The Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) should take necessary steps to ensure safety of children of seasonal hostels of Nuapda and Balangir districts, which have been closed after the declaration of national lockdown to fight COVID-19.
In a letter to the OSCPCR, activist Yudhisthir Panigrahi has pointed out that to ensure the education of children of migrants workers left out at home, every year seasonal hostels are opened in migrant prone district. This year 62 seasonal hostels were opened in Nuapada and Balangir districts and there were a total of 5,348 students (2848 of Balangir district and 2,500 of Nuapada district ) this year.
After the closure of seasonal hostels, due to Covid19 pandemic, these children were either kept in distant relative's houses or in neighborhood.
The Juvenile Justice Act of 2005 says it would be the duty of the State to ensure safety and security of children. As these children’s parents are likely to return after June, their rights need to be protected. Hence ,in view of the above situation, Panigrahi urged the OSCPCR to take steps ensure the rights of these children are not violated in the lockdown period and there is no lapse in their safety and care.