An investigation by a sub divisional magistrate has found that 13 children have died at a Delhi government-run shelter home for the specially abled in the past 20 days. So far, 27 deaths have been reported since January at the Asha Kiran shelter home in Rohini, inviting allegations of neglect and poor living conditions from the BJP.
The cause of the deaths at Asha Kiran shelter home is not known yet. Noting that the number of deaths was much higher than last year, the SDM said the real cause of the fatalities would be known after the post-mortem reports.
The report by the SDM has raised questions about the quality of drinking water being provided to the children.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a fact-finding team to the shelter home while lashing out at the AAP government for negligence.
"For years, the Asha Kiran shelter home run by the Delhi government has lost all asha (hope). People are suffering and dying in it and the Delhi government does nothing, nothing at all. Taking cognisance and sending my team to enquire into it," NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said.
She said the NCW was also carrying out an audit of night shelters run by the Delhi government.
Delhi minister Atishi, however, differed on the number of deaths and asked the additional chief secretary (ACS) of the Revenue department to initiate a magisterial probe and submit a report in 48 hours. In her letter, Atishi noted that there were 14 deaths since January 2024 at the shelter home.
The minister also sought recommendations on action to be taken against those whose negligence had caused the deaths. She also sought suggestive measures to be taken to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in the future.
A team from the Delhi BJP has also reached Asha Kiran shelter home to take stock of the situation.
"As per our information, the children are getting dirty water, they don't get food, they don't get treatment. An inquiry should be conducted and all the officers who are involved in this should be punished," Rekha Gupta, BJP Mahila Morcha vice president, said.
Hitting out at the BJP, Delhi minister Gopal Rai said the leaders of the saffron party did not visit the home of the mother and son who had drowned in a drain in Mayur Vihar.
"The BJP is protesting. But, they did not protest when a woman and her son died in Mayur Vihar after slipping into a drain. They came to protest at Asha Kiran because they know that it comes under the Delhi government," Rai said.
He also said the concerned minister was closely monitoring the case and the guilty people would not be spared. "The Delhi government stands with the people," he said.
Source: India Today