Latest News: CM Orders Action After Shocking Abuse of Minor Girls in Sambhajinagar Shelter Home

Minor girls in Vidyadeep Children’s Home faced horrific abuse, from forced pregnancy tests to camera surveillance. CM Fadnavis ordered arrests and cancellation of the shelter’s license. Investigation and outrage continue.

Sambhajinagar | July 10, 2024: In a disturbing revelation that has shaken the state, minor girls living in the Vidyadeep Children’s Home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar were found to have suffered inhuman treatment, harassment, and medical negligence. The issue came to light during the ongoing session of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, prompting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to swiftly intervene.
Taking serious note of the incident, CM Fadnavis ordered a crackdown on the shelter home. Within hours, police filed a case against four employees. Three—Sister Suchita Gaikwad, Caretaker Alka Salunke, and Assistant Superintendent Valerie Joseph—have already been arrested. CM Fadnavis also suspended District Women and Child Development Officer Reshma Chimandre and cancelled Vidyadeep’s license, ensuring the home will no longer operate.
The situation came to light after a few girls escaped the shelter and disclosed horrifying details during their questioning. The most disturbing allegations include:
• Pregnancy tests being forcibly conducted even for minor stomach pain.
• Only one common pill being given for any illness, leading to prolonged suffering.
• Cameras installed in girls’ bedrooms, forcing them to change clothes under surveillance.
• Girls being called “lesbians” or “prostitutes”, especially those under the POCSO Act.
• If a second sanitary pad was needed, girls had to “show” the used one as proof.
BJP leader Chitra Wagh raised the issue strongly in the House, bringing these shocking abuses to light. She detailed how girls were humiliated for natural behavior and called out for even talking to each other. Spiritual remedies like sprinkling holy water or marking the body were used instead of real medical care.
Wagh emphasized that the shelter environment was unsafe, humiliating, and abusive, and demanded stringent punishment for all responsible, including higher authorities who failed in their oversight.
The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely. The entire shelter system is under scrutiny, with calls for immediate audits of all child welfare institutions across Maharashtra. Activists and lawmakers have demanded better monitoring, mental health care, and child rights enforcement.