In early 2007 prior to new academic session we obtained petitions from willing convicts and long term UTPs for admission of their sons/daughters in these homes mentioning their preference for the particular organization. We approached Social Welfare Department for admission of these children in NGO Homes / Institutes under ‘Cottage Scheme’ according to their preferences. All the 145 cases were considered by the Social Welfare Department. In 2008 the number becomes 94 whereas in 2009 the benefit has been extended to 137 such children. It has now become an annual routine exercise for the correctional services officials. The volunteers of our NGO Partners working in this field contact the families of children as well as the Superintendent of concerned correctional home and the NGO Home / institute authorities and make arrangements to facilitate admission of the children.
Important Information
Ongoing Reforms
Women & Children
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Project In Brief
- The National Legal Services Authority has adopted the programme for total support.
- The programme is also going to help reformation and correction of the convicts.
- Reputed NGO/Social Organizations are our partners for implementation of the programme.
- Individual sponsorship is being encouraged to support education of prisoners’ children in residential schools.
- On an initiative taken by West Bengal Correctional Services, the Directorate of Social Welfare, Govt of West Bengal has issued orders for admission of 145 children in 2007 and 94 children in 2008 and 137 children in 2009 of the prisoners lodged in different correctional homes of the State in the NGO Homes under ‘Cottage Scheme’ for their care, protection and fooding, lodging, education etc. free of cost.
- The Prisoners’ Welfare Fund established vide No. WB/DTP/Pt.I/CPS/2008/58 will also be used for extending educational support to prisoners’ children living in the community (see G.O. / Notifications).
Admission of Prisoners’ Children in NGO Homes under Cottage Scheme
There are some reputed NGOs/Social Organizations/Institutes which are running homes & residential schools for poor and destitute boys and girls. The academic standard of some of these organizations is excellent The Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal has worked out arrangements for education of poor and marginalized children in these institutes on payment of charges per child under ‘Cottage Scheme’. The entire cost of lodging, boarding and education for such children is borne by the State Government.
However, we have observed that the residential facilities in respect of some of the homes and schools are far from satisfactory which may lead to a poor image of the noble project in the eyes of public. We, therefore, proposed to enlist few Institute / School / Hostels with excellent academic standard with the spirit of service as well as quality of service by the Deptt of Social Welfare on the usual terms and conditions for providing support to poor and destitute children particularly the girls.