Goa govt-run Apna Ghar staff was scared of boys: Report

Panaji, Aug 4 (PTI) An inquiry into affairs of 'Apna Ghar', a state-run shelter home for children, has revealed that the staff was "scared" of the minor boys there and did not even sit next to them. The Goa government appointed Levinsons Martins inquiry has pointed out that the staff has told the committee that they even feared for their life as some of the inmates have assaulted them in the past. The inquiry report was tabled on the floor of the House during the ongoing State legislative assembly session. In further revelation, the inquiry officer found that the caretakers did not sit in the dormitory gallery as they were "scared" that the boys may attack them as there are no doors to the dormitory and boys have open access to the gallery. In the past, children have attacked the staff and left from the main gate during evenings, while all assembled to watch a film on the television. 'Apna Ghar', a shelter for children in conflict with law, is situated at the city outskirts in Merces village. The committee has pointed out that the security at Apna Ghar was extremely lax with two aged watchmen recruited by a private security agency posted at the gate. Martins noted that the staff of Apna Ghar was providing access of their mobile phones to inmates, using which they were planning escapes. Equipments like gas cutters were ordered from outside using facebook conversations by the boys. Also, the after care facility run by state government in association with NGO-Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) has come under criticism in the report. Martins has pointed out that those children who were found to be involved in thefts after completing their term in Apna Ghar were actually being taken care of by SCAN. The NGO runs after care facility to rehabilitate these children.