The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Panel to suggest ways for improving amenities in juvenile homes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Panel to suggest ways for improving amenities in juvenile homes

Special Correspondent

Government asked to hike allocation for food from Rs. 7.50 to Rs. 15 per head a day

CHENNAI: Concerned at the appalling amenities in juvenile homes, observation homes and shelter homes in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court has formed a committee, headed by a retired High Court judge, to suggest comprehensive remedial measures.

The First Bench of Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru was passing orders after Justice P. Jyothimani of the court had visited a juvenile home in Madurai and submitted a report narrating how such homes lacked even clothes, food, medicine and toilet facility.

"The prevailing conditions disclose that the home only provides some shelter and nothing else. There does not seem to be any attempt to educate and rehabilitate the children by providing them proper schooling or modern vocational training," the judges said.

Quality food

Accepting a suggestion of Mr. Justice Jyothimani, the Bench directed the State Government to increase the food budget from Rs. 7.50 to Rs. 15 per head a day.

The amount shall be used for providing a "reasonably good quality food to the inmates," they said. The sum should be in addition to the present allocation for administrative expenses.

Medical examination

It asked the authorities to conduct medical examination of new inmates and segregate children suffering from communicable diseases.

Mentally or physically handicapped children of such homes should be admitted in special institutions, the judges said.

The Bench then constituted a committee to make comprehensive recommendations.

While Justice N.V. Balasubramanian, former judge of the Madras High Court, shall be the chairman, other members are Prabha, child psychologist; Jayanthi, child specialist; S. Vimala, Director, Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy; the Secretary of the Social Welfare Department; and the Social Defence Commissioner.

The committee shall submit a report in three months.

The Government shall extend all necessary facilities, including transport, boarding and lodging, for inspecting various Homes.

Better service conditions

During his inspection of the Juvenile Home in Madurai, Mr. Justice Jyothimani found that the food budget was "grossly inadequate," and said bedsheets were given to children only once in five years.

He called for better service conditions for the staff members, and said the staff strength at the Juvenile Justice Board needed to be increased.

Acceding to the recommendations, the Bench ordered various improvements, including whitewashing of the building, lighting and fan facilities, watchmen, more hygienic kitchen, more number of uniforms to inmates and educational as well as vocational facilities on the campus at the Madurai Home.

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