All the children’s homes in the district were inspected over the past one month following orders from the District Administration. District Collector Archana Patnaik had issued instructions to this effect.
The inspections were carried out by officials from several departments and were intended to ensure that the homes were conforming to all norms. They were in addition to the periodical inspections.
CC TV cameras
Official sources told The Hindu that the focus of inspections was to ensure that all homes had closed circuit television cameras, which were made mandatory following the sexual abuse of two minor girls at a children’s home in Pollachi.
Further, the inspection also sought to determine if the homes had adequate space, sanitary facilities, fire extinguishers and stability certificate.
Toilet facilities
Every home must provide 40 sq.mts for each child and should have one toilet for every seven children, as per the norms of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a Central Government-sponsored social welfare scheme.
The team also checked if all the homes had compound walls and separate security guards for girls’ section.
The inspection was carried out by a team comprising representatives from ICDS, District Child Protection Unit, Social Welfare Department and Social Defence Department besides the Revenue Divisional Officer and the respective Block Development Officers.
Coimbatore had a total of 78 homes having 4,436 children as inmates. Of this, 32 homes have registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.
Notices served
The District Child Protection Unit had served notices on the remaining 46 unregistered homes directing them to follow suit at the earliest. The registration was valid for a period of three years.
Coimbatore has 78 homes, including 46 unregistered ones, accommodating 4,000 children
