[COVID-19] Calcutta HC directs State to file report on steps to protect children in shelter homes, children of migrants in need of care

A Special Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday passed certain directions for safeguarding the rights of the children staying in Children Protection Homes across the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic..The Bench of Justices Harish Tandon and Soumen Sen was tasked to deal with the issue, in view of the Supreme Court's April 3 directive for monitoring the the interests of the inmates in child shelter homes during the health crisis. While passing various directions on the issue, the Calcutta High Court also remarked,.A time has come when we have to make compassion go viral in the months ahead, so that together we wither the storm and emerge stronger. The children need our compassion, attention and support.Calcutta High Court.The Court was assured by Advocate General Kishore Dutta that a host of measures have already been undertaken by the Government of West Bengal in the matter. .The Court also took note that a report was submitted by the Juvenile Justice Committee finding that adequate steps had been taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in 51 Government-aided and NGO-run Child Care Institutions, and 19 Government-run Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in West Bengal..The Court further took on record various additional suggestions made by the Government to avoid the invasion of the deadly virus. .Additionally, the Court has now issued the following directions:The Departments of Health and for Child and Women were directed to file a comprehensive report with regard to the steps taken in terms of the Supreme Court's on April 3 order.Notably, The report must also indicate the steps taken to protect the rights of migrant children in need of care and protection..The Principal Secretary, Child Welfare is to ensure that the superintendent attached to the Child Protection Homes does not leave the Home until the lockdown is lifted.The Superintendents are also to ensure the cleanliness of each Home and special attention should be paid to the health and hygiene of the individual child.Proper screening of the children should be made at regular intervals and if any child is reported to have the symptoms of COVID-19, immediate steps to have taken for his/her treatment.Security Personnel attached to the Homes shall not be allowed entry inside the homes without the prior permission of the superintendent.The District Judges are to ensure that Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) and Child Rights Courts are functioning. They also have to file a comprehensive report on the steps taken by JJBs and Child Rights Courts in their respective districts in terms of the order passed by the Supreme Court in April 3, 2020.Adequate number of child psychologists, clinical psychologists and councellors shall be deployed in all Child Protection Homes to ensure that the children do not suffer from mental distress..Moreover, the Court went on to highlight the following measures as requiring immediate attention in the matter:Video conferencing and special online sittings to be ensured in JJBs, CWCs and Children Homes.Release of the children to their respective families as far as feasible.Periodical visits to be made by the Health Department to ensure proper health and hygiene of the children.Isolation rooms to be established in every Homes.The Superintendent attached to each Homes to monitor each child and upon noticing any symptom of COVID-19 shall take immediate steps to isolate such child and report the matter to the CMOH to ensure examination of the child clinically and pathologicallyAny child produced for the first time before CWC or JJB and required to be sent on CCIs or any other Homes, would be first put in isolation to complete the quarantine period before being allowed to interact with the children of such Home.The Government must take care of the children of the migrant labourers and migrant families arrived in the State since the outbreak of COVID-19 and shall identify the children who may be considered as child in need of care and protection..The matter will be taken up next on April 21 for consideration of the reports to be filed by all the stakeholders..Read the order here: