NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Claiming that there is a rise in incidents of juvenile escaping from state run Apna Ghar at Merces, a non-governmental organization, Savera has demanded for an inquiry into the incidents.
“We feel that Apna Ghar is not properly managed. There is an urgent need to initiate immediate action and stop juveniles from running away,” said Tara Kerkar, convenor of Savera adding that in this regard they have already written to the director, directorate of women and child development.
At a press briefing in the city on Monday, Kerkar alleged that juveniles run away due to issues such as harassment, no proper care and so on. “As per our information the inmates at the Apna Ghar are ill treated. Government should initiate an inquiry and record the statements of juveniles lodged at Apna Ghar which will reveal the facts,” said Kerkar.
Kerkar said that, “Apna Ghar is supposed to be a safe place for them (juvenile) to stay but it is just the opposite”.
Kerkar pointed out that there have been rise in incidents and the recent being on November 12. According to Old Goa police 4 juveniles had escaped on November 12 of which two have been traced. Similarly 6 juveniles had escaped on October 30 of which 1 boy is yet to be traced. Kerkar said that on October 29 some juveniles had escaped twice but were soon traced by the police.
According to Kerkar a couple of years back Levinson Martin in his report had spilled the beans on the functioning of Apna Ghar. “There seems to be nothing that has happened to act on the report’, claimed Kerkar.