Harassment complaint at children’s home

ALAPPUZHA: The inmates of  Nirmalananda Balabhavan run by the Sri Rama Krishna ashram in Kayamkulam are being forced to do  child labour, according to a complaint filed with the Childline on Monday.

As many as 27  inmates  belonging  to the tribal community in Palakkad  have alleged  mental and physical harassment by the hostel warden.

Mr Sergio Fabian,  district co-ordinator, Childline, told Deccan Chronicle that the case would be handed over to the Child Welfare Committee on Wednesday.

“The children said in their complaint that they were being fed with stale  food  and forced by the warden to work  in nearby houses. 

The children, all under 14 (class V and VI students), first revealed the matter to the  school teachers and  later filed a written  complaint with the Childline.

The inmates said they had to clean up the kitchen and wash  clothes in the ashram. They were not allowed to play and even talk to each other.

The warden was forcing them to eat stale food  and  those who resisted him would be harassed  mentally and physically. “A team of eight inmates is tasked to do these jobs every day,”  they said.

The Kerala High Court in October 2012 had clarified that  employing children below the age of 14 was illegal. Meanwhile, the Sri Rama Krishna Mission management denied the allegations and said the complaint was fabricated.

Swami Kaivalyananda,  ashram administrator here, said  all the 56 inmates in Balabhavan were happy. “ I have not got any complaint from the children or the warden.

The Balabhavan was set up to help the underprivileged children. The institution has produced a number of fine individuals over years.

The allegations are baseless,”  he said. The ashram was started in 1927 by Swami Nirmalanandaji Maharaj, a disciple of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna.