commission that of the total 1,107 orphanages in the state, 87 are unauthorized or illegal.

"There is no record of the total number of inmates in state orphanages, though it is mandatory under the Kerala State (Orphanage and Other Charitable Homes) Board of Control Rules. Each orphanage is supposed to maintain a proper register recording the details of the inmates and entry register for visitors," Justice Koshy said.

Inquiries are on by the commission's investigation wing led by chief investigation officer DIG S Sreejith to check illegal orphanages and mismanagement of their funds.

Sreejith said, "The report is not finalized. The investigation is on, though the orphanages are reluctant to provide information, including data of inmates and management of funds received. State orphanage control board is the sole agency to monitor the functioning of the orphanages in the state, but some of its members are running it to satisfy their vested interests."

Meanwhile, the commission has also directed the state orphanage control board to submit the details of the functioning of the orphanages in the state within three months.

"After the report of molestation of a minor girl at an orphanage in Palakkad by that orphanage general secretary, the girl's mother had registered a case under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act according to the police. Later it was reported that 17 inmates of the orphanage were molested, but the police feared to take action against the culprit. Then, the State Human Rights Commission had decided to go for suo moto investigation," KHRC chairman Justice J B Koshy told TOI on Tuesday. The state crime records bureau has registered 66 criminal cases of sexual abuse in orphanages and charitable homes in the state in the last ten years, he said. Of that the maximum number of nine criminal cases are reported from Thiruvananthapuram and the least one case from Malappuram.

"Many cases of sexual abuse and violation of human rights of the inmates in orphanages and charitable homes go unreported, as there are no records or registries about the inmates at these homes or any accountability to ensure that the donations received are utilised for the children," he said. Even in majority of the cases registered, there was no effort to trace the missing children and the police could not track the culprits and worse still, the orphanages do not have the whereabouts or any address of the missing children from their institutions, he said.

State Orphanage Control Board has informed the Commission that 87 unauthorised or illegal orphanages are functioning in the state, among the total 1107 orphanages. "Some of the governing body members of the State Orphanage Control Board are conducting on their own without monitoring the functioning of the orphanages. There is no record of the total number of inmates in the Orphanages in the state, though it is mandatory under the Kerala State (Orphanage and Other Charitable Homes) Board of Control Rules, that each orphanage should maintain a proper register recording the details of the inmates and entry register for visitors," Justice Koshy said.

Further, investigations are on by the Commission's investigation wing led by chief investigation officer DIG S Sreejith to check illegal orphanages and its mismanagement of funds. Meanwhile, the Commission has also directed the State Orphanage Control Board to submit the details of the orphanages functioning in the state within three months.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/87-illegal-orphanages-in-Kerala-Report/articleshow/30105032.cms?referral=PM