NEW DELHI: Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Kailash Gahlot carried out an inspection of the Nirmal Chhaya Integrated Complex in Hari Nagar today.
During the visit, he also celebrated World Environment Day, 2022 along with the residents and planted a tree sapling within the complex. He also shared a meal with the residents and expressed his admiration for the various works of art and handiwork that the residents had created. WCD Secretary Garima Gupta, Director Krishan Kumar and other senior officials of WCD were also present for the inspection.
Gahlot also encouraged the residents and directed the senior officials to ensure that the residents get all the necessary support from the Government to enable their complete rehabilitation and readaptation.
During his visit to the Nirmal Chhaya Integrated Complex, WCD Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot said “The Kejriwal Government is committed to ensuring that every resident in Delhi feels safe and secure, and that they have faith in the government to help them in times of need. We have been taking extra precautions to prevent unpleasant situations, particularly those involving women and children, and to ensure complete legal and administrative protection in the event of an adverse incident. Family is highly crucial in a child’s life and development, and our first priority is to guarantee that every child gets a home as soon as possible. We will also provide financial assistance for as long as they need it for complete physical and mental recovery. Since today is also World Environment Day, I’d want to encourage all inhabitants to be environmentally conscious citizens and join us in working toward a sustainable future.”
The Nirmal Chhaya Integrated Complex has residential facilities for protective custody and rehabilitation of women in distress and children who are victims of abuse and adverse circumstances. The various institutions include Protection Home for women under Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956 and Children’s Homes, Observation Home, Place of Safety & After Care Home for girls segregated based on different age groups based on physical, mental nature of victimisation.
Features of various establishments and homes in the complex
These homes are designated as Foster Care & Adoption Services, and they receive children who have been abandoned, relinquished, or born of underage victims of sexual offences. The fundamental goal of these institutions is to rehabilitate the inhabitants, which includes their bodily and emotional well-being during their stay. Every resident is visited by a qualified Counsellor and professional Social Worker who provide milieu-based interventions such as psycho-social assessment, therapeutic intervention, education, skill development, mentorship & assistance for career orientation, and job support to grown-up women.
Women in distress may be brought here for protection and restorative care if they are found without any ostensible means, forsaken, missing, victims of offences or circumstances, destitute, street living, widow seeking temporary shelter. Children of any age who are deemed to be in need of care and protection, such as those living on the streets, those who are vulnerable, victims of crimes or circumstances, child beggars, child labour, orphans, and abandoned, can be brought before the Child Welfare Committee by anybody.
Under the Juvenile Justice Act, 99 such Child Care Institutions (CCIs) have been set up in Delhi, with 26 being established and maintained by the Delhi Government and the remaining 73 being operated by various NGOs. Between April 2021 and March 2022, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) attended to 17,329 children. These institutions now have a combined occupancy of 3,223 children, while each institution can hold up to 5,000 children. More than 80% of the youngsters have been healed and rehabilitated by the department in the last year.
Children placed for long term care in these institutions are also enrolled in the nearby government schools, while those who stay for a shorter period of time are given remedial and bridge education as well as encouraged to continue their education once they leave the institution after their rehabilitation. The Delhi Government bears complete expenditure of the children placed in these Child Care Institutions. The residents who are of 18 years of age and are not able to reconcile with their families under any circumstance are placed in Aftercare for continuation of education, technical/professional training, and support for employment which factors towards their rehabilitation.