Chennai school running unregistered home to get show cause notice

CHENNAI: A Chennai school in Royapettah that recently came under scanner for running an unregistered residential home and for allegedly forcing girl students to religious conversion, will soon be issued with a show cause notice by the Department of Social Welfare, said an official source.

Additionally, an official from the Directorate of Social Defence refuted the allegation that the girl students were forced for religious conversion to Christianity and stated that the unregistered home was running with poor facilities for the students. Upon rectifying the concerns, the home can avail for registration under the Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014.

Incidentally, on September 6, the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) along with officials of education department and District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) conducted an inspection at CSI Monahan Girls Hostel attached to its school in Royapettah.

During the inspection, the team found that the hostel has been functioning sans registration and basic and necessary facilities for the girl students, who mostly belonged to economically weaker backgrounds.

Subsequently, SCPCR took the issue to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), who in turn on September 9 made a written request to TN Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu and Director General of Police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu to take action against the school management.

Saranya Jaikumar, a member of SCPCR said, “The home run by the school did not have even the basic facilities needed for the girl students living there. Three cameras seemed purposefully broken when the new warden took over six months ago. The 55 girl students from economically weaker families residing at the home are subjected to mental and physical agony by the management.”

Speaking about the forced religious conversion by the management, Saranya added, “When we inquired with the girls at the home, they cried and lamented about their plight. They said they were allowed to read only school textbooks or Bible, not allowed to watch television or play games and also not allowed to dress up as per their will.”

Saranya, who insists on registering the home under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act pointed out that the families of many girl students have already been forcefully converted to Christianity. Further she alleges that no action was taken by the State department on rescuing the girl students from the home and officials did not respond to calls from SCPCR.

Meanwhile, an official with the Directorate of Social Defence responded, “Firstly, the home need not be registered under the JJ Act as the Act is only for care and protection of children. Hence it is enough that the CSI home is registered under the Hostels Act alone.”

The official explained that a team of additional director of social welfare, district child protection officer, sub inspector of the area and a Tahsildar conducted an inspection on September 10 and submitted a report to the Chief Secretary and Chennai collector. The report does not indicate forced religious conversion, the official pointed out.

“The show cause notice which will soon be issued will ensure the home has proper facilities before registering them under Hostels Act, ”added the official.