The Integrated Child Protection Society raided and closed four private orphanages or children’s homes after finding their structures “unsound for the inmates”.
According to ICPS, at least 700 children’s homes and orphanages are operating across 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir of which 666 are privately run and 34 operated by government agencies.
The four orphanages closed are Alamdar Welfare Trust in Barbarshah, Babul ul Islam in Rajbagh, Ansar ul Masakeen in Baghat-e-Kanipora, Al Noor Ibrahim Welfare Trust and Yateem Khana in Baramulla.
Also, nine girls were “rescued” from Al Muzamil Welfare Trust in Lawaypora, Srinagar, and they were sent back to their respective homes in Reasi. Besides, the children’s home at Kupwara— Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya School— has been turned into a day-care centre as the school lacked facilities required for night stay of the inmates.
The ICPS members instructed many other orphanages to upgrade facilities for children lodged there.
Member Juvenile Justice Board, Srinagar, Khair-un-Nisa and a Child Welfare Officer, Afshan Paul, carried out the inspections and raids.
“When I and Afshan inspected the Alamdar Welfare Trust in Barbarshah, I was scared to climb the stairs as they were about to collapse. I feared a fall,” said Khair-un-Nisa.
“Boys were literally dumped in two rooms. We didn’t find any staff there, except a lady who was unwell. The windows and doors were broken, the bedding was also not proper and the neighbours were also complaining of the poor facilities in the orphanages.”
She said the neighbours also complained and asked them to conduct a night raid so they could get a better idea about how the children were living there without any facilities.
“The children also complained that they were not treated properly and finally the orphanage was closed.”
Afshan said, 16 girls were found in an orphanage at Kanipora, Ansar-ul-Masakeen. “When I asked them who is taking care of you in this Yateem Trust, they said an aunty comes, but there was no aunty there when we went there.”
Complaints about poor functioning of Al Muzamil orphanage at Lawapora also started pouring in and finally the Child Welfare Committee of Srinagar took cognisance and inspected the trust.
Farooq Ahmad Khan, Chairperson Child Welfare Committee, Srinagar said, ” The girls and the boys were sleeping in a common room there so we shifted nine girls to a government-run orphanage for some days and then we sent them to their homes in their respective districts.”
He added: “The girls were from poor families and their parents were worried how would they take care of them, so now we are planning to give them sponsorship of 2000 rupees.”
Dr Asima Hasan, member Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Srinagar said, “Al Noor Ibrahim Welfare Trust and Yateem Khana in Baramulla was closed because it was operating from a rundown building where on the ground floor there was a slaughter house and on the upper floor this trust was operating with 17 girls and 20 boys.”
“Finally it was closed down by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Baramulla.”
Children’s homes and orphanages operate in similar conditions in Kupwara district.
An investigation by Greater Kashmir in July revealed that 30 children who were lodged in a city orphanage were vulnerable to abuse and later shifted to a government-run home.
All the 30 girls were from the remote area of Machil in Kupwara district and the matter was brought to the notice of child welfare committee for monitoring.