Mumbai Crime: Non-profit trust for kids accused of malpractices

Rabindra Hazari, one of the trustees of Children of the World (India) Trust, accuses chairperson of making physical alterations on leased plot, wrongfully sacking a staffer

The Children of the World (India) Trust in Navi Mumbai is facing an enquiry over allegations of rampant malpractices made by one of its trustees Rabindra Hazari. The trust was set up on a plot leased out by CIDCO as a specialised adoption centre to provide help, assistance and guidance for the benefit and welfare of children and women, particularly abandoned babies and infants.

Hazari, in a letter to I A Kundan, secretary, Women and Child Development (WCD) Department on October 6, alleged that the trust made physical alterations to the plot to open Youth Centre. He also alleged that trust’s chairperson Meena Mathew, in connivance with other trustees, has violated the Juvenile Justice Act.

Alterations to leased plot

Hazari’s letter reads, “Mathew, sometime in 2017, made alterations on the ground floor of the child care institution..., spending approximately Rs 20 lakh. The work was carried out by architect Smita Khanna, her daughter-in-law.” A source from Mantralaya told mid-day that the allegations are “serious in nature”, as the trust breached the lease’s conditions. The plot was meant for charitable activities only, the source said, adding that the Youth Centre is “charging membership fees from its mostly adult users”.

Mathew said, “CIDCO has given us the land to open an institute for women and children… The investigation was conducted by the concerned government official and all his [Hazari] complaints were found useless.” WCD Officer, Thane district, Mahendra Gaikwad had issued a show cause notice on September 29 on Hazari’s complaint. “My office has received the reply from the trust, but I am yet to go through its content…” Gaikwad told mid-day on Tuesday. The source said the trust had recently hired one Anuja Mane, 29, as Youth Centre’s superintendent, but sacked her.

‘Wrongful sacking’

Mane told mid-day, “Mathew wanted me to work as a dummy and when I opposed, she fired me. I was accused of threatening to slap a senior worker.” Mathew told mid-day, “Our ad for the superintendent’s post wanted someone with 10 years of experience, which Mane, hired by Rabindra Hazari, did not have. She can’t be a superintendent of such a big institute without the relevant work experience.” The source, however, said that one Sheela Chandanshiv was acting as the superintendent since 2008. “She is 67 and has not yet produced her school leaving certificate. Yet, she was appointed to the post meant for a person holding Masters in Social Work or equivalent.”

Mane added that she got her appointment letter on “the day I was asked to leave and it’s antedated.” “Mane has put the date of 06-10-2021 under her signature on her appointment letter. Also, the letter is purportedly issued by Tina Vajpeyi [the then chairperson], who resigned on September 17, 2021, and flew out of India on September 18/19. Hence the letter is signed by Mathew who took over as the chairperson on September 17. This proves the letter is antedated,” Hazari’s letter reads.

Mathew termed Hazari’s allegations as “baseless”, and said, “No malpractice is going on at the centre.” She added that while the government officials are praising the good work at the centre, “Hazari is creating trouble for us”.

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