Eight escape from juvenile home

Eight boys escaped from the State Home for Boys in Koramangala here on Saturday.

The runaway boys, all aged between 8 and 16, had been rescued over the last few months and were undergoing rehabilitation.

In May, 25 boys escaped from the home.

Superintendent of the State Home for Boys Rajendra Prasad told

The Hindu that the boys went out of the dormitory on the pretext of going to the toilet and escaped by scaling the compound wall.

A complaint has been filed at the Wilson Garden police station. “We have alerted child helpline volunteers to keep a watch on these boys,” he said.

Mr. Prasad cited language problem and cultural difference as the reason for the escape.

The institution has over 200 boys and a majority of them are from north India, he said.

“We have set rules to inculcate discipline among the boys. As per the rules, they have to wake up at 6 a.m. and have bath compulsorily, followed by informal education and breakfast. The older boys, however, do not like to follow these rules and end up running away from the institution,” he said.

“Moreover, the officials of the institution cannot be strict with the boys as it is construed to be corporal punishment. The senior boys, who are aware of this, create trouble regularly to provoke the staff,” he said.

Shortage of staff is another problem at the institution, another official said.

The employees on contract are irregular to work.

They will stop coming to work if the officials tried to ensure discipline in the institution, the official said.