The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) took issue with the ‘Don Bosco Missionary’ in Bengaluru on Tuesday (21st November) upon discovering that the children in the Missionary’s children’s home were being provided with what was described as ‘suspicious meat’. Sharing a receipt indicating the purchase of beef on Twitter, the NCPCR stated, “During an inspection at Open Shelter, a children’s shelter run by the Don Bosco Missionary Organization in Davanagere, Karnataka, the team found suspicious meat in the kitchen.”
The NCPCR further revealed, “We also discovered this beef bill in the garbage. Despite the presence of a significant number of Hindu children in the home, all the children are being encouraged to practice Christianity, and beef is being prepared. Notices are being issued for necessary action.”
कर्नाटक के दावणगिरे में डॉनबॉस्को मिशनरी संस्था द्वारा संचालित बच्चों के आश्रय गृह ओपन शेल्टर में @NCPCR_ की टीम को निरीक्षण के दौरान किचन में संदिग्ध मांस मिला आयोग की सदस्य @DrDivyagupta28 ने कचरे में से बीफ (गौमांस) का यह बिल भी ढूँढ निकाला है।
होम में बड़ी संख्या हिंदू बच्चों… pic.twitter.com/0r22praqFp— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) November 21, 2023
This comes just days after the Chairman of the NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo, identified numerous irregularities at the children’s home operated by the ‘Don Bosco Missionary’ in Bengaluru. During the inspection, Kanoongo discovered that a child from Jodhpur (Rajasthan), who had lost his way and ended up in Bengaluru, had been residing at the children’s home for several months. Priyank Kanoongo emphasized that, according to regulations, the child should have been returned home, but the children’s home chose not to comply with these rules.
Addressing the persistent issue of detaining children against their will in shelter homes, Kanoongo remarked, “Some child shelters, driven by a desire for funding, wrongfully detain children and separate them from their families, often with the complicity of local authorities.”
The Chairman of the NCPCR also expressed concern that the children residing in the shelter home operated by the ‘Don Bosco Missionary’ were not attending school. Additionally, he discovered that an unauthorized Christian preacher had been unlawfully staying in the children’s home for an extended period.
The NCPCR is conducting a thorough investigation into the case and necessary action will be taken after the investigation.
Notably, the NCPCR conducted an inspection drive at the Darul Uloom Sayeediya Yateemkhana on November 19, situated at Sayeed Nagar, Banglore in Karnataka with the district child protection officer. During this drive, the members of the commission came across a lackadaisical approach adopted by the organisation which affected the children’s life living there. Apart from the missing basic amenities like a bed to sleep on there were other documented irregularities, like missing registration and more.
Subsequent to the inspection, the commission addressed a letter to the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, urging the initiation of a First Information Report (FIR) against the head and members of the committee overseeing the orphanage’s operations.
बंगलुरु,कर्नाटक में दारूल उलूम सैय्यादिया यतीम खाना नाम से अवैध ढंग से चलते हुए एक ग़ैरपंजीकृत अनाथ आश्रम का औचक निरीक्षण किया जिसमें कई अनियमिततायें पायी गयीं।
यहाँ क़रीब 200 यतीम (अनाथ) बच्चों को रखा गया है।
100 वर्गफ़िट के कमरे में 8 बच्चों का रखा जाता है,ऐसे 5 कमरों में 40… pic.twitter.com/dnp1g8Wj7a— प्रियंक कानूनगो Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) November 20, 2023
Demanding an FIR to be lodged against the head of the orphanage, the commission sent the letter.
According to the contents of the letter (dated November 20 and designated as DD11547) released by the NCPCR and obtained by Organiser, the commission asserted that the orphanage was violating multiple laws established under the CPCR and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. At the time of the inspection drive, approximately 200 children were residing at the orphanage. The following are the observations recorded by the commission subsequent to the drive:
- The orphanage lacks registration under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, contravening Section 41 (l) of the JJ Act. According to this section, all institutions—whether operated by a state government or voluntary/non-governmental organizations—intended for housing children in need of care and protection or children in conflict with the law must be registered under the Act, irrespective of receiving grants from the Central or State Government. The corresponding penalty for non-registration is outlined in Section 42 of the JJ Act, 2015.
- Additionally, the orphanage fails to meet the necessary infrastructure for accommodating a large number of children. There are five rooms of approximately 100 square feet, each housing four bunk beds for eight children. Furthermore, 16 children sleep on bunk beds placed in the corridor. Approximately 150 children sleep in two large halls designated for prayer. This situation violates the fundamental right to education, as none of the children are enrolled in school.
- Moreover, the orphanage lacks recreational facilities, such as play materials or a television, further compromising the well-being of the children. The living conditions in the orphanage amount to a violation of Section 75 of the JJ Act, 2005.
