Disability welfare organisations not providing shelter to needy children, DM orders high-level inquiry
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Dehradun district magistrate Savin Bansal has formed a high-level committee to investigate several renowned disability welfare organisations that reportedly failed to offer assistance to disabled and helpless girls when they needed the most. The committee is expected to submit its report on 10 key points, with strict instructions to take action if any violations of regulations are found.
The DM said that these organisations, which claim to work for the welfare of disabled children, receive funding from the State and central governments as well as foreign sources. However, despite receiving such support, these institutions have been reportedly refusing to admit children requiring care and treatment. He claimed that the administration came to know through various sources that many of these organisations, which present an inflated number of children and staff, lack the actual resources and infrastructure they claim to possess.
During the registration process, the human resources listed in documents were found absent at many centres. The DM claimed that several well-known institutions are also allegedly involved in the misconduct. He informed that when these organisations were called upon to admit mentally disabled girls, they not only refused but also ignored instructions from the district probation officer and Social Welfare department.
The DM expressed strong disapproval of the situation and directed a comprehensive investigation into the functioning of these institutions. He informed that the committee is tasked with probing various aspects of the operations of these organisations, particularly their adherence to the norms and their actual capacity to serve the disabled. If the inquiry reveals any violations, the registration of these institutions will be cancelled.
Furthermore, Bansal said that officers must recognise their power and take firm actions against the exploitation and denial of rights to disabled individuals. As per the information shared by the district administration, several institutions under scrutiny include Bajaj Institute of Learning at Rajpur Road, Latika Rai Foundation at Vasant Vihar, Nanhi Duniya school for hearing impaired at Kalidas Road, Dyslexia Society of Uttarakhand at Rajpur Road, Raphael Ryder Cheshire International Centre, Arunima Project with Autism Unit of the Gateway at Sinaula village in Sahaspur, Bharat Mandir School Society in Rishikesh and various others operating in the Dehradun district.
The DM said that these institutions have been receiving funds for the welfare, education and rehabilitation of disabled individuals but have failed to live up to their commitments. The investigation will focus on the actual facilities, staff and children at these institutions compared to what was reported during registration, he added.
