DAO directs children’s homes to submit monthly report

Kathmandu, January 28

The District Administration Office, Kathmandu has directed operators of children’s homes in the district to submit monthly report on their regular programmes and budget expenses after there were complaints that many of these homes were running only to make profits.

Launching a report prepared by Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and Central Child Welfare Board in cooperation with SOS Children’s Village after studying 20 residential children’s homes in Kathmandu for a year, Chief District Officer Ram Krishna Subedi said many children’s homes are becoming profit-oriented. Children’s homes should be service-oriented but these days they are mushrooming like business organisations,” adding, “This will definitely affect the quality of services provided to children.”

Subedi, who is also chairperson of Kathmandu District Child Welfare Board, said many of the children’s homes in the district do not meet the required criteria. “Children’s homes should be operated by fulfilling the Criteria for Children’s Homes Operation to protect child rights,” he said.

Subedi, who had assumed office as the Kathmandu CDO some one-and-a-half months back after serving at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, said that he was very loyal to his duty and was always present in the office from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

“By myself being punctual and staying in office during duty hours, I encourage my subordinates and other staffers in the office to be loyal and honest towards their duties,” he said.

He also expressed concern over Nepal’s position in the Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International released yesterday and said everyone should take initiatives to mitigate corruption in their offices.

He expected that the report prepared after visiting 20 children’s homes in Kathmandu will help improve conditions in more than 200 children’s homes operating in Kathmandu.