Two former inmates tell NCPCR they were sexually abused prior to being brought to MoC-run shelter home
NEW DELHI: More than a year after the case of illegal trafficking and alleged selling of babies at shelter home
(https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/shelter-home) run by Missionaries of Charity in Ranchi came to light, the National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights has received statements of two former inmates which shows that they were survivors
of sexual abuse when they were brought to the shelter home but no police case was registered.
The NCPCR (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/NCPCR) feels that prima facie it appears that it may be a violation of
Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act as the girls were minors.
These new facts emerged in the statements recorded after the victims returned to their villages and the NCPCR has now
sought follow-up reports from the concerned districts of Jharkhand (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jharkhand)
administration for all the inmates whose records have been found at the home. The license of this home was cancelled by the
state government and it is currently closed.
According to NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo, the statements of the two former inmates to the shelter home came to light
during a recent special hearing of cases pertaining to child rights led by an NCPCR bench in one of the districts of Jharkhand
on August 30. Here Child Welfare Committee of that area provided statement of victims recorded on request of Ranchi district
“When the commission examined the statement it was found that the victims in their statement specifically mentioned that they
were sexually abused. It is further observed that inspite of statement of victims available on record, no action has been taken
by the authorities of Ranchi district administration, superintendent of police and other police officials,” Kanoongo said quoting
an order issued by the NCPCR on September 9 summoning officials from the Jharkhand administration to appear before it with
an action taken report on Tuesday, September 17. He added that prima facie it appears that it may be a violation of POCSO.
Kanoongo said that the officials who appeared before the commission on Tuesday have sought one month’s time to prepare a
detailed report on all the inmates whose records have been found.
After noticing the criminal act of sale of children by the home last year, the ministry of women and child development had
asked all the states and UTs to inspect their institutions by August 31 and submit a report to the ministry. They have also been
asked to link all the Child Care Institutions with the Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) for providing opportunity of adoption of
the children of CCI, as prescribed under the Juvenile Justice Act.