Introduction- The
Sexual abuse was exposed in CCI or a Child Care Institution or Shelter house in
Muzaffarpur, Bihar by the Tata
Institute of Social Science after a social audit in 2017. 42
inhabitants which included minors were physically and sexually abused. Another
case happened in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh when a 10 year old inhabitant of CCI
managed to escape. The story goes around problems in shelter houses throughout
the country. To protect vulnerable groups from predatory minds, such shelter
house were promoted and built. However, these shelter houses are not safe
anymore. The women caregivers and counselors were also included; this is
also a huge matter of concern.
What
does the Law say?
There
are Juvenile Justice Act 2017 (JJ Act 2015), and National Commission for Protection
of Child Right, yet such terrific incidents occurred.
According to Juvenile Justice
Act 2015, all CCIs have to be registered and every district needs
to have a child protection officer, a child welfare committee and
a Juvenile Justice Board.
National commission for Protection of
Child Right in survey has shown that 32% of CCIs were registered under
JJ Act while 33% are not registered with any authority.
Ministry of Women and child
development, which provides funding to CCIs under Integrated Child Protection Scheme,
is bound to do social audits.
Who is
the target?
Children and destitute women who have
been victim of violent and manipulative circumstances have no voice in matter
concerning their own welfare. They live in shelter houses under worst
conditions.
The Primitive and patriarchal mindset treat
women unworthy of dignity and respect while reproducing violence
happens against them- It needs to change. In case of rapes, the victim is blamed often.
Some of the criminals have been
running these institutions in the guise of protectors, need to be weeded out of
the system of social protection and given due punishments.
A way
ahead and Conclusion – Civil Society need to bring the change in
mindset, and after analyzing the case, one can understand that there are laws
and provisions. The implementation part is missing. When there was a provision
of registration of CCIs, it was duty of assigned authorities to monitor and
inspect the situation. Proper functioning of authorities are also an area to
work upon. Lack of monitoring and
absence of inspection committee is responsible for such chaos in societies.
