Kanpur shelter home case: NHRC approached for compensation, action

57 girls, including five pregnant ones, were tested positive for COVID-19

outrage over abuse in shelter homes Representational image

After 57 girls, including five pregnant ones, at a state-run children's shelter home in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district tested positive for COVID-19, activist Dr Nutan Thakur has filed a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission seeking compensation for the affected girls, and a high-level inquiry into the matter.

In her complaint, Thakur said that Supreme Court, in its order dated April 3, 2020, in suo motu writ petition no. 4 of 2020, had issued several important directions for protection of children in protection homes, a copy of which was sent through email to all state chief secretaries. These directions covered various aspects to be followed to protect the children from COVID-19.

As per Thakur, these directions were not followed in Kanpur shelter home. While the maximum capacity of shelter home was 100, 171 girls were kept there, along with 26 staff members, which was much higher than the capacity. In addition, appropriate precautions were not taken regarding the pregnant girls.

Two other girls in the shelter home, who are also pregnant, have, reportedly, tested COVID-19 negative.

"The five pregnant girls, who have been found COVID-19 positive, were referred by the Child Welfare Committees of Agra, Etah, Kannauj, Firozabad and Kanpur under the POCSO Act. The seven girls were pregnant at time, when they came to the shelter home," Kanpur DM Brahma Dev Ram Tiwari was quoted as saying by PTI.

The district magistrate added that two girls are undergoing treatment at LLR Hospital in Kanpur, while three others are undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

Earlier, in a Facebook post, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the media reports about the girls being found pregnant at the shelter home.

(With inputs from Puja Awasthi, PTI)