SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has issued notice to the chief secretary and other officials to respond to the plight of abandoned street children.
The division bench of the court issued the notice following a letter from Khroolamsalanki Pariat, a resident of Jowai, who had cited various problems being faced by street children, especially during winter.
The court said keeping in view the urgency involved in the matter, notice will have to be issued to the chief secretary, the commissioner and secretary, Urban Affairs Department, and the commissioner and secretary, Social Welfare Department.
The state government will have to file response on or before November 12.
The court said the government will take necessary steps so that the objective of welfare state is achieved. The matter will come up for hearing on November 13.
Earlier, in his letter, Pariat said as a concerned citizen, he cannot just watch and weep over the condition of the abandoned children at night, especially as winter is approaching. “But as I have limited resources, my voice will not be heard by the government authority even if I raise the issue before them,” Pariat said.
Pariat sought the intervention of the court so that the government can open night shelter houses in Shillong and other district headquarters of the state. Night shelter homes should not be solely for sheltering purpose but they should also serve as personality and skill development centres.
“Night shelters should have a regular night school which will impart some kind of basic technical training to them in the field of carpentry, electrical, plumbing, civil works and others. Training should be given to them in the form of regular classes from 6 pm to 9 pm,” Pariat said.
According to him, this will help in transforming and giving them an opportunity to live their life with dignity.
“There is no dearth of volunteers for this purpose, if needed, retired technicians of various government departments may be roped in to serve at such centres. In the meantime, as a temporary arrangement, Community Hall or Rehabilitation Centres built by the government may be used to accommodate them,” he said.
