Bhubaneswar: 10.5.19., In a significant development, exercising power conferred under section 37 A of JJ Act, on 2.3.19., the additional Child welfare Committee, Khurda has directed to Secretary, Kalinga Institute of Social Science ( KISS), Patia, Bhubaneswar to ensure registration of the institution under section 41 of Juvenile Justice ( Care and protection of children ) Act 2015. Similarly, direction has also been issued to the Collector, Khurda to take immediate and urgent action to ensure registration of KISS under JJ Act.
The directive of the Additional CWC, Khurda came following complaint filed filed by Pradip Pradhan along with members of Civil Society Groups dated 5.12.18 with prayer to take all necessary steps to bring KISS tribal school within fold of JJ Act.
Kalinga Institute of Social Science, a private institution located at Patia, Bhubaneswar which claims to have housed 30,000 tribal children has not been registered with Women and Child Development Department and Department of SC and ST welfare , Govt. of Odisha. As per information obtained under RTI dated 13.11.18 in response to RTI query about no. of institutions registered under section 41 of JJ Act within jurisdiction of Khurda district, the PIO, Dept. of Women and Child Development has provided list of 14 organisations registered with Govt. But astonishingly, the name of KISS, Patia, Bhubaneswar does not figure in the list. On 19.6.2017, while submitting the inquiry report into alleged torture of children in KISS Hostel, the CWC, Khurda has recommended for registration of KISS in Tribal welfare Department and issued necessary direction to the Collector, Khurda to take steps to get it registered under JJ Act.
It deserves to be mentioned here that as per Supreme Court direction, all the institutions whether run by a state government or voluntary organisations or NGOs which are meant either wholly or partially for housing the children in need of care and protection , shall be registered under section 41 of the Juvenile Justice ( Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
But KISS institution under control of Achyuta Samant has been constantly ignoring order of CWC and defying law of the land without getting it registered.
Astonishingly, despite order of Additional CWC, Khurda, Secretary, KISS has written a letter dated 18.4.19 to CWC, Khurda in constant to order of CWC that their Institution need not be registered under JJ Act. We are waiting to see what legal action Additional CWC will take against authority of KISS for non-compliance of order of the CWC.
Pradip Pradhan (News Today)