Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 20: At least 27 orphan girls and militancy affected female children of `Nari-Niketan’, under J&K Social Welfare Department at Mendhar in district Poonch, have been forced to live in the unsafe building.
The fear of being dumped alive under the debris of this unsafe building continues to haunt these helpless inmates of this Home for orphans as they go to sleep at night daily. Under constant threat of collapse of this building during recent rains as well, these children of somehow spent sleepless nights. The Army authorities from the nearby unit in Mendhar area, realizing danger to the life of these girls have fixed three-four steel supporting rods under the ceiling of their rooms where these children are staying.
The ceiling portion of the slab has been broken and developed cracks at several places. No maintenance or repair work has been initiated by the concerned Tehsil and the District level officials of the SWD. On several occasions, the pieces of the ceiling got broken and fell down but the inmates had miraculous escape. The concerned staff of this `Nari Niketan’ including Superintendent Champa Devi claimed to have brought the matter to the notice of senior officials but they never bothered about it.
This home for orphan children is located across a nallah and near a graveyard at an isolated place near Mendhar town. There are 27 girl-inmates in the age group of 7 year to 18 years besides a few young widows, affected by militancy. So, insensitive are the officers of this department that this Home for Girls is free for all type of tress passers in the absence of proper protected compound wall. It is actually broken at many places and even during night hours in the absence of chowkidar, the girls remain under terror.
The Superintendent mainly operates from home while no female care taker is placed by the department at this Home. Another local craft teacher attached there hardly visits the orphanage.
A young IAS officer, Rahul Yadav who has been placed recently as SDM Mendhar, initiated an inquiry after receiving several public complaints.
Most of the children were without shoe, proper clothes, uniforms, books and stationery. It was found that there is no dinning table or furniture and these children are often served food in the kitchen or in the veranda and they mostly sit on the floor and take food. Insiders in the Home told that children are not provided proper diet as per menu. They get mutton and eggs just once a month while it is mentioned per week in the menu. They do not have blankets and proper beddings for the winters. They are not provided things of daily use regularly soaps, tooth brush ete. No proper medical treatment is given when anybody falls sick in the Home. There is no routine Medical check up.
It was discovered that four computers were given by the Army to the Home some time back but two were missing J&K Police had donated about 20 blankets for inmates but they were lying under the custody of Superintendent and were not provided to the children.
It is pertinent to mention here that earlier, this Home was housed in a private building. About 12 years back, the Army had got constructed this building under Op Sadhbavna but thereafter, no maintenance work was initiated by the Social Welfare department. Even no funds were provided for white wash. And its condition deteriorated day by day. Cracks have been developed and water seepage during rains has causes more threat to the building.
The team during inspection on Saturday also found some staff members absent from duty. Naib Tehsildar also seized the attendance register. The Superintendent failed to produce the bills of purchases and detail of the ration and other items stored in the House.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Mendhar, Rahul Yadav when contacted said that he was not aware of the matter but came to know about it recently through public. He said that Tehsildar has been directed to hold detailed inquiry and submit a report.
Yadav said that he himself visited the Nari Niketan on Sunday and took stock of the situation. The building is in pitiable condition. He said repair work of the wall has now been started by the Block Development authorities. He said Tehsildar has yet to submit a detailed report of the inquiry.
Director Social Welfare department Jammu, Vir Ji Hangloo when contacted said that some funds have been issued for the construction/ report of walls and concerned BDO staff will start work there shortly. He said some repair work of the building will also be initiated shortly. He however, claimed that building was safe and concerned Executive Engineer gave them report during September last year. Regarding missing of many items from the Home, Director said he will hold inquiry.
Meanwhile, District Social Welfare Officer, Poonch Nayama Bhatti along with TSO Haveli Muzaffar Khan on the directions of the Director Social Welfare Jammu visited Nari Niketan Mendhar today and seized the record. She also attached the Superintendent Champa Sharma to the office of Tehsil Social Welfare office, pending inquiry.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel