House panel raps ministry for failing to fulfil assurances on child abuse, alcoholism

A parliamentary committee rapped the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for failing to fulfil its assurances on prevention of child abuse, care and rehabilitation of beggars and the destitute, and national policy for senior citizens among others.

The panel said that action on as many as 29 assurances given by the ministry to it had been pending for a period ranging between two tears and nine years.

"This clearly indicates the lack of seriousness and lackadaisical approach of the ministry in dealing with the assurances and taking proper follow-up action," the report said.

The committee said that action on the ministry assurance on a serious issue like child abuse had been pending even after a lapse of six years and directed it to step up its efforts and pursue vigorously with the Ministry of Women and Child Development for its early implementation.

The panel observed that an assurance regarding national policy for senior citizens had been pending for over six years and asked the ministry to furnish a report detailing steps taken for the welfare of elderly.

As far as care and rehabilitation of beggars and the destitute was concerned, the committee indicted the ministry for seven assurances related to this remaining unfulfilled and desired a model legislation be brought in expeditiously to facilitate their reintegration into the society.

The other assurances are related to educational uplift of SC/ST and alcoholism and drug abuse among others.

Stating the existing system put in place by the ministry has apparently been a failure in facilitating timely implementation of the assurances, the parliamentary panel directed it to nominate an official who can specifically look after the work of assurances and pursue vigorously with other ministries and departments and fulfil them at the earliest.