ACTS OF HORROR

May 2018 | Muzaffarpur, Bihar

August 2018 | Deoria, UP

August 2018 | Pratapgarh, UP

May 2017 | Guwahati, Assam

May 2017 | Delhi

THE ORIGIN OF SHELTER HOMES IN INDIA

Who can take shelter under Swadhar Greh scheme

Period of stay:

SHELTER HOMES AND CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS - THE NUMBERS

(Data available with NCPCR as of August 8, 2018)

STEPPING UP THE VIGIL

Source: News reports

They were supposed to be a place where women in distress could live a life of dignity, can rehabilitate themselves economically and emotionally, but instead shelter homes for women are turning out to be brothels. A social audit by a Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) brought to light the sexual abuse of 34 girls at government-run shelter home for girls in Muzaffarpur , Bihar. It was followed by another case in Deoria in UP where a 10-year-old girl escaped a shelter home and exposed the exploitation of the girls who lived there. These incidences have left the country startled, but sadly aren’t new.First FIR filed for rape and sexual assault of minor girls in the shelter home. So far, it has been confirmed that 34 girls between 7 and 17 years of age were raped24 girls rescued from a shelter home after allegations of their sexual exploitation came to light; 18 girls are still missing26 women reported missing from two shelter homesAlleged complaint regarding physical abuse, child labour at Children Home Fatasil, AmbariAlleged complaint regarding girl being forced to abort at Nirmal Chaya and beaten mercilesslyShelter homes in India are run under the Swadhar Greh scheme - an amalgamation of Short Stay Home scheme and Swadhar scheme, set up by department of social welfare and department of women and development, respectively in 1969 and 2001.Women deserted and without any social and economic supportWomen survivors of natural disasters rendered homelessWomen prisoners released from jail and without family, social and economic supportWomen victims of domestic violence, family tension or discordTrafficked women/girls rescued from brothels or places of exploitationWomen affected by HIV/AIDS with no social or economic support* Women affected by domestic violence: 1 year* Other categories: Up to 3 years* Above the age of 55: A maximum period of 5 yearsAlso, girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 8 years are allowed to stay with their mother in a Swadhar Greh.India has a total of 551 shelter homes under Swadhar Greh scheme. Maharashtra has most number of shelter homes, followed by Odisha and UP.As per Juvenile Justice Act 2015 registration of all children homes with state is mandatory. After the Muzaffarpur and Deoria incidents, the Women and Child Development Ministry (WCD) has stepped up action and asked all states to verify homes and ordered a verification of all homes in states. But this is an ongoing process. The move aims to check the misuse of government grants for shelter homes and bring more in more accountability. But the task is huge and one that needs sensitisation and therein lies the challenge.