Minister Vows to Develop Child Correction Homes into Rehabilitation Centers

Kathmandu. Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Social Security Sita WADI has expressed commitment to develop child correction homes across the country into centers for reform, education, and rehabilitation.  

Speaking at a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee under the House of Representatives held at Singha Durbar on Sunday, Minister WADI stated that child correction homes should not be merely places of punishment. According to Minister WADI, currently, 10 child correction homes are in operation across the country: Bhaktapur, Morang, Parsa, Hetauda, Kaski, Rupandehi, Banke (Jayandu and Naubasta), Doti, and Nuwakot.  

Although the total capacity of these correction homes is 1,085, currently 1,195 children are residing there. She also informed that four correction homes, which were managed by a non-governmental organization (YCEP Nepal) until recently, were brought under the full control of the government from the 1st of Shrawan last year. According to her, the main challenges include overcrowding in most correction homes, lack of child-friendly physical infrastructure, and inadequate security arrangements. Mentioning that the allocated food and expenses for children (Rs 80 per day and 700 grams of rice) are the same as for prisoners, and this does not meet the nutritional needs of growing children, she stated that coordination is underway with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to increase the ration and nutritional expenses. She informed that health insurance has been provided for all children for medical treatment, and the number of health workers has been increased for primary healthcare.  

Acknowledging that security and protection issues arise when individuals aged 18 and above are housed with younger children, as per the Children's Act, 2075 BS, Minister WADI stated that separate arrangements have been made for those above 18 years in Nuwakot and Naubasta, Banke. She mentioned that although there is a legal provision to deploy Nepal Police without arms and uniforms in the security management within correction homes, there is a problem sometimes during protests and fights where children do not obey plainclothes police. She noted that management is difficult due to the long time taken for case judgments and the lack of adequate vehicles for court proceedings.

Stating that the government has given high priority to improving the quality of child correction homes, Minister WADI said that the correction home under construction in DhakalTarr, Tanahun, is in its final stages, and budget has been allocated for the establishment of a new correction home in Karnali Province. She mentioned that while schools are currently operational in only four correction homes, access to education will be expanded to others, and children will be provided with vocational and AI-related skill-based training. She informed that the amendment process to update the Children's Act, 2075 BS, in line with the times has been initiated. She also informed that budget has been arranged to develop the correction homes in Bhaktapur, Kaski, and Parsa as model centers, and coordination is underway with the Ministry of Home Affairs for the handover of the District Coordination Committee building to reduce the excessive pressure at the correction home in Bhairahawa.  

Minister WADI also expressed commitment that the ministry will take the suggestions given by the parliamentary subcommittee seriously and implement them in phases.