VIBHA VERMA

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PANJIM: A boy burning with fever was receiving no treatment and had no option but to run away. A girl who was admitted to reform her ways learnt the tricks of theft. A couple of girls were taught how to earn through the sex trade. These are just three instances of what goes on at Apna Ghar – the institution that is mean to be the home for reform of juveniles and women in the State.

A detailed investigation by Herald into what occurs behind the walls of this facility can make a perfect Dickensian plot with inmates being grossly ill-treated and actions of the staff that can attract penal provisions, though, in certain instances some inmates too allegedly misbehave. 

When searching for the reasons for the constant escapes from Apna Ghar, sources revealed that one of the boys who escaped from the home was forced to do so due to the callous attitude of the staff.

The child was burning with fever for a couple of days and was given no medicine. He ran away, was later caught by the police and that’s when he narrated his story to the police, and brought to light the kind of treatment meted out to the inmates at the home. But no action has been taken, and the affairs of this home continue the same.

“The boy had fever but the staff ignored his health. He was neither given medication nor was he taken to the hospital for treatment. He then decided to run away,” said a police source, disclosing the boy’s confession.

Cases of children in the need of care and protection gaining criminal traits due to peer group influence have also surfaced at Apna Ghar.

In the first case, a girl inmate’s family had lodged her at Apna Ghar against their wish. But her stay with other children proved a major problem as she has now allegedly taken to crime.

“She was an undisciplined child despite her parents making efforts to improve her behaviour. It was then that her parents decided to lodge her at Apna Ghar but after interacting with some fellow inmates, she has adopted wrong means to earn money. She reportedly learnt theft tricks,” said a source from the shelter home, seeking anonymity.

In another shocking revelation, a source claimed that a couple of girls learnt how to earn money through the sex trade while they were ‘officially’ lodged in Apna Ghar for protection. 

These aren’t the only ordeals and there are a number of stories of what goes on behind the walls of Apna Ghar. 

Herald contacted WCD Director Deepak Desai who conceded that lacuna exists and assured to fix it at the earliest. “We will have to study why there is a conflict of interest between the inmates and the staff, because of which fights occur. We also need to understand what the children need; whether they feel lonely, they need some entertainment, etc. Our aim is to try to minimise the conflict and solve their problems,” he said proposing a fresh study into the escapes.

An NGO dealing with children at Apna Ghar revealed that health, lack of basic facilities like food and water, biased attitude of some staffers, and at times misbehaviour by few inmates are some reasons leading to the problems at the home.    

Last year after a spate of escapes, the government was reminded about the non-implementation of recommendation made in the Levinson Martins investigation report on the Apna Ghar-NGO-criminal nexus. 

The Levinson Martins report had recommended frisking of visitors at the entrance, a ban on the use of mobile phones, two-tier security, illumination, cleaning of wild vegetation on regular basis, etc, which have not been implemented to a larger extent. Desai said they are in the process of doing so with Minister Vishwajit Rane also determined to bring about a positive change. 

NGO representative Andrea Pereira said it was time the government steps in to make Apna Ghar completely safe and secure. “There should be a complete audit of the ghar and the entire premises should be installed with CCTVs,” she added. 

WCD Director denied that children in conflict with law, and those in need of care and protection, were kept together. 

A delay in releasing inmates despite orders from the authorities has also led to frustration among some of them. About two years ago, NGO Savera had brought to the notice of the Directorate of Women & Child Department that a victim of molestation was not being released despite a letter by the police station.

The letter, which was also sent to then Chief Minister and Chief Secretary had alleged ill-treatment, threatening and harassment to the children. “The children are brought here to change their behavior and to improve themselves but instead of counseling and understanding the child, these members ill-treat, threaten and harass them. This harassment can also cause them to take a drastic step,” Tara Kerkar had said in the two-page letter to the government.