DCW notice to Delhi government over ‘horrific’ beggar home

NEW DELHI: DCW has issued notices to the Delhi government over the “horrific” conditions at a ‘Beggar Home’ where the inmates, including foreigners, have alleged violation of basic human rights and racial discrimination, as it sought to know how the foreign nationals landed up there.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal along with her staff had last night conducted a surprise inspection at the Beggar Home in Nirmal Chhaya Complex here.

“The Commission is deeply perturbed at the sorry state of affairs at the Beggar Home. The Commission is of the view that the inmates who are foreign nationals have been denied their basic human rights.

“It deeply pained us when they stated that they were victims of racism and were being discriminated against on account of them being African Blacks. This is a very serious issue,” Maliwal said in the notice issued to the Social Welfare Department.

The secretary, Social Welfare, has been directed to file a detailed response to the Commission within 72 hours, according to DCW.

The women’s body has also issued a notice to the foreigner regional registration office (FRRO) seeking to know why the foreign women were housed in the ‘beggar home’ and sought a status report on each inmate, reasons for detention, reasons behind inmates not being provided access to embassies and legal aid.