In an absolute disgusting act, an orphanage in Hyderabad has forced HIV positive girls to clean the drainage. Agape, which is a Hyderabad based orphanage accommodates as many as 200 inmates in the NGO which includes HIV-positive girls.
The incident came into light after a child rights activists led by Balala Hakkula Sangham (BHS) approached the Rachakonda Police Commissioner and filed a complaint against the incident. According to a report in News Minute, a local resident made a video a girl in a red dress cleaning a manhole while someone in the background was giving her instructions.
“We received a complaint from a local resident. We have registered a case against the warden under violation of Child Labour Act and section 75 of Juvenile Justice Act. The case is still under investigation,” Inspector Y Narasimha Reddy told the daily. Following which, the police officials have managed to arrest two officials in connection with the case.
A Child Rights activist told the daily that they acted after they received a tip-off that as many as 12 HIV positive girls were made to clean the drains. “Manual scavenging is banned in India, and here they are making children clean manholes. The government has turned a blind eye to these children,” child rights activist Achyuta Rao told the daily.
She has also demanded the arrest of the owner of the NGO. “It is shameful and unfortunate. We condemn this. We want the owner to be arrested. It is child right violation,” she said. Manual scavenging and child labour are banned in India.
