TN social welfare department to shut 300 illegal children’s homes

The Tamil Nadu social welfare department has already shut about 554 unregistered children’s homes and has identified 300 more to be closed down, reported The Times of India. 

The children who have been rescued from these child care institutions were either sent back to their parents or shifted to other registered homes.

Social defense commissioner R Lalvena told ToI that they are in the process of identifying families of the children affected and they are also checking nearby homes to shift children who do not have parents.

There are a total of 1,113 registered homes for children in Tamil Nadu.

The commissioner said that they are not receiving sufficient funds under Integrated Child Protection Scheme. 

She also wanted the field staff to improve inspection and monitoring. The field officers need to do a proper check of education and health facilities for the children, she said. 

The social defense department is also planning to train governmental and non-governmental organisations on the legislation and rights concerning children. The training will be conducted in 32 districts.

Last year, a case was registered against Mose Ministries, a children’s home in Trichy for keeping 89 girls, 78 of who were no longer minors, without registering with the social welfare department. The DNA tests of about 33 children matched with their parents. 

The court order on November 30 read that the wishes of girls who have completed 18 years, must be ascertained by the director of social welfare department. Moreover, after the girls leave the home, they will be given financial support and they will be allowed to choose their abode according to their wish.

If any of the girls wish to continue to have protection, they will be sent to a destitute home owned by the government or another recognized home, the order said.