Monitoring the guardians

The decision by the National Child Protection Authority to keep a close check on all Children’s Homes in the country is indeed a welcome move. According to NCPA Chairperson Anoma Dissanayake it has been observed by her officials that several Children’s Homes are not functioning up to the required standards. She has also warned that Children’s Homes that don’t follow NCPA guidelines, regulations and standards would be closed down.

It goes without saying that in the light of the recent happenings in certain Children’s Homes, the close monitoring of these Homes are a must. In this regard one cannot but recall the infamous episode of the baby farms where infants were sold to foreigners. There were rumours that the racket was masterminded by certain prominent politicians of the day. We should not let our Children’s Homes too become auction houses for the highest bidder.

Without doubt a large proportion of our Children’s Homes are run by well meaning philanthropists who indeed should be commended for their largesse towards the poor and destitute children. They should receive all the assistance of the State to continue the good work. However they should exercise care and be selective in the recruitment of the guardians and the support staff who supervise these children. Childcare is a specialised subject and should be approached with the utmost sensitivity. It is in this respect that most Children’s Homes are found wanting.

Today Child care has assumed a wholly different dimension where not only the physical wellbeing of the child but also the psychological aspect too is of equal importance. As the NCPA chief noted personnel enriched with humanitarian qualities have to be appointed as the guardians of Children’s Homes. This is so since these children are essentiality orphans who have been deprived of parental love and affection.

The decision to monitor Children’s Homes also assumes importance in the light of the many malpractices and dark deeds that have come to light within the walls of these Children’s Homes operated by imposters in the guise of good Samaritans. We are of course referring to the many instances of children been sold to foreigners and the sexual abuse of Children in these Children’s Homes. In fact one of these Children’s Homes in the outstations caused such a huge scandal that the Police had to move in to inquire into its activities. It is the duty of the NCPA to ferret out the black sheep who ruin the good name of the genuine philanthropists who are doing yeomen service by providing shelter to the orphaned and destitute.

At the same time close tabs should be kept on some of these Children’s Homes who receive foreign funds or NGO assistance to make sure the inmates benefit. Because as mentioned some of these Children’s Homes function as a convenient cover for nefarious activities and as money-spinners. Their finances should be gone into to ensure that innocent children are not being exploited for monetary gain.

With the end of the three decade old war the NCPA will have to shoulder an extra burden to see to it that the large number of children rendered orphaned are given sufficient care. It should get more and more children’s Homes opened in the North and East through the good offices of the private sector and philanthropists. Needless to say these children should be afforded special care given their special circumstances including the necessary psychological help. More funds should be allocated from the National Budget to the NCPA to undertake this worthy cause.

The NCPA should also focus its attention more on the cruelty to children in our society. We often read about flying squads rescuing such children from the perpetrators of such crimes. Sufficient punishment should be meted out to the offenders. It is said to note that a majority cases of child cruelty are today settled out of Court adding insult to injury.

It should also conduct raids to nab households employing under-aged domestics which is now an offence under the law. The recent murder of two such child domestics from Nuwara-eliya whose bodies were discovered near a stream in the vicinity of a plush residence in Colombo is evidence that this law is observed in the breach. More attention should also be paid to the plight of street children which is today threatening to assume the proportions of a social problem.

The NCPA should gear itself sufficiently to meet the present day challenges associated with the child which is today more multi-facetted particularly following the war. It could do well by obtaining expert advise in this regard from countries which are similarly saddled with post conflict childcare.