Probe initiated after minor dies at girls’ home in Alwar

Alwar: Following a girl's death at Aarti Girls' Home in Alwar on Feb 11 due to inadequate medical attention, allegedly caused by the operator's negligence, the Child Rights Department launched an inquiry into the matter, Thursday.The girl was found destitute near Aarti Girls' Home, a govt-funded orphanage, two years ago and was subsequently placed under its care. Enrolled in Class 5, she fell severely ill on Jan 31 and was admitted to Alwar General Hospital. She was later transferred to a children's hospital, where an MRI revealed tuberculosis in her brain. Despite medical recommendations for urgent transfer to Jaipur, she succumbed to her illness, reportedly due to administrative lapses.While the operator, Child Welfare Committee (CWC), and Child Rights Department failed to trace her family for two years, the Aravali Vihar police located her relatives in Palwal, Haryana, within two days. Following a post-mortem, her remains were handed over to her uncle, Devendra Rajput, Thursday. Her father had passed away 13 years ago, and her mother had abandoned her after eloping.Assistant director of Child Rights Department, Ravikant, said, four years ago, an inquiry exposed a misappropriation of nearly Rs 20 lakh at Aarti Girls' Home through fraudulent bills. "A complaint was lodged against Aarti Girls' Home operator Chetaram Saini at Shivaji Park police station, and the police found him responsible in preliminary findings. Consequently, the grant for Aarti Girls' Home was suspended," he said.Ravikant added the govt provides free medical treatment for girls at the home. "The operator and the CWC should have ensured her treatment in Jaipur. However, the department remained unaware of her illness," he added.In his defence, Saini claimed he had not received any govt grant for four years. "I repeatedly informed the assistant director via letters and phone calls regarding the girl's condition. The department's indifference resulted in her death," he alleged.The girl's body remained in the mortuary for three days before being handed over to her family.
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