Safety measures still at their infancy at children’s home in Kozhikode

Key posts remain vacant at the facility for unknown reasons

Many of the important recommendations made by various government agencies and organisations for the safety of girls at the Government Children’s Home in Kozhikode have been ignored despite recurring incidents of missing cases and their suspected links with criminal activities. The priority list for improving safety measures is back in focus following the latest incident in which six girls fled from the facility.

The preliminary findings of the Kerala State Child Rights Commission attest that there are no sufficient number of security personnel or staff to take care of the children. Though there are 39 children, including the six missing girls who were brought back, at the facility, only three officials are on duty to take care of them. No closed circuit television cameras or fortified compound walls are in place.

Apart from security issues, the posts of child welfare inspector and child counsellor have been lying vacant for long. According to official sources, the two posts are important as far as ensuring the welfare of the children and timely reporting of their additional requirements to the government are concerned.