The Hindu Editorial - JANUARY 06, 2019
![The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary [in hindi], hindu editorial today](https://www.thehindu.com/static/theme/default/base/img/logo.png "The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary [in hindi]")
The shocking neglect of child care institutions must be urgently reversed
Child care institutions in India have been trapped in an administrative blind spot, as revelations of the sexual abuse of inmates in a balika grih at Muzaffarpur in Bihar showed last year. A home meant to protect girls rescued from exploitation itself turned into a den of predation. The shocking rot in the management of such shelters has now been reported by a Central government committee. It studied 9,589 Child Care Institutions and Homes, mostly run by NGOs, that come under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Only an emergency measure to address the serious lacunae can bring some semblance of order to these faceless shelters. Most of the inmates are orphaned, abandoned, sexually abused, trafficked or victims of disasters and conflict. Among them are 7,422 children in conflict with the law, and 3,70,227 in need of care and protection, including 1,70,375 girls. That they often have to live in facilities without proper toilets, secure compounds or the opportunity to vent their grievances as provided for under law underscores the painful reality that they remain virtually invisible. Reform of this depressing system, as the Ministry of Women and Child Development seeks, can be achieved only through systematic scrutiny by State governments. This could be done by appointing special officers whose task it would be to ensure that all institutions register under the JJ Act, account for funds received by each, and enforce mandatory child protection policies during adoption.
As per the recently disclosed study, only 32% of Child Care Institutions or Homes were registered under the JJ Act as of 2016, while an equal number were unregistered, and the rest were either empanelled under other schemes or awaiting registration. The priority should be to bring about uniformity of standards and procedures, evolving common norms for infrastructure, human resources, financial practices and external audits. The panel found child care standards were poor in many institutions, sans proper bedding, food and nutrition and sanitation. Some States obviously have too few homes, giving authorities little incentive to take up cases of children in distress. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala together account for 43.5% of all shelters. A few States do not have even one home of every category, such as child care, observation and adoption. The Ministry’s study lays bare the disconnect between civil society and the welfare system for children, and the poor engagement elected representatives have with such a vital function. The imperative now is to turn the findings of the Ministry’s committee into a blueprint for action. Credentialed NGOs should take a greater interest in this effort, holding the authorities to account.
1) Trapped-
Synonyms-:at bay; cornered; treedforced to turn and face attackers,
Usage-: like a trapped animal
2) Revelations-रहस्योद्घाटन,
Synonyms-:disclosure;revealing,
Usage-: revelations about his private life
3)Inmates-सहवासी ,पागलखाने या जेल के संवासी,
Synonyms-:convict; yard bird;
Usage-: education for prison inmates
4) Rescued-बचाना/बचाव ,
Synonyms-:deliverance; delivery; saving,
Usage-: He rescued her from a horrible situation.
5) Den of Predation- शिकार करने का अड्डा ,
Usage-: place of preying by a predator.
6) Lacunae-तिजोरी, गुप्त जगह ,
Synonyms-:coffer,
7) Semblance-दिखावा ,
Usage-: A semblance of normality has been restored.
8) Orphaned- अनाथ ,
Usage-: Jones was orphaned at the age of ten.
9) Abandoned- त्यागना,छोड़ देना,
Synonyms-:leave,
Usage-: His parents had abandoned him
10) Grievances-शिकायत , व्यथा,
Synonyms-:complaint, allegation ,
Usage-: an opportunity for them to discuss their grievances.
11) scrutiny-छानबीन,
Synonyms-:examination,
Usage-: His private life came under scrutiny.
12) Empanelled-दल
13) Norms-तौर-तरीके ,कायदा ,मानक ,
Synonyms-:standard or model or pattern ,
Usage-: a social norm that says swearing is inappropriate behaviour.
14) Bedding-बिस्तर बगरहा,
Usage-: All come in mixed colours and popular summer bedding varieties
15) Incentive-प्रेरणा,प्रोत्साहन, प्रेरणस्रोत,
Synonyms-:inducement; motivation,
Usage-: tax incentives for companies that create jobs.
16) Imperative-अति आवश्यक,अनिवार्य,
Synonyms-:Necessary
Usage-:it is imperative that the two countries do not go to war.
17) blueprint -मूल योजना, या ख़ाका ,
Synonyms-:design; pattern,
Usage-: his blueprint for the country's future.
18) Credentialed- परिचयपत्र ,
Synonyms-: certified as professional , testimonials
Usage-: Britain's new ambassador has presented his credentials to the President.
