Juvenile homes are just an extension of prison and lack basic facilities. These homes don’t have trained counsellors to reform inmates and those at the helm are insensitive to the needs of those lodged there.
The infrastructure is bad and there is complete lack of sympathy in those administering the juvenile observation homes. The staff work in a mechanical manner and do not use any reformatory technique to help children. Since it is like a prison, inmates do not want to stay there and try to escape.
If the juveniles are taught art, craft, singing and dancing, there is chance for the inmate to reform during his tenure at the home. Homes need people who are really sensitive towards children and cater to their needs. If the place was made congenial, those housed there would never plan to escape. Since there is complete apathy, no one wants to be there. I have handled several cases of juvenile children and they have always complained of inhuman treatment meted out by authorities or wardens. The need of the hour is a supervisory committee, which should be vested with powers to inspect homes without any notice, and compassion towards inmates giving them a chance to reform.
(As told to E.T.B. Sivapriyan)
