Social justice dept begins probe into functioning of tribal hostel

The hostel’s accountant,Pawan Goyal,is behind the bars on charges of molesting and sexually harassing nine of the 31 girls who stayed in the hostel.

Though the department was initially passing the buck to the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs that funds Adim Jati Sewak Sangh,which runs the tribal hostel,it has now prepared a detailed report on the worrying aspects involving the functioning of institutions that are not regulated by the state.

Currently,only five girls from Jharkhand are staying in the hostel as the rest have gone home for winter vacations at the Senior Secondary School,Salogra,where they all study. “For protection of these five girls and to ensure that the family of the accused does not wield any pressure on them as they could be crucial witnesses,we have appointed two women constables at the hostel,” said Solan Superintendent of Police Prem Kumar Thakur.

Finding itself in a tight spot yet again on the issue of protection to minor girls residing in hostels — after alleged sexual harassment of visually challenged and hearing impaired girls in a Shimla hostel last year — the state government is now looking towards the Centre for a solution.

The social justice and empowerment department has decided to take up the matter with Union Minister for Social Justice Krishna Tirath and seek more coordination from the Centre on information related to Centrally-funded NGOs operating in the state.

Social Justice Minister Sarveen Chaudhary said: “I will seek a list of all such NGOs that are operating in the state with Central funding,without any intimation about it to the state government. Until we are informed about such institutions,we would not know that they need to be regulated or inspected.”

A team of the Adim Jati Sewak Sangh,too,went to the hostel on Thursday to take stock of the situation. Its secretary Shyam Manohar said: “After an inquiry,we will submit a report to the chairman of the institution,B N Gaud,at Jaipur,who will finally decide on the future of this hostel.”

After his visit to the hostel,Additional Director,Social Justice and Empowerment,Lokender Chauhan said: “The living conditions were not up to the mark and the space available not sufficient for 31 girls. A detailed inquiry will be done into the functioning of the hostel by scrutiny of its records. Today’s preliminary report will be submitted to the principal secretary of the department.”

Acting on a complaint by one of the hostellers from Kinnaur district earlier this week,the police had arrested hostel’s accountant Pawan Goyal on charges of molestation and also under the SC/ST Act. A local court sent him to police custody on Wednesday.