2,500 kids languishing in govt homes: RTI revelation

Bengaluru: No education, no guidance and no one to pour their heart out to — over 2,500 children are lodged in government-run homes in the state. Deprived of parental affection and a healthy atmosphere, they're spending precious days of their lives confined to four walls. RTI queries filed by this correspondent revealed there are 736 girls (in 17 districts) and 1,886 boys in government homes. Most of them have been rescued from sweatshops and beggary, or are missing or runaway children. Some have been rescued more than once. The atmosphere in these homes is anything but conducive for healthy growth of the young, impressionable minds. No wonder they are looking for ways to break free. Three girls escaped from an institution in Savadatti, near Belagavi, between 2012 and 2013, the queries found. Eight boys ran away from a Bengaluru institution in September 2014; they were later found hiding in a house near DJ Halli. The homes have to accommodate children in conflict with the law — 73 boys and 41 girls are awaiting trial. Some 68 of the boys are from the Bengaluru home, which houses 1,123 boys. But according to Jennifer B, child rights activist, it can only accommodate 300 boys. "The children are not exposed to mainstream education. They are not even given vocational training or taught life skills. When kids are not engaged in constructive activities, they tend to feel lonely. We have to understand they're not living with families. When the NGOs that rescue distressed kids are able to rehabilitate them and give them schooling exposure, why can't the government do the same?" asked, Jennifer, child line coordinator with the NGO Bosco Mane. The boys and girls are from Bangladesh, Nepal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Bihar, apart from Karnataka. Activists say communication is abysmal in these homes. They should be equipped with counsellors, teachers and translators to ensure effective communication with the children. Given the poor manpower, the government must let NGOs invite people well-versed with the kids' language to interact with them. If children from other states don't relish the food here, they must be given something they like. However, that rarely happens. Besides, many districts lack such institutions. The Dakshina Kannada district administration said there is no girls' home there. Box: 1,300 come for jobs every year A survey conducted by an NGO revealed over 30 children land in Bengaluru every day and end up working as child labourers or are rescued by NGOs and police. They're usually from Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. They aren't familiar with the local culture and often encounter language problems after they're sent to government homes. No adult speaks to them Rules say no child can be kept in the centre for more than four months, unless the case is exceptional. In 2012, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights visited government-run homes as part of a survey. I was a member of the committee. Children told us that the no adult speaks to them. Younger kids are beaten up and bullied. Their stay is only a transit period, during which the government must work on enhancing their personality. They must be introduced to mainstream education. Efforts must be made to locate their families. But the government is not doing anything -TOI