Govt reviews security of kids in orphanages

Children whose parents have admitted them in orphanages because of their inability to take care of them owing to financial woes should be identified, and the parents should be counselled on government programmes that can assist such families, officials of the women and child welfare department were told on Saturday.

“If such children are older than six years then they should be admitted to Gurukul schools. If they are younger, the parents should be educated about Anganwadi facilities,” Satyavati Rathod, minister for women and child welfare, said.

Her instructions came at a meeting where she reviewed the functioning of orphanages in the wake of the recent case of rape of a girl inmate of an orphanage in Ameenpur. The victim died in hospital while under treatment.

Anyone who commits any crime against orphanage inmates must be identified and punished, she said. The minister also recalled how a woman had lodged a complaint with the Panjagutta police that she was sexually assaulted by 139 men and how such cases need to be pursued and culprits punished.

Satyavathi Rathod said officials should complete the inspections of all orphanages run by non-government organisations and submit status reports and if anyone is found to be in violation of any rules or guidelines, such a facility should be shut down.

It is estimated that about 15,000 children live in orphanages run by private groups in the state and officials should examine how as man children as possible from this group, can be assisted by the government.