‘Juveniles at Dongri observation home under threat of fatal diseases, no full-time doctors’
An advocate of the Bombay High Court has written a letter to the National Human Rights Commission regarding the lack of hygiene and sanitation facilities for the inmates of the Dongri observation home at Umerkhadi.
As per the letter submitted by advocate Dipak Chattopadhyay, “Dengue breeding mosquitoes have been found in the toilet used by the Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board which had led to the Magistrate and her stenographer contracting dengue. In addition to it, I would like to state that I had filed and another letter under the Right to Information Act which states the number of chicken pox cases that have occurred inside the home in recent times. Twenty-one cases of chicken pox had occurred at the Dongri home. Since there are no full-time doctors at the home for the last three years, the juveniles had to be admitted at Kasturba hospital”.
Chattopadhyay further alleged that the health facilities provided to minor offenders at the Dongri home should be checked, revamped and additional facilities be provided in case needed, so that cases of dengue, malaria and chicken pox, which can prove fatal do not spread further and cause loss of health and life. He said the increasing cases of tuberculosis, dengue, malaria and chicken pox at the Dongri home should not become the norm, a fulltime doctor should be appointed at the home. There is no medical practitioner available at the home even during medical emergencies and children should be treated by doctors at the home for minor illnesses, Chattopadhyay said.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Chattopadhyay said, ‘’A fully functional medical shop should be set up within the premises of the observation home to ensure proper healthcare and medical aid during emergency situations. An impartial inquiry should be ordered to check the current state of affairs inside the home. Strict penal and punitive action should be taken against those responsible of the upkeep and maintenance of the home. Sufficient funds are being disbursed by the government for the running of juvenile homes but still basic facilities are not being provided.’’
Despite repeated calls and text messages, Trupti Jadhav , Superintendent of the Dongri home remained unavailable for a comment.
Dengue breeding mosquitoes have been found in the toilet used by the Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board which had led to the Magistrate and her stenographer contracting dengue