Minister Badi inspects juvenile correction homes in Banke

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, May 14: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Sita Badi, inspected juvenile correction homes in Banke and gathered information about their overall condition.

According to the minister’s secretariat, during her visit to western Nepal, Minister Badi inspected the Naubasta Juvenile Correction Home in Baijanath and the Jayandu Juvenile Correction Home in Duduwa. 

She took stock of the condition, needs, challenges and problems faced by the children residing there.

During the inspection at the Naubasta Juvenile Correction Home in Baijanath Rural Municipality, Minister Badi visited all rooms of the facility and inquired about the condition of the rooms, living arrangements, bedding, food facilities, sanitation, available services and security arrangements, said centre’s chief, Shyam Bahadur Rana.

He said the minister also interacted with the juvenile inmates, asking about their conditions and problems, and informed them about plans to introduce various vocational training programmes at the correction home.

Rana added that Minister Badi emphasised that keeping juvenile inmates engaged in productive activities would contribute positively to their rehabilitation and correction.

Similarly, Minister Badi visited the Jayandu Juvenile Correction Home in Duduwa Rural Municipality and reviewed its overall condition. 

She expressed particular concern regarding the education, health, psychosocial condition, protection and rehabilitation of the juvenile inmates.

Juvenile correction homes in Banke have witnessed disputes and tensions among inmates from time to time, often requiring police intervention.

During the Gen Z movement on September 9 last year, 78 juvenile inmates escaped from the Naubasta Juvenile Correction Home. Of them, 33 are still at large, while police say search operations are ongoing.