Details

Visit to the Markaz Darul Yatama, Kachua, Nagaon District in January 2018

A fact finding team of the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), comprising of Members Dr. Nani Gopal Goswami and Technical Consultant Maharishi Goswami made a visit to Markaz Darul Yatama at Kachua in Nagaon District, on January 18, 2018, accompanied by Mustafa Ali, from District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Nagaon. The purpose of the visit was to monitor the facility that gives shelter to 69 orphan Muslim girls.

The findings from the visit are as follows:

1. The orphanage is situated in a two bihga land, at a village on the outskirts of Nagaon.
2. At the time of visit, one female and two male staff along with a caretaker were present at the facility.
3. Presently, a total of 67 inmates (under 18 years of age) and 2 inmates (above the age of 18) are staying in the home.
4. The girls are presently staying in a large dormitory; a temporary facility, as the planning is under way to build a hostel for the girls. A plot has already been procured to build a hostel for the girls.
5. It was observed that the authorities of the home do not maintain registers of records and inmates in their premises. As verbally informed by their staff, the records are kept in the main office in Hojai, which definitely demands another impromptu visit to the institution.
6. Since the classes are due to open after 22nd of January (Saraswati Puja), the quality of education could not be assessed very well; but from conversation with the girls, it appeared like they are well versed with their studies both religious and syllabus prescribed under the RTE Act.
7. The home has registrations under the Societies Act (valid till May 2018) as well as the Juvenile Justice Act (valid till February 2022)