The overcrowding in the children’s reform home in Bhairahawa has led the Children to suffer from various health problems. There are currently 90 children accommodated in the reform home despite it holding the capacity for 40 people. The Children consequently have to wait for their turn to sleep, shower and even to go to the toilet.
Out of 90 children in the Reform Home, 57 are inmates and 29 are detainees. Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal said that there are four foreign nationals in the reform home. Among the juvenile inmates and detainees, 49 are kept their for rape cases, 14 for killing, 6 for attempted rape, two for sexual abuse, one for abduction/body hostage, and four for vehicular homicide.
It is reported that the children have to wait for their turn to sleep because of various skin problems such as infection, ringworm, and the heat during the summer time. Similarly, Pitambar Neupane, the Office Assistant of the Children’s Reform Home mentioned that overcrowding has caused problems such as nerve related diseases due to not being able to get proper walk, and outbreaks of skin diseases due to lack of sunlight. In addition, the Children’s Reform Home is not meeting the required standards. With a designation for seven individuals working in the reform home, it is currently being run with the assistance of only one office staff member.
The reform home currently lacks a Chief, as Kalpana Aryal, the outgoing Chief, was transferred to the district election office two weeks ago. Not only this, Children in the reform home are also deprived of several rights, including the right to education, legal representation, healthcare, entertainment, nutritious food, and a clean environment.
Ganesh Aryal, Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, said that they are sensitive about the matter of Children’s Reform Home and have already sent all their decisions to Kathmandu for providing three bighas ( 1 Bigha= 14400 Square Feet) and one kattha (720 Sq.ft) of land in Siddharthnagar Municipality to relocate the Children’s Reform Home. Additionally, he has been closely monitoring the condition of the Reform home and coordinating with the representatives of the local government to provide the children with basic nutritional food, comfortable living, walking and exercise.