Nearly 200 children below the age of six years are growing up behind bars alongside their jailed mothers, according to State government figures.
On Thursday, the State told a division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice RP Mohite Dere that there were 193 children aged six or below who were in prisons across the State along with their mothers who had been jailed for various crimes.
The high court was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the basis of a report from the non-profit group Prayas on the condition of young children who were in prison because their mothers were serving terms.
The high court took the matter up as a PIL to “give appropriate directions” for the education of the children and their mothers and “formulate a scheme and guidelines for the benefit of such children”.
Hiten Venegavkar, appearing for the State, informed the court that there were 846 children of women prisoners not in prison, but living outside. The high court asked the State to file an affidavit with further details.
“We have asked the State government to give particulars of their age and also to respond to whether they are being looked after by guardians or are in a children’s home,” said the order.
“The affidavit should also state whether the recommendations made by Prayas will be followed by the authority concerned.”
Prayas suggestionsPrayas had submitted a slew of recommendations. These included setting up an anganwadi in prisons with more than five children, financial assistance to help in rehabilitation of the women and children, budgetary increases for released prisoners, probation officers to assist in school admissions, and other things.
Venegavkar said some of the government departments concerned had replied to the suggestions but the home and jails authorities were yet to do so. In an order in June last year, the court had sympathised with the condition of such children.
“It is an accepted position that after women are arrested by the police, very often their children become orphans and with the result that they are either sent to remand home or centre homes,” it said.
The State has to file its reply in two weeks. The matter will next be heard on February 25.
The writer is a freelance journalist
