Child rights panel directs closure of orphanage

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights directed the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) to close an orphanage run by Sharada Education and Charitable Trust following illegalities.

Chairperson of the Commission, Kripa Alva,  said children in the orphanage have been going missing, which has been established through an inquiry.

In April 2015, it came to light that some kids of the orphanage went missing after they were taken to attend a Rajyotsava programme. No such programme was conducted, leading to suspicion. It came to light that the orphanage had not been registered under the JJ Act and has not taken the permission of the Child Welfare Committee to admit orphaned children into the Trust. WCD has also been directed to rescue the remaining children and rehabilitate them.