Pokhara, May 19

As many as nine children were rescued from an illegally operating child home in Pokhara today.

A team from District Child Welfare Committee, Kaski, had inspected the child home and rescued the children after a complaint was filed that Jyoti Gurung was running the child home from a rented building at Dihikopatan near Lakeside in Pokhara. Of the rescued children, five are boys and four girls.

Gurung was operating New Vision Child Home taking financial aid from a Christian organisation. Registered at the DAO in 2057 BS, the child home was not renewed after 2071 BS. A total of 13 children were rescued from the same child home three years ago as well.

Kaski assistant Chief District Office Rajesh Panthi said the children were rescued as they were kept at an illegal shelter home. The rescued kids between the ages of five and 12 have been sent to a child home in Mahatgauda.

The team from the committee had reached the child home and demanded necessary documents yesterday. Women Development Officer Tulasha Aryal said Gurung did not provide them the name list of children with their addresses and other documents.

“The proprietor refused to give us any detail. We do not know where the children were brought from,” Aryal said. She said that they would search for the addresses of the children and hand them over to their parents.

When a team from the committee reached the child home at 10:30am, all nine children had locked themselves in a single room. They did not wish to talk to the team and refused to leave the place.

The team waited as proprietor Gurung and her husband were away from the child home. Gurung  had talked over phone and assured that she would visit the concerned government office with all the documents on Sunday.

As the DAO warned of arresting them, Jyoti arrived with her husband. She said she would submit all the documents to the agencies concerned within this fiscal.

Central Child Welfare Committee source person BadriWagle said children were rescued as Gurung had tricked them in the past as well.

Assistant CDO Panthi said they had directed child home proprietor Gurung to be present at the DAO tomorrow.

As many as 1,377 children are taking shelter in 41 child homes operating in Kaski at present, according to Wagle. In the last two years, more than 20 illegal child homes were closed in the district.