Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Jan 16: Shifting of Ayush Hospital to Junglighat had triggered a ripple in Andaman. Politicians, activities, even journalists were up in the arms against the administration to retain the AYUSH Building for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH). But when 20 odd homeless girls with their temporary home, the Balika Niketan, were shifted to remote Attam Pahad, no islander raised voice against it, perhaps because shifting of Balika Niketan does not disturb daily routines of influential people, who play a major role in giving voice to Politicians, Activists and even journalists.
According to reports nearly 20 girls of Balika Niketan were shifted to ICDS building at Attam Pahad recently, when the DHS asked to vacate Health Department’s building, which was used as Balika Niketan. The building was not designed to be used as hostel and hence in initial days the inmates faced a lot of difficulties in adjusting with the new building. Moreover, according to sources the building looks unsafe as in the remote location the building doesn’t even have proper fencing.
Moreover, the management of Balika Niketan has only one vehicles and the area is so far that children often get late to reach their respective schools on time.
According to reports one inmate also attempted to escape from the Balika Niketan as she was deeply upset with the new Home.
When contacted Ms Reeta Devi, Welfare Officer of Social Welfare Department told Andaman Sheekha that the building required certain modifications and those modifications and renovations works have been completed. She claimed that shifting will not leave any impact on the inmates.
“I visit the home daily. All problems they discuss with us and we carry out proper counselling. The children are quite happy,” she added.
Regarding the girl child who escaped from the Balika Niketan she said that the girl was not willing to stay here for her own reasons. “She left the Home at 8.30 am but we managed to bring her back by 10.30 am,” she added.
Another official on the condition of anonymity said that the building has office on the ground floor and the girls live on the first floor, which is not good for girls’ privacy. “Moreover, the area is not safe. Lot of shady people roam here and there. The distance is too much, Children get exhausted by evening when the reach Home from Schools,” the source added.
Dozens of Type V and Type IV buildings are lying unoccupied inside Port Blair Municipal region the Administration should have shifted the Balika Niketan to those quarter instead of sending them to a remote place, which remains totally cut off after evening hours.
