Berhampur: With government shutting down illegally run shelter homes for children following allegation of sexual harassment at an NGO run facility at Beltikiri in Dhenkanal district, tribal parents whose children were studying in the NGO have expressed concern about the future of their wards.
By now, the administrations have shut down many shelter homes and handed over the inmates to their parents.
The Gajapati district administration has shut at least two homes at B. Sitapur and Chandragiri and handed over 250 children to their parents.
Now, the future of the children hangs in balance as to where they will study.
“We are worried about the future of our kids as the closing down of these hostels will lead to a break in their studies “’ a guardian said.
Echoing similar concerns, another parents said, “The administration should take steps to rehabilitate our children in nearby schools so that they can continue their studies”.
The worst sufferers are students who were studying in Class X and would be appearing for board examination in February coming year.
“Their studies will be hampered and the students will suffer during the Board Exams, if the administration makes further delay in rehabilitating the students.” Another parent whose daughter is studying in Class X said.
Meanwhile, Gajapati collector Anupam Saha said, “No student will be deprived of education. The affected students will be accommodated in different schools and hostel so that they can continue to study.”
He added that the district education officer (DEO), district welfare officer (DWO), district child protection officer (DCPO) have been asked to chalk out plans to accommodate the inmates of the closed homes in nearby schools.
“Since the number of seats in different school and hostels belonging to the school and mass education, tribal development department and Kasturba Girls’ High School are lying vacant, we think there will be no problem in accommodating these students,” DCPO Gajapati Arun Kumar Tripathy added.
The DCPO of Kandhamal district, Rasmita Karan, too assured of accommodating the inmates of the homes at G. Udayagiri to the nearby child care institute at Udayagiri and Kalinga.
The incident in Dhenkanal had sparked statewide outcry and three persons were arrested in connection with the case.
PNN