Police finally take cognisance of matter after persistent efforts by social workers
Police finally take cognisance of matter after persistent efforts by social workersu00a0
Four days after MiD DAY reported that 36 children illegally kept in an orphanage at Dapodi, Bhosari, the police have finally taken cognisance of the matter and initiated an inquiry. So far, the District Women and Child Department and members of the Child Welfare Committee have not acted against the orphanage owner, claiming there is no proof of an orphanage being run on the premises. But when MiD DAY went to the website of the orphanage, it was found displaying information on the children in the orphanage.
Unlawful: Grabs of the website of the orphanage displaying the names
of children housed there with profiles of individual kids
Profiles of 31 kids
The illegal orphanage has an active website with information about 31 children. The website https://faithinfuture.org/ has profiles of these 31 children and detailed information about where they study.
Despite this, the District Women and Child Department says there is no proof about the presence of children at orphanage as at the time of the raid the children were not there.
Police inquiry
The police began an inquiry in the case after social workers of Dnyandevi Childline yesterday submitted an application requesting them to investigate. Police Inspector Sudhir Aspat said, "We have received an application from members of the NGO in this matter and we have started our inquiry on the basis of this."
Initially, the police were not ready to lodge a complaint. Sources said members of Dnyandevi faced resistance from the police as they were told that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Child Welfare Committee and only they can work in this case. The ball started rolling after members of the NGO submitted the application demanding action in the serious case.
It may be recalled that the District Women and Child Officer and CWC members had conducted a joint raid on the Niradhar Balsangopan Anath Ashram in Gulab Kate Chawl in Dapodi on Thursday after they received a tip-off from the Dnyandevi Childline NGO. But no children were found, even as orphanage owner Malan Tulwe allegedly made every effort to hide study material and clothes of the children. The government officials refused to take action against the orphanage owner, claiming there was no evidence against the ashram about the presence of children. Later, the social workers of the NGO approached the local police station, demanding an inquiry in the matter.
Violation of law
Under the Juvenile Justice Act, photos and information of the children at any orphanage cannot be displayed
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