Over a month ago, three young girls, aged between 16 and 17, ran away from the Government Observation home for Girls, Kellys. The girls, who had been detained in connection with a crime, escaped a few days later after reportedly breaking the grill work. Police teams searched for the girls, both near the Marina, where they had been staying, and their native village, but were unsuccessful. “We have sent teams to Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Mahabalipuram to locate their families but since they keep moving from place to place, it is taking time,” said an investigating officer attached to the Secretariat Çolony police.
This was reportedly the second time inmates have escaped from the observation home for girls since 2016. While the breakout raised concerns about the girls safety, it has also raised several questions about the facilities and resources in these homes.
On Saturday, the State sanctioned ₹4.4 crore for a new building, measuring 19,873 sq. ft, in Kellys to house girls detained for committing offences. Officials mentioned that according to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, the current structure lacks the basic infrastructure, and that the new one will have spacious rooms, kitchens and classrooms and can accommodate 150 girls.
Currently, the observation home for girls, which is separated from the boys’ home by a compound wall, has a dilapidated building. Inmates reportedly have complained about toilets lacking water facilities. Each time the girls have to use the washrooms, they have to pump water from a borewell near the compound, which is not enough, and leads to poor sanitary conditions. The home also has a very old and poorly maintained kitchen, where food for the girls is prepared. “Not only this, during cyclone Vardah, the entire home was inundated. The inmates had a very tough time,” said a member of the Juvenile Justice Board.
“It is good that the State has sanctioned a new building, but we also need focus on having well-trained core staff,” pointed out the member of the Juvenile Justice Board. The member added that staff employed in the home must undergo regular in-service training.
A. Narayanan, director, CHANGEindia, said priority must be given to a de-addiction centre and life-skill training to the juveniles so they do not become repeat offenders.
The State has also sanctioned ₹50 lakhs to set up video conferencing facilities in observation homes in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai and Villupuram to avoid delay in dealing with juvenile cases.