Left out, abused: on the state of child care institutions
The shocking neglect of child care institutions must be urgently reversed
Child care institutions in India have been trapped in an administrative blind spot, as revelations of the sexual abuse of inmates in a balika grih at Muzaffarpur in Bihar showed last year. A home meant to protect girls rescued from exploitation itself turned into a den of predation. The shocking rot in the management of such shelters has now been reported by a Central government committee. It studied 9,589 Child Care Institutions and Homes, mostly run by NGOs, that come under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Only an emergency measure to address the serious lacunae can bring some semblance of order to these faceless shelters. Most of the inmates are orphaned, abandoned, sexually abused, trafficked or victims of disasters and conflict. Among them are 7,422 children in conflict with the law, and 3,70,227 in need of care and protection, including 1,70,375 girls. That they often have to live in facilities without proper toilets, secure compounds or the opportunity to vent their grievances as provided for under law underscores the painful reality that they remain virtually invisible. Reform of this depressing system, as the Ministry of Women and Child Development seeks, can be achieved only through systematic scrutiny by State governments. This could be done by appointing special officers whose task it would be to ensure that all institutions register under the JJ Act, account for funds received by each, and enforce mandatory child protection policies during adoption.
As per the recently disclosed study, only 32% of Child Care Institutions or Homes were registered under the JJ Act as of 2016, while an equal number were unregistered, and the rest were either empanelled under other schemes or awaiting registration. The priority should be to bring about uniformity of standards and procedures, evolving common norms for infrastructure, human resources, financial practices and external audits. The panel found child care standards were poor in many institutions, sans proper bedding, food and nutrition and sanitation. Some States obviously have too few homes, giving authorities little incentive to take up cases of children in distress. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala together account for 43.5% of all shelters. A few States do not have even one home of every category, such as child care, observation and adoption. The Ministry’s study lays bare the disconnect between civil society and the welfare system for children, and the poor engagement elected representatives have with such a vital function. The imperative now is to turn the findings of the Ministry’s committee into a blueprint for action. Credentialed NGOs should take a greater interest in this effort, holding the authorities to account.
Vocabulary --
1) Trapped-
Synonyms-:at bay; cornered; treedforced to turn and face attackers,
Usage-: like a trapped animal
2) Revelations-रहस्योद्घाटन,
Synonyms-:disclosure;revealing,
Usage-: revelations about his private life
3)Inmates-सहवासी ,पागलखाने या जेल के संवासी,
Synonyms-:convict; yard bird;
Usage-: education for prison inmates
4) Rescued-बचाना/बचाव ,
Synonyms-:deliverance; delivery; saving,
Usage-: He rescued her from a horrible situation.
5) Den of Predation- शिकार करने का अड्डा ,
Usage-: place of preying by a predator.
6) Lacunae-तिजोरी, गुप्त जगह ,
Synonyms-:coffer,
7) Semblance-दिखावा ,
Usage-: A semblance of normality has been restored.
8) Orphaned- अनाथ ,
Usage-: Jones was orphaned at the age of ten.
9) Abandoned- त्यागना,छोड़ देना,
Synonyms-:leave,
Usage-: His parents had abandoned him
10) Grievances-शिकायत , व्यथा,
Synonyms-:complaint, allegation ,
Usage-: an opportunity for them to discuss their grievances.
11) scrutiny-छानबीन,
Synonyms-:examination,
Usage-: His private life came under scrutiny.
12) Empanelled-दल
13) Norms-तौर-तरीके ,कायदा ,मानक ,
Synonyms-:standard or model or pattern ,
Usage-: a social norm that says swearing is inappropriate behaviour.
14) Bedding-बिस्तर बगरहा,
Usage-: All come in mixed colours and popular summer bedding varieties
15) Incentive-प्रेरणा,प्रोत्साहन, प्रेरणस्रोत,
Synonyms-:inducement; motivation,
Usage-: tax incentives for companies that create jobs.
16) Imperative-अति आवश्यक,अनिवार्य,
Synonyms-:Necessary
Usage-:it is imperative that the two countries do not go to war.
17) blueprint -मूल योजना, या ख़ाका ,
Synonyms-:design; pattern,
Usage-: his blueprint for the country's future.
18) Credentialed- परिचयपत्र ,
Synonyms-: certified as professional , testimonials
Usage-: Britain's new ambassador has presented his credentials to the President.
