Minister of Tribals Affairs orders inquiries into all shelter-homes and hostels of Maharashtra

Issue of sexual abuse in a parochial (church-affiliated) shelter-home in Navi Mumbai

Mumbai : Minor girls studying in a parochial shelter-home run by ‘Bethel Gospel Charitable Trust’ were being sexually abused. While those guilty in sexual abuse have been arrested; Mr Sunil Ghanwat, HJS organiser Maharashtra State has requested the hon’ble Minister of Tribals Affairs, Dr Vijaykumar Gavit that an inquiry must be instituted into all the church-affiliated hostels and shelter-homes to ensure that such sexual abuse is not occurring elsewhere too. While responding to the petition Dr Gavit ordered inquiries into all shelter-homes and hostels of Maharashtra.

1. In the midst of the celebration of the 75 th Independence Day of India an incident that tarnishes the image of Maharashtra has come into light. Father Yeshudas of a shelter-home run by ‘Bethel Gospel Charitable Trust’ had sexually abused many minor girls. This has generated tremendous outrage among the people.

2. Most severe action has been demanded against all those guilty and those complicit in this heinous crime. Also that registration of all such parochial shelter-homes should be cancelled, a committee comprising women people’s representatives, voluntary organisations, journalists, police should be formed to conduct inquiries into all these institutions, have been demanded.

3. Conversion of tribals is rampant in the State. Conversion cases have been detected in Ahmednagar and Sambhajinagar along with Palghar Districts. In 2014, a committee headed by Retd. Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari had recommended the passage of an anti-conversion Bill in Maharashtra. The Hon. Minister also assured that he would follow up with the respective departments regarding the issue. Dr Gavit also assured that the Department of Tribal Affairs will try to render financial help to tribals to avoid their religious conversion.

Navi Mumbai : A delegation of pro-Hindu organizations along with the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti gave a memorandom to Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Bipin Kumar Singh demanding ‘thorough investigation should be taken into this case and strict action should be taken against all the culprits involved in it, and all the church-affiliated hostels and shelter-homes in Navi Mumbai should be investigated’.

The Police Commissioner said, “If you give us information about those who help the criminals in this case, we will definitely take note of it. In order not to repeat such cases, we have appointed our separate team for checking and we have also given proper instructions to them.”