Minister finds juvenile justice homes unhygienic

Chandigarh, July 10 (UNI) Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla has expressed her displeasure over the unhygienic and filthy conditions of all the three juvenile justice homes in the state.

In a statement issued here today, the Minister said a health survey would be conducted in the three juvenile homes and the women jail by the Health department.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating mental and physical health of children in the juvenile homes, she said poor unfortunate children requires a lot of attention of the authorities to improve their pathetic conditions.

Ms Chawla said to rehabilitate and restablish young children confined to jails would be among the top priorities of the state government. She said she would herself visit and monitor the juvenile homes.

To make inmates morally and spiritually healthy and strong, the Health department would organise Yoga classes and spiritual discourses for them.

Besides, regular visits by a doctor, psychiatrist and a psychologist would be ensured so that a large number of their problems could be solved.

She said the Punjab Government would also provide free legal assistance to those young prisoners who were non-Punjabis, confined to juvenile homes under various sections of the IPC so that they do not suffer more for adequate legal help.

Necessary steps were being taken for the successful implementation and execution of various plans, encouraging the inmates to join the mainstream, said Ms Chawla.

UNI