No CCTV cameras or security guard at shelter home for children, find officials in Krishna district

Members of SCPCR and CWC shocked by delinquent behavior and illegal overstaying at Child Care Institution in Machilipatnam.

Members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Child Welfare Committee (CWC) were reportedly shocked upon coming across instances of delinquent behaviour among inmates, as well as a few cases of illegal overstaying, at the Child Care Institution (CCI) being run by the Care and Share Charitable Trust in Krishna district.

The SCPCR team visited the CCI to conduct an inspection visit on Wednesday, in the wake of the death of an inmate named G. Gopi (16), who died in a hit-and-run accident after he went missing from the shelter home.

SCPCR Member B. Padmavathi, Krishna district CWC Chairperson K. Suvartha, Members C. Radha Kumari and Ravi Bhargav, and village sarpanch B. Balamma inspected the shelter home located at Veerapanenigudem and Buddavaram villages in Gannavaram in Krishna district, on Tuesday.

The officials inquired about the living conditions and facilities at the CCI, and inspected the dormitories, kitchen and toilets.

They inquired about the profiles of the inmates, how long they have been residing in the CCI, their health condition, details of their family members of the children and other particulars.

“We found cigarette butts and trays in the rooms. The dormitories were not in a hygienic condition and some children were visibly anaemic,” said Ms. Padmavathi.

“A few of the children staying in the CCI brought to the notice of the Commission and the CWC that some inmates were going out of the shelter home for daily wage works, and were addicted to liquor and smoking,” said CWC Chairperson K. Suvartha.