Sex abuse rampant in 15 Bihar shelters, reveals TISS study report

PATNA: The infamous shelter at Muzaffarpur where 34 inmates were raped is not the only one in Bihar where sexual, mental and physical abuse was rampant. Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), whose social audit report revealed the Muzaffarpur horror story and led to the arrest of kingpin Brajesh Thakur, has identified 14 other such shelter homes across the state.
Underage inmates were reported to be pregnant in some of these shelter homes "and some even had babies". TOI is in possession of the 100-page TISS report, which audited 110 shelter and short stay homes across 34 districts. Sources said the government is likely to make the report public soon.
The TISS report elaborates on sexual and physical abuse in 15 centres, including the one run by Thakur, in a separate section titled "Grave Concerns-Institutions Requiring Immediate Attention". On Thakur's shelter, which was run by his NGO Seva Sankalp Evam Vikas Samiti, the report says, "The institution was exclusive in carrying out sexual violence on the girls, all of tender age and from marginalized backgrounds, in the name of punishment and discipline. The girls reported that they were molested by the male staff on a regular basis."
Among the 15 notorious institutions are short stay homes run in Patna by AIKARD, Motihari (Sakhi), Kaimur (Gram Swaraj Sewa Sansthan), Madhepura (Mahila Chetna Vikas Mandal) and Munger (Novelty Welfare Society). The other homes are government-run Observation Home in Araria, Sewa Kutir run by Om Sai Foundation in Muzaffarpur, Kaushal Kutir run by Don Bosco Tech Society in Patna and Sewa Kutir run by Metta Buddha Trust in Gaya.
The boys' home identified by TISS in this category are in Motihari run by Nirdesh, in Bhagalpur by Rupam Pragati Samaj Samiti, in Munger by Panaah and in Gaya by DORD. Three specialized adoption agencies-Patna's Nari Gunjan, Madhubani's RVESK and Kaimur's Gyan Bharti-are also in the "grave concerns" category. The report highlights rampant physical and sexual harassment, corporal punishment, neglect and humiliation in "institutions of all categories".
Elaborating on the living conditions of inmates in boys' homes, the report says: "After dinner, the boys are locked up inside their wards and have no access to toilets throughout the night. We found plastic bottles with urine in them."
The inmates of Muzaffarpur Sewa Kutir run by Om Sai Foundation showed bruises and broken bones to TISS members. They alleged sexual assault on them and thrashing on a daily basis by the caretakers.
The report said that many inmates lodged in short stay homes were girls who were picked up by police from eateries "while they were out with their male friends, and sent to these homes for protection".
"Casual sexism (sic) was found to be rampant with institute's staff members making comments such as, 'These are immoral girls and we must try to bring them in line'," says the report about the employees' handling of the inmates.
Among the institutes that TISS audited were 21 specialised adoption centres, 18 children homes for boys and six for girls, eight open shelters for street and slum children, 11 observation homes for undertrial juveniles, 21 short stay homes for deserted women and five old age homes, among others.
The TISS team says that boys at the Motihari children's home run by Nirdesh reported physical violence and sexual abuse. Similarly, at the Bhagalpur shelter home run by Rupam Pragati Samaj Samiti, letters retrieved from a letter box revealed violence and other violations on boys.
A deaf and mute boy at the children's home run by Panaah in Munger had a 3-inch-long scar across his cheek as he was hit by the superintendent for refusing to cook food for him.
At the shelter home run by DORD in Gaya, boys showed a thick stick which was used to thrash them, the report said.
In specialised adoption centres at Nari Gunjan (Patna), RVESK (Madhubani) and Gyan Bharti (Kaimur), children were found hungry.
The report quoted one of the boys at Araria home as saying, "Is jagah ka naam sudhaar grih se badal kar bigaad grih kar dena chahiye (Change the name of this place from reform home to spoil home)."
A girl at Patna short stay home run by IKARD had reportedly committed suicide a year ago due to violent atmosphere there, the report said.
At the Motihari short stay home run by Sakhi, the counsellor, apart from indulging in physical violence herself, asked a few girls/women to beat up the other inmates.
On its part, the social welfare department is preparing an action taken report based on the TISS report. Department director Raj Kumar said nine FIRs have been lodged so far and 10 persons were arrested in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case. He said the shelter homes at Bhagalpur, Munger and Gaya have also been taken over by the district child protection unit of the department.