**Bhubaneswar: ** Refuting all the allegations made by the opposition, especially BJP, Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD) today argued that the institution run by Good News India at Dhenkanal’s Beltikiri is not shelter home for the children, but hostel and also not aided by Odisha Government nor comes under Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. Even the Centre has not issued any guideline for such hostels.
Issuing a press note, BMJD president Minati Behera has also argued that lakhs of such hostels and coaching centres are there countrywide which are not under the purview of the existing Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act. In order to run hostels, there is no need for registering them as per the prevalent norms of the JJ Act.
She has also claimed that the Odisha Government has already shut down 19 government shelter homes between 2015 and 2018. The students staying in the institutions later on do not come under the JJ Act 2015 and JJ Act Guidelines, 2016.
Condemning Dhenkanal district’s Beltikiri shelter home’s deplorable incident, the BMJD president has also stated in her press note that Odisha Government is never shielding the guilty and action is being taken as the law. As POCSO Act has been enacted since 2012 nationwide and the accused has been booked under it, there is no chance of the accused going scotfree. Beltikiri shelter home accused has already been arrested under POCSO Act and now under judicial custody.
Also it has been stated that the Odisha Government has already directed for inspection and closing down all other hostels run by Good News India as well as other unregistered shelter homes in the State.
Even POCSO Act, 2012 has been implemented in the State since 2012.
Taking a dig at BJP, BMJD president Minati Behera has pointed finger citing Muzaffarpur (Bihar) incident where the minor girls have allegedly been sexually assulated in the shelter home there which is allegedly recognized and aided by the State Government. The unpardonable incident has allegedly political patronage there for which lackadaisical attitude was allegedly evident for initiating actions against the accused as well as the shelter home.
BMJD president averred that such an apathetic attitude is not found with the Odisha Government here as action has already been taken and also being taken.
She has further lambasted that elected people’s representatives in a democracy should not misuse power and issue reckless objectionable statements. In this context, she has raised her finger at Union Women and Child Development Minister Manek a Gandhi’s recent statements and letter to Odisha Chief Minister.
The BMJD president in her press note has also claimed that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has already submitted a guideline with the Central Government in January 2018, but the Centre has not yet formally published any notification in this respect.
She has also claimed that requisite information on foreign funds received by the Indian institutions is available with the Centre not with the State.
**Also Read:** [Odisha: Biz Correspondent Held On Charges Of Embezzling Money By Showing Dead People Alive](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/odisha-biz-correspondent-held-on-charges-of-embezzling-money-by-showing-dead-people-alive)
**Also Read:** [Cyclonic Storm Brewing Over Bay Of Bengal, Heavy Rainfall Warning For Several Odisha Districts](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/depression-over-bay-of-bengal-no-heavy-rainfall-warning-for-odisha)
