Times
of India: Shimla: Monday, 23 March 2015.
Gross
violation of human rights of poor inmates residing at the government-run Nari
Sewa Sadan in Mashobra near Shimla has been alleged by a Shimla-based NGO. It
claimed that breaking all set norms, a newborn girl of an abused unwed inmate
was separated from her mother and shifted to Kids Home in Shimla. It further
claimed that last rites of dead inmates were not being performed as per their
religious faith.
While
interacting with media persons in Shimla on Sunday, Ajai Srivastava, chairman
of Umang Foundation, a public welfare trust, said that information gathered
under RTI revealed that out of total 30 inmates, about 26 are suffering from
severe mental illness and many are physically disabled. He said that they are
unable to manage themselves during menstrual cycles and to meet nature's call.
He said one unwed woman, who was brought to the destitute home from Una some
months ago, delivered a female baby in the last week of January. "When the
government was busy celebrating Beti Bachao campaign on International Women Day
on March 8, the newborn was separated from her mother, violating the guidelines
of government of India which state that mother's milk is mandatory for child's
health. Now the girl is staying more than 10 kilometers away from her
mother," he added.
He said that
information gathered under RTI showed that inmates were never checked up by any
endocrinologist. He said that inmates were suffering from different
psychological problems but have no access to any psychological counseling. Ajai
Srivastava demanded a high-level inquiry so that responsibility could be fixed
for violation of human rights of the defenseless destitute inmates.
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