CWC chief shuts down two CCIs for alleged violations

Srikakulam: Violation of children rights will not be tolerated, warned Child Welfare Committee (CWC) District Chairman Gurugubelli Narasimha Murthy. Speaking to media at CWC office here on Thursday, he said that CWC was a statutory body established under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (JJA) to protect neglected, orphan, abandoned, disserted, missed, differently abled and mentally retarded children from exploitation. He added the CWC has ordered to close two childcare institutions (CCI) in Srikakulam city.

"Based on complaints we have visited along with our members and found violations regarding JJA," he stated. Murthy elaborated that the Saranya Manovikas Kendram president Yenda Sridevi applied for two CCIs, one for boys and another for girls.

Both CCIs have to run different compounds as per rules but both CCIs were run on same compound. He stated that Sridevi has harassed the children to work at her house and her daughter Budumuru Sailaja's house which is also serious violation under the JJA. As president of CCI, she cannot act as guardian of the children at CCI but she acted as guardian for 40 children, the CWC chairman elaborated.

"We have conducted detailed inquiry on violations at Saranya Manovikas Kendram along with integrated child protection society, police and childline representatives previously. We have issued notices to head of Saranya Manovikas Kendram Yenda Sridevi and her daughter Budumuru Sailaja, both neglected notices and did not attend before the CWC. She also misused funds by violating rules along with her vehicle driver Labba Srinivasa Goud," he explained.

They also misused pension amount of differently abled children and not created Aadhaar cards to those children even they attained majority of age for the purpose of misuse of pension, he pointed out.

We have finally issued orders for closure of the two CCIs, the chairman said. CWC members B Sasibhusan Chowdary and B Suresh were also present.