DCW sets up panel for social audit of shelter homes in city

Panel has been asked to submit a report within three months

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal addresses a press conference regarding the initiatives taken by the commission in the past three years, in New Delhi on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. (PTI Photo/Vijay Verma) (PTI7_24_2018_000062B)

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday said that an expert committee has been constituted to conduct a social audit of all shelter homes in the city, where women and girls are residing. The committee has been asked to submit a report within three months, said DCW officials.

Following the Muzzafarpur and Deoria incidents, where the girls residing in shelter homes had been allegedly sexually abused, the DCW said that the expert committee would comprise academicians, lawyers, mental health experts and social workers.

DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said: “The Muzzafarpur and Deoria incidents have shocked the entire nation. It is the need of the hour to comprehensively audit the functioning of each and every shelter home in the country. The commission on its own has conducted several inspections in government-run and private-run homes on receipt of complaints. This committee too shall undertake comprehensive social audits.”

The commission added that the expert members shall ensure that surprise inspections of the shelter homes are carried out.

Interview of residents

“The expert committee shall give detailed observations on the condition of girls and women in the homes, the facilities provided, the security measures undertaken and the rehabilitation programme being followed,” the DCW said in a statement.

The commission added that detailed interviews with the residents of the shelter homes would be carried out to ascertain the problems faced by them.