Child care institutions to get permanent licence

Vijayawada: The district administration has decided to grant permanent licence to the child care institutions (CCIs), which have basic amenities for the children. These institutions are providing shelter to the orphans, abandoned children and other neglected children. However, allegations are levelled against some institutions over the poor maintenance and lack of care and facilities for the children.

To avoid such complaints, ensure safety and protection to the inmates of these CCIs, the state government had decided to check the facilities and later grant the permanent licence, which is valid for five years.

The government is conducting antecedent verification with the officials of the women development and child welfare department. If the officials satisfied with the amenities, permanent licence will be issued to run the CCIs. Nearly, 90 CCIs are likely to get permanent licence. So far, the government issued temporary licences to the institutions. 

The government will grant permanent licence to those CCIs, which have Indians as the members of the managing committees. The government is facing many problems in prosecution if foreigners are the members of the managing committees in case of committing irregularities.

If the managing committee members are foreigners, they are escaping from punishment in case of irregularities take place in the CCIs. Indian laws do not apply to the foreigners, said BVS Kumar, Chairman of the Child Welfare Committee. He said if the Managing Committee members are Indians, they can be booked if irregularities take place while running the institution.

There is a huge scope for irregularities and misuse of child care institutions if they are located in the isolated areas. So, the government has decided to keep a vigil on these institutions by collecting all details like availability of rooms, toilets facility, play ground, supply of food and health care and most importantly the maintenance.

M Anand, advocacy officer, Girls Advocacy Alliance, Help Organisation, Vijayawada, felt permanent licence will increase the accountability of the CCIs. He said if the temporary licence is given for short time, the managing committees are not taking care of the institutions and the children. He welcomed the decision of the government to grant permanent licence which is valid for five years. 

Some institutions run without basic amenities and the managements also don't care of children. These institutions collect donations to run the institutions, but they don't care of inmates. 

By MD Ameen