HYDERABAD: A member of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has lamented that the panel was unable to work for children’s welfare due to shortage of staff and regretted that even salaries and allowances to the panel members had been due for a long time. However, the Telangana Women and Child Welfare department brushed aside the allegations, pointing out that the process to form a new commission was underway, and the old one becomes void under the circumstances. At a press conference here Sunday, Achyuta Rao, member of SCPCR, said the commission members were not paid salaries for the past few months.
“The commission is not given proper infrastructure like furniture and telephones. We are supposed to be allotted an attendant and secretary, but this is not done. Each member has to be paid around `40 lakh, including salaries and other expenses,” Achyuta Rao said.
However, three members from the Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) have distanced themselves from his claims. “Officially, we don’t have any connection with him as he is a member of the Telangana unit of the commission” said M Sumitra, member of APSCPCR.
Regarding non-payment of salaries, deputy secretary of Women and Child Welfare Department M Prashanti said a GO was issued in November last under which the Telangana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had to be formed, and the process to appoint members was ongoing.
“Since a new GO was issued for appointment of new commission for the state, the old commission is dissolved. That is why salaries are not paid thereafter,” said Prashanti. Asked if there was any official communication regarding the dissolution, she replied in the negative.