29 July : The meeting of Monitoring Committee and Visitors Committee was convened on 29.07.2009 at 11.30AM which was chaired by Home Secretary-cum-Secretary Social Welfare. These committees were constituted in compliance of the directions given by the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court for monitoring and supervision of various welfare institutions like Nari-Niketan, Sector 26, Ashreya-47, Juvenile Justice Home-25 and Snehalaya at Village Maloya, Chandigarh.
The meeting was attended by NGOs, Social Workers, Lawyers, volunteers and doctors viz Mrs. Manjeet Sodhi of Association for Social Health in India, Sh. Sushil Gupta & Ms. Pushpa Gupta from Citizen Forum on Human Rights, Ms. Smriti Dhir and advocate, Sh. R.S.Saini, Secretary Women & Child Care Society, Ms. Oshima Raikhy, President, Aruna Asif Ali Memorial Trust, Sh. Vinod Chadha, President, National Association for Blind, Maj. Gen. Amarjit Singh Kahlon, Chairman, Chesire Home, Dr. Vipin Kaushal, Medical Superintedent, GMCH, Sh. Pritpal Singh, Ms. Kanwaljit Kaur, Fr. Sebastian Jose, Mrs. Manju Bhalla, Dr. Raj Kumar Gupta, Mrs. Neena Singh, Ms. Pallawi Singh, Dr. Nareshanand, Sh. Kamaljit Saini, all Social Workers and Dr. Bhavneet Bharti from Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGIMER etc.
The members of both the committees were apprised by the Chairman that Monitoring Committee consisting of three NGOs representatives and two Directors i.e. Director Principal, GMCH-32 and Director Social Welfare will be responsible to ensure that the basic amenities are provided to the inmates residing in the above institutes. The expenditure will be incurred by the respective HOD as per their financial delegation. In case of expenditure being beyond their financial powers, the same shall be submitted to the next higher competent authority for approval. The Director Social Welfare being the Member-Secretary of the committee shall ensure the visit of the Monitoring Committee to the aforesaid institutions at least on a bimonthly basis or as and when desired by the members of the Monitoring Committee. The members of the committee may visit these institutions individually or otherwise.
Whereas with regard to the Visitors Committee, the members may visit the institutions individually as well as in small groups as per their convenience. Any report submitted by a visitor regarding poor/mal-functioning or improvement thereof, shall be considered and acted upon by the Competent Authority in the concerned department (Director Principal, GMCH in case of Ashreya and Director Social Welfare in case of Nari Niketan, Snehalaya and Juvenile Justice Home) within one month from the date of its receipt and if found not feasible a reasoned decision shall be communicated to the visitor concerned within a period of one month from the date of its receipt. Record of all such reports and decisions taken therein shall be maintained.
While interacting with the representatives of various NGOs bodies, it was felt by the Chairman since these institutions are providing care and protection to the Women and Children who have come across adverse situation in life therefore there is a dire need to intervention from the experienced persons to instill confidence among them and this would be possible only if the social personalities like them will spare some time to visit these institutions and make contribution in the areas where they can help them viz teaching, engaging them in sports activities, yoga, singing, painting and so many other activities to develop their well being.
The Chairman also informed the members that the visitors authorized by the Administration would also be issued identity cards.
The Chairman also appreciated the efforts of the social workers who have already been visiting these institutions and making their contributions.
The Chairman,Chesire Home also suggested for constituting the Sub-Committees to visit these institutions as per the interest of the individual members in a particular institution.
Director Social Welfare apprised the Chairman that counselors have been visiting Juvenile Home-25, Nari Niketan-26 and Snehalaya at Maloya on regular basis. With regard to health component, it was brought to the notice of the members that a committee consisting of 13 doctors constituted by the Administration has also started visiting the institutions on weekly basis. The members were further apprised that cooking in the Juvenile Home-25 and Nari Niketan-26 would be started shortly.
In the end the Chairman desired that DSW should take monthly meetings to discuss and to take action on the various suggestions whereas quarterly meeting would be taken at the level of Secretary Social Welfare.