TIRUCHY: Tension gripped the premises of a home for children — Mose Ministries — in the city, when child welfare stakeholders including District Social Welfare Department, Child Welfare Committee and District Child Protection Unit officials questioned the staff of the unregistered home about infrastructure and number of children and what they were studying.
The premises of the home, which was expected to be sealed on Thursday evening, was tense till around 8 pm, as the children showed reluctance in undergoing medical check up and move to other places making the officials’ efforts futile. According to the officials, a total of 55 girls, aged below 18 were staying in the home located in Anna nagar first street of Suppiramaniyapuram in the city. The social welfare department officials had also so far served three notices seeking details of the children staying in the home and subsequently filed the complaint with the K K Nagar police, which conducted a raid a few days ago.
Officials added that the home, however, did not respond to the notices and whenever the officials visited the home, the staff did not cooperate prompting the officials to file a complaint and close the home.
On Thursday morning, the officials reached the home. First, the CWC officials conducted inquiries with the staff. “We were not satisfied with the replies and improper documents shown by the staff,” said R Indra Gandhi, chairperson, CWC. We will shift the children to other homes, after DSW department gives us the green signal, she added.
Secondly, the District Social Welfare officer S Usha and District Child Protection Officer, Saravanan, held a discussion with the staff of the home, after which they roped in a Psychologist, Psychiatrist and Pediatrics. Joint Director of Health Service (JDHS), Dr Bhiranesi told Express that they sent a medical team after DSW office communicated them, as it was necessary. “We received a communication and sent a three-member doctor team as per request,” she said, adding that she learnt that no child was willing to go for the medical check up.
Since time was running out, the situation remained tense and police personnel were deployed near the home. District Social Welfare officer said that they were convincing the children. Asked about closure within Thursday, she said that she wasn’t sure about that.