Haryana govt moved sexually abused HIV+ girls from Apna Ghar

The fact came to fore when a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raided the shelter home on May 9. However,despite NCPCR urging it not to do so,the Haryana government moved all the inmates of Apna Ghar to various other shelter homes in the state.

“Despite our strict instructions,the Haryana government transferred the inmates,including children,without getting their proper medical examination conducted. The top brass of Haryana government,including the concerned departments’ principal secretaries,the Director General of Police,who appeared before us last month were instructed to get a complete medical check-up done of all the inmates and not to transfer any of them. The officers had assured us to comply by the instructions,but failed to do so,” Vinod Tikoo,who led the NCPCR team that raided Apna Ghar,told The Indian Express.

Now,this has created a scare more inmates could be detected HIV positive. Till all the inmates are medically examined,the exact number could not be ascertained.

“The possibility of more inmates,including children,being HIV positive,can not be ruled out. Despite our recommendations,the state government took only eight girls for medical examination to PGIMER,Chandigarh. What about the rest over 100 inmates? Why were not they medically examined,” Tikoo asked.

Earlier,in January,the NCPCR team had raided another shelter home in Gurgaon,run by Drone foundation and found that the inmates were sexually abused by the caretakers and operators of the home. Thirteen children were transferred out of Drone foundation shelter home to another shelter home in Delhi. From Delhi,out of the 13 children,six girls were transferred to Apna Ghar in Rohtak,while the remaining seven,all boys,were transferred to another shelter home in Karnal. The seven boys are also found HIV-positive.

“Haryana government can not escape the liability,” Tikoo said.

NCPCR recommendations not followed by state government

Medical check-up of all inmates by deputing a medical team from district hospital/ medical college of Rohtak. Compliance report in 10 days

Additional Deputy Commissioner,Rohtak,to conduct inquiry and submit a report on Apna Ghar,within 30 days

There were 65 inmates of less than 18 years,found in Apna Ghar,against 56 mentioned in attendance register. It shall not be appropriate to shift them to other shelter homes.

Provide Security to the Home and children with a PCR Van stationed outside the premises and deploy policemen in plainclothes,to escort children to schools

Enroll all children of the Home into age-appropriate classes in a neighbourhood school within a week’s time. Enroll kids below six years,in the nearest AWC immediately.

Submit a report to the NCPCR on children,who have already been given away in name of adoption and on infants who are missing

Children sharing the premises with mentally depressed/ challenged women need to be segregated. Compliance to be sent within 20 days.

What NCPCR team found at Apna Ghar shelter home in Rohtak

Young girls disrobed,tied to grills,videographed and beaten with iron rods ,wooden sticks

On slightest disobedience of orders,inmates made to go without food for up to three days

Girls assaulted by hitting them on private parts

Children USED as domestic helps and sent to in-charge Jaswanti Devi’s daughter’s and at other people’s residences,without any remuneration

Inmates made to work in fields Jai Bhagwan,Jaswanti’s son-in-law,involved in sexual exploitation of girls,

Mentally-challenged women,children abandoned in trains and at bus stops in the middle of the night

Inmates not sent to school and even those who were sent,were recalled and not allowed to attend formal education. When Jaswanti was questioned,she said,“The environment in the neighbourhood government school is not good.”

Infants,babies allegedly sold in the name of adoption by the caretakers without the consent of biological mothers and without following any norms prescribed for adoption of destitute/orphaned children.