Pace of progress needs to pick up at Apna Ghar

Hardly any child is keen to enter this institution, but some cannot fight the circumstances that lead them to the doorsteps of the State-run Apna Ghar at Merces. 

The shelter-cum-remand home, that often hogs the limelight for all the wrong reasons, than for the good that happens here, is undergoing a low-paced transformation in a bid to ensure protected environment for the inmates and the staff.  

Escapes, clashes between inmates and staff, destruction of furniture, abuse and accusations have dragged the institution into bitter controversies. Vishwajit Rane, who was recently given the portfolio as Minister for Women & Child Development, has taken the task on a priority basis, in the wake of controversies that the home finds itself entangled in. 

In fact, the minister even proposed constituting an empowered committee to revamp the WCD department, which also means heralding the much-needed changes to Apna Ghar. 

WCD Director Deepak Desai claims that several things have been set right in the recent past, following complaints of arguments and clash between inmates and staff, the latter have been issued strict instructions to change their approach while dealing with juveniles 

“The children are brought to Apna Ghar due to different reasons and circumstances and they need to be dealt with carefully. We have instructed the staff to handle them properly,” he said, speaking to Herald. 

About five years after the Levinson Martins report was submitted to the government, the Directorate has managed to implement only some crucial recommendations so far. The inquiry report contained a set of suggestions that included checking and frisking of staff, visitors; ban on the use of mobile phones, strengthening security around Apna Ghar premise, illumination around the campus and dormitories, clearing of wild vegetation, separate infrastructure for boys and girls, additional security at the main gate and night watchman, proper food for children and putting the basic amenities in places, etc.  Desai stated that some recommendations have been implemented while those falling in the long-term goals are in the pipeline. 

The spacious premise that recently saw commissioning of renovated Institutional Complex of Apna Ghar has a bunch of children in need of care and protection and in conflict with the law. 

The admission and release process is however different, Desai said adding, “A child caught committing a crime is brought by the police to Apna Ghar and produced before the JJB. The institution becomes a correctional home for such children. Their release is subject on the disposal of the cases by JJB.”    

While the other quasi judiciary body – CWC decides the fate of the children in need of care and protection. Advocate Renuka Pawar of CWC South explained that victims of abuse, abandoned or found begging or child labour are amongst those children who are in need of care and protection. 

“The police bring such children before the CWC. Their medical test is carried out before admission while other general medical tests including dental checks are carried out as and when required during their stay period,” she said. 

Asked about the release procedure, she claimed that if an inquiry into the case is found genuine, the respective child is released to their parents, family or guardian. “If a child is from a Goan family, we counsel the family and the child on the safety, education, etc. There is social investigation carried out and the history of the family is also probed. If we find it is safe to release the concerned child to his/her family, we order the release,” one of the CWC members said.

“If a child is from another state, we contact our counterpart and request to carry out the inquiry as required,” she added.

Unlike JJB, children in CWC section are lodged for a maximum four months subject to circumstances. Pawar disclosed that two children from Jharkhand and Kerala were recently repatriated while one boy from Kerala will be repatriated in the coming days. 

The minister has taken keen interest to improve the situation at Apna Ghar claiming, “There are a lot of controversy and lot of negative publicity coming up. We are taking recommendations of the Levinson Martins reports and trying to improve…I am taking a stock of the situation.”