Annual Report 2009-2010
addicted to drugs for de-addiction therapy. But the press report did not endorse the role of
the two NGOs regarding this, and apprehended it may harm the children, as the concerned
coordinators were not trained in the field of drug de-addiction. It was reported one of the
coordinators belonging to Salam Balak Trust had been accused of raping a girl and was arrested
u/s 376 IPC. The said case was pending trial in the court.
4.205 A report was received in the ma�er from the Dy. Secretary (Home), Government of
NCT of Delhi. It was pointed out in the report that Salaam Balak Trust was unofficially running
the day care centre and the space being used by it was not allo�ed to it for the purpose and
directions had already been issued to it to shi� the day care centre and relocate it at any other
functional centre being run by the organization.
4.206 While considering the reports, the Commission expressed its concern about the plight
of destitute children and observed the Government of India had reportedly launched a
scheme known as “An Integrated Programme for Street Children” under which the services
of education, health and food are provided to the destitute children. It was mentioned in the
report itself that Salaam Balak Trust had received Rs. 18 lakh as funds from the Government
during the relevant financial year. There has to be some kind of mechanism in place to monitor
the utilization of funds given by the Government. The Commission thus directed the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India be called upon to inform whether it
has any system of monitoring the utilization of funds given to Salaam Balak Trust and other such
organizations. The Commission further directed that a team of officers from the Investigation
Division may visit the shops bearing No. 7 and 8 behind Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
and report whether the day-care centre for street children was being run there or was shi�ed to
some authorized place as instructed by the Government of NCT of Delhi. The team should also
study the conditions prevailing in the centre and submit its report with suggestions, if any.
4.207 A�er the spot-investigation, the team from the Investigation Division reported that the
day-care centre under the name of Kishalaya was still being run by Salaam Balak Trust from
Shop No.7-A and 8-A behind Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place. The total area of the
two shops was about 200 sq. �. and it could accommodate about 25-30 children. During
the visit of the team, 15 children in the age group of 6-16 years were found to be present
in the centre. They were being taught by three students pursuing Bachelor of Social Work
(BSW) Degree from B.R. Ambedkar College, University of Delhi. The team also reported that
the children were being provided lunch by the Trust. The lunch was prepared in a kitchen
located in Paharganj which supplied the food daily at the centre. The children were also
given clothes, soap, toothpaste, etc. They used public convenience facilities for bath and
lavatory. The centre assisted the school going children of beggars in completing their school
homework. Children having drug addiction problems were sent to de-addiction centre and
homeless children were sent to permanent homes through the Child Welfare Commi�ee. As
per record of the centre, 44 children were restored to their families, 18 children were sent to
de-addiction centres and 34 children were referred to the Child Welfare Commi�ee during
the last six months. The team of the Investigation Division thus concluded that the day-care
centre run by Salaam Balak Trust in Hanuman Temple complex is working for a good cause
and doing a good job.
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NHRC