No meetings held since forming new panel for children in conflict with law
A Tamil Nadu government committee tasked with overseeing homes for children in conflict with the law has failed to hold a single meeting since its 2024 inception. The committee's effectiveness is further hampered by a long-standing vacancy in the director position responsible for convening the group.
Why it matters
Administrative paralysis in child welfare oversight directly impacts the safety and rehabilitation of vulnerable youth in state-run facilities.
The Tamil Nadu Empowered Committee on Special Services for Children, meant to administer all the government homes functioning for children in conflict with law, has not convened a single meeting since its conception in 2024.
According to sources in the Children Welfare and Special Service department (CWSS), a meeting was scheduled when the committee was constituted, but it was cancelled. Since then a meeting has not been called.
The functioning of the committee assumes importance as 12 inmates escaped from a Government Place of Safety in Athur, near Chengalpattu, recently.
Child rights activists note that the committee could have worked to improve the mechanism and infrastructure for children in conflict with law.
The committee was formed to implement the recommendations made by the one-man committee headed by retired Justice K. Chandru for the effective functioning and administration of government observation homes, special homes, and places of safety.
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