Delhi govt mulling handing over charge of Nari Niketan to DCW

Delhi government is now contemplating handing over the management of Nari Niketan to the Delhi Commission for Women to improve its condition, after giving the charge of a women helpline to DCW last month.
According to a senior govermment official, talks are going between the Social Welfare Department and DCW officials over the matter.
"Talks are going on about DCW being given the charge of Nari Niketan but nothing has been finalised yet," a senior DCW official said.
DCW chief Swati Maliwal, in August, last year had inspected the facilities at the shelter home and also spent a night along with other members and described her experience as a "living hell". She had also submitted a report along with a set of recommendations to the Delhi government.

Some of the problems highlighted by Maliwal during her previous visits were that mentally-challenged were living with ordinary inmates and even sharing beds with them. There was lack of cleanliness and also number of toilets were less.
There was also a short-stay home inside the Nirmal Chhaya complex, condition of which was "equally bad".

She also said that many women who have court orders and want to come out of the shelter home were being forced to stay there due to lack of coordination between police and home authorities.
Maliwal had also written to Delhi Police seeking the release of 15 inmates. She also had taken up the matter with the Delhi government.

Nari Niketan is a home for women rescued under Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act or those who are in need of protection and have been ordered to live there by the court. Short-stay homes are for women in need of urgent support who are generally brought there by the police.