License of 'Nirmal Hriday,' 15 other shelter homes canceled in Jharkhand

Mukesh Ranjan - The New Indian Express

The licenses of 16 Child Care Institutions (CCI) in Jharkhand, India have been revoked "following a report submitted by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) with a recommendation to take action against 31 such shelter homes in the State," according to this article from the New Indian Express. Following an incident of "baby selling" at one CCI, Nirmal Hriday, the Chief Minister Raghubar Das directed the SCPCR "to submit a status report after visiting 126 shelter homes all over the State," says the article. Based on the Commission's investigations, 31 CCIs have been recommended for closure for "violating various norms of Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act," and 24 others have been given three months' time to improve conditions or their licenses will also be cancelled. Recommendations for closure were made due to "horrible" conditions, inappropriate accommodations, poor nourishment of children residing there, and, in the case of Nirmal Hriday, involvement in illegal trade of children.