Expressing concern over the growing atrocities, including sexual abuse, on children and women in the orphanages and Balashrams in Sambalpur district, Collector Balwant Singh has made it clear that those violating the norms would simply be locked up.
“Sexual harassment to children and women in orphanages or anywhere else will never be tolerated,” Singh said at a workshop held on child safety.
Singh informed that a total of 14 orphanages are now functioning in the district for the destitute children out of which only two or three are registered ones. “A review is being made on the activities of the other orphanages and illegal orphanages will be closed after getting the report,” he said. He further said that the orphanages would be checked at regular intervals by a district-level committee to be formed soon. At the same time, SHGs would do the same work in the block areas, he informed.
Sambalpur SP Pratik Kumar Mohanty said stringent action would be taken against the paedophiles. He assured of very prompt action against any case of sexual abuse to children or women. “If the accused is a Government servant, the action will be further rigorous,” he warned.
Sambalpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Jadumani Mishra sought cooperation of the entire society to make such children good citizens since they don’t get parental care.
Member of CWC (Child Welfare Committee) Joy George stressed the need for proper nurturing of destitute children. He suggested for a pious life in the orphanages to make them ideal citizens. He also suggested to the childless parents to stick to law of adoption.