How Could You? Hall of Shame-India-Sun Light Orphanage
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Usilampatti , India,”a 69-year-old man running an orphanage without permission near Usilampatti here was arrested on Friday after one of the girls residing in the orphanage reported that he had sexually abused her for many years.
According to the complaint given by the 15-year-old, who has been in the orphanage since Class 2, she was subjected to abuse and rape by the accused, G. Devapitchai, ever since she attained puberty.
“She was being threatened not to speak about it. However, the girl recently informed one of the teachers in her school through whom the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) was alerted,” an official associated with the unit said.
DCPU and Child Welfare Committee officials have now rescued all the 11 girls residing in the home, aged below 16, and have put them in the hostel of the government-aided school in Usilampatti in which they are studying.
Enquiry with the girls have revealed that all of them were subjected to some form of abuse including inappropriate touches, the official said.
The home was being run under the banner ‘Sun Light Orphanage’.
Stipulated regulations
It was closed last year by DCPU and revenue officials after it was found that it had no approval and failed to meet the regulations stipulated by the Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. A. Ganesan, District Child Protection Officer, said that Mr. Devapitchai, however, had continued to run the home at a different place even after the closure.
“All the children at the home had either lost their parents or belonged to broken families,” he said.
Various charges
Devapitchai has been booked under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act that deal with repeated penetrative sexual assault and abuse by a person who provides guardianship or foster care. The police have also invoked provisions of Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act since the complainant belonged to the SC community.”
Orphanage manager held for sexual abuse
[The Hindu 12/1/18]
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