Agitated children vandalise Reform Home in Duduwa

By Our Correspondent,Banke, Feb. 12: A clash broke out between two groups of children in Jayendu Child Reform Home in Duduwa Rural Municipality of Banke district on Thursday. After the clash, agitated children set the rehab center on fire. 

“There used to be clashes between two groups in the centre. We had then prepared to transfer 20 children to the Reform Home in Bhaktapur. However, the situation turned more tense since the preparation started,” said Bimala Kaucha Magar, in-charge of Jayendu Child Reform Home.

According to Magar, the clash broke out on Thursday when they were calling the names of the 20 children to board a bus en-route to the Bhaktapur-based Reform Home.

“The children got angry all of a sudden. They set quilts and mattresses on fire and vandalised the reform home,” informed Magar.

Keshav Suwal, a director at Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs (UCEP), Nepal, and current Home Officer of Jayendu Child Reform Home, informed that 13 of the children had already boarded the bus. 

“When the remaining seven showed reservations and denied boarding the bus, a clash broke out,” Suwal added.

Informing about the incident, Banke’s Chief District Officer (CDO) Bipin Acharya said that the clash was brought under control at the earliest.

“There were several clashes reported earlier from the reform home. This is why preparations were made to transfer some children as a long-term solution,” said CDO Acharya.

Currently, there are 224 children in Duduwa-based Reform home.  

Though a Child Reform Home is for children below 18 years of age, there are mature youths as well. Around 100 individuals in Jayendu Child Reform Home are aged 18-23. 

A team including Suwal had reached the reform home Friday morning and held a discussion with the agitated children in two stages. According to Suwal, the children were thinking that they were being taken to Bhaktapur to keep them far from home and give strict punishment.

“We made them understand that they were being taken to Bhaktapur to be trained for different skills they are interested in,” said Suwal.

Meanwhile, Suwal also informed that some children have stressed the desire of being transferred to Doti since it is near to their homes. “We will mention their demands to the concerned authorities including the District Police Office,” Suwal added.  

Earlier, four children had escaped from the reform home and were caught from Pyuthan district.