Rs 8.5 cr for remand homes

Following the order the government had appointed the Director of Women and Child Welfare, Pune, as an administrator of the remand homes along with a special government officer and chief officer of the Children’s Aid Society. While work has already begun on some measures, today the government assured the court that it will submit a status report on these homes by the first week of December. The matter is placed for hearing on December 7.

Earlier, the inspection report submitted to the high court had revealed thatmost of the remand home buildings were in a state of disrepair. Thereafter, the government held meetings with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and sought its help. It also appointed contractors for the urgent works and set a deadline of November 30.

After the exposure of bad drainage system, the government undertook clean-up of the drains and water tanks while water supply pipelines will be totaly replaced shortly. Meanwhile, the civic corporation checked samples of potable water in the remand homes and instructed the superintendents of the homes to supervise the cleanliness drive and pest control programme.

The high court had earlier taken severe objection to the quality of food served in the remand homes, especially the product called bulgar’. Samples of bulgar, served by Catholic Relief Society supplied under the Indo-US agreement of 1951, was found to be unfit for human consumption. Following the results of the tests, the government has directed the remand homes to buy foodgrains and otheredibles only from approved ration shops.

It was also found that very few institutions including the one in Mankhurd has medical facilities and attached dispensaries. The BMC has proposed appointment of a woman medical practitioner to specially look after the mentally deficient children. Moreover, a seperate building has been proposed for the 45 delinquent children in the Umerkhadi home.