Sambalpur: Escaped Children from Golabandh Child Care Centre Found; Accuse Staff of Abuse, Child Welfare Committee Launches Investigation
Sambalpur: A shocking incident happened in Sambalpur when six children, 5 boys, and a girl, decided to run away from the Golabandh Child Care Centre. While traveling from Dhama to Maneshwar, some locals saw them near the railway station and grew suspicious, as they were children themselves. The locals quickly informed the police.
When asked, the children’s response was nothing but scary. They accused the two female workers at the facility of beating them and forcing them to work. The children said if they did not obey, they would be beaten. This created serious concerns regarding the safety and well-being of the children in the center’s care.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, there seems to be an attempt to sweep the incident under the rug. Rumors suggest that administration officials are deliberately trying to twist the story and downplay what happened. Meanwhile, questions are being asked about why the facility is permitted to operate in the absence of basic amenities such as an operational reading room or educational facilities for children.
The incident has sparked outrage and a wide-ranging discussion about the safety and security of care given to children in such institutions. As just ten children live at the Golabandh Centre, full attention is required to their needs and safety. If the allegations of physical abuse are proven to be genuine, it will be a miserable reality that would go against the very purpose of these facilities – to nurture and protect young lives.
According to Child Welfare Committee chairman Prashanta Padhi, a team led by CWC and child protection authorities spoke with the children and thoroughly investigated their allegations. While he declined to comment on the claimed beating, he admitted that the incident is being investigated.
