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Updated December 17th, 2018 at 19:50 IST

WCD directs all chief secretaries to install CCTVs in Swadhar Grehs

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry on Monday directed all chief secretaries to install CCTVs and ensure proper care of women residing in Swadhar Grehs across the country, amid reports of physical torture and absence of medical aid in these shelter homes.

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The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry on Monday directed all chief secretaries to install CCTVs and ensure proper care of women residing in Swadhar Grehs across the country, amid reports of physical torture and absence of medical aid in these shelter homes.

WCD Secretary Rakesh Srivastava wrote to all chief secretaries in the country and asked them to give a list of functioning Swadhar Grehs in their respective areas and verify their "performance and existence with due diligence".

"Outsiders, men should not be allowed inside these homes especially after the evening. Moreover, these approved homes should be located in accessible areas so that the women do not have to travel to remote locations," Srivastava said.

The directions come after the National Commission for Women-led inspections revealed physical torture of inmates in West Bengal, no medical aid for HIV patients in Odisha and no treatment for mentally challenged women in Uttar Pradesh among other findings.

The inspections were made at five Swadhar Greh centres in West Bengal, eight in Odisha, eight in Karnataka and five in Uttar Pradesh. 

Out of the 26 Swadhar Grehs, only one was found running as per the guidelines of the scheme, according to the report submitted to the NCW by the inspection committee. These rehabilitation centres are either Centre-funded or NGO-run short-stay homes for sexually abused or destitute women.

Taking note of the condition of these shelter homes, Srivastava asked the chief secretaries to ensure swift action was taken to avoid repetition of the unfortunate events.

He also asked the chief secretaries to ensure CCTVs are installed in all Swadhar Grehs and ensure proper rehabilitative care for the women. He also said only female employees should be employed in these homes to ensure safety of the inmates.

"A fool-proof mechanism to verify beneficiaries' age may be put in place to ensure proper assistance to minors, particularly those who are victims of sexual exploitation," he said.

Tie-ups with local hospitals was also recommended to ensure "distressed women who need special counselling have access to clinical psychologists".

He also directed women above the age of 60 years to be shifted to old-age homes with elderly-friendly facilities.

READ | Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe In Cases Of Sexual, Physical Abuse In Shelter Homes In Bihar

The NCW report found that in Uttar Pradesh mentally challenged inmates were found living at these homes but there was no sign of any treatment for them, "who were seen rolling on the floor at the time of inspection".

In West Bengal, the inmates complained that they were subjected to physical torture by the counsellor of the Swadhar Greh.

"Seven of the inmates were mentally challenged women and the Swadhar Greh is like a congested prison. The building, kitchen and rooms are dirty and unhygienic," the report on the condition of the shelter home in West Bengal said.

In Odisha, one inmate with a child, a trafficking case, complained to the committee that she is a HIV patient and that the NGO was not providing any medication to her. "Though, she wants to go back to her parents, she was forced to stay back in the Greh by the NGO," the report said.

In Karnataka, no psychological counselling was made available to the inmates in depression and no sign of vocational training to the inmates, were among the key findings. One Swadhar Greh in Karnataka just existed on paper.

"Based on the address of the Swadhar Greh given by the state government in the authenticated list, the committee went to inspect the centre located in a posh locality in Bangalore city. But surprisingly there was no Swadhar Greh existing in the address and only the board of the organisation was placed, the room was locked," the report said.

Women's commission Chairperson Rekha Sharma proposed the introduction of a system like regularly uploading the up-to-date data of inmates on the website of Women and Child Development Department.

She also suggested mandatory inspections by district monitoring committees every three months and submitting of reports to the government.

She said counselors in the Swadhar Greh with Masters in Social Work or Sociology degree cannot give any psychological counseling to the inmates, which is essential as most of the inmates are in the condition of distress and anxiety. "Hence counselors with the qualification of clinical psychology have to be appointed as counselors," she said.

"Mentally challenged women have to be sent to the mental rehabilitation centres for better care. Old women who are above 60 years have to be sent to old age homes," she added. 

READ | Muzaffarpur Shelter Home: Details Of Sex Abuse Incidents 'horrible, Scary', Says Supreme Court

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Published December 17th, 2018 at 19:50 IST

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