Thursday, Mar 28, 2024 | Last Update : 07:20 PM IST

  Metros   Mumbai  08 Apr 2017  Maharashtra asked to take call over children homes’ construction

Maharashtra asked to take call over children homes’ construction

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Apr 8, 2017, 2:03 am IST
Updated : Apr 8, 2017, 2:03 am IST

The high court asked the state government to increase the quantum of grants for kids staying in a children’s home on a provisional basis.

Bombay High Court. (Photo: PTI)
 Bombay High Court. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Friday directed the state government to take the decision within four months over constructing adequate number of children’s homes in the state. The high court asked the state government to increase the quantum of grants for kids staying in a children’s home on a provisional basis. The court asked the government to hike the state grant for each “mentally-deficient” child from Rs 1,140, to Rs 2,000 per month, while for “normal child”, the per month allocation was increased to Rs 1,500 from Rs 950.

The court observed that grants which have been given to shelters housing “mentally-deficient” children are inadequate, arbitrary and in violation of constitutional provisions under Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 21(protection of live and personal liberty).

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed was hearing suo-moto PIL after an article appeared in an English newspaper, which revealed that five mentally challenged children of Satkarm children home in Shahapur, Thane died due to starvation and malnutrition.

The court found that children’s situation in these homes was “inhuman”. After admitting the PIL in the September 2010, the court had appointed Asha Bajpai who is the chairperson of socio-legal studies and human right, TISS to assist the court. The HC has raised the concerns over the children homes and shelters for “mentally-deficient” children (MDC) in the state.

1,094 children are staying in 27 children homes in the state. Out of 27, six children homes are for girls, 14 for boys and seven are for both.

Tags: bombay high court, mentally-deficient, children homes
Location: India, Maharashtra, Mumbai (Bombay)