Odisha: NHRC lens on child abuse in shelter homes

BHUBANESWAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Odisha chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra to take action on the recommendations of the special rapporteur, NHRC, on the death and alleged exploitation of children in shelter homes in the state, in general, and in Dhenkanal district, in particular.
The NHRC passed this order on June 21 after hearing a petition filed by activist and human rights lawyer, Radhakanta Tripathy, on July 17, 2019.The petitioner alleged that a minor student, Sambhunath Nayak, was found dead at Laxminarayan Gurukul Ashram in Dhenkanal on July 2, 2019. In the same district, minor children were sexually exploited at Good News India Dream Centre shelter home located at Belatikri. Both the ashram and shelter home were running illegally, he added.
The commission took cognizance of the case and conducted several hearings since 2019.