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Indore's Shelter Crisis: Unlicensed Homes Hide Abuse
1 Aug
Summary
- Only six of Indore's 25 private shelter homes hold valid permits.
- Investigation triggered by video of a minor assaulting an elderly woman.
- Many homes lack safety measures and house children with elderly residents.
An investigation in Indore has uncovered that a mere six out of the district's 25 operating private shelter homes possess valid permits from the social justice department. This situation came to light following a probe into an unauthorized old-age home in Banganga, where a minor was filmed assaulting an elderly woman.
Most of these unregistered facilities, often operating as NGOs, have failed to secure mandatory secondary clearance. Consequently, the social justice department lacks oversight and official records for these centers. Investigations indicate a severe lack of safety measures, such as CCTV and systematic resident record-keeping. Some centers also improperly house children with elderly individuals.
The district collector ordered the sealing of the unauthorized Banganga home and relocation of its residents after the viral incident. Survivors reported frequent abuse, with three elderly residents currently hospitalized. The inquiry also revealed that the unauthorized home was illegally constructed on a demolished public toilet complex, with adjacent government school grounds being utilized for other unregistered facilities.
