Deonar shelter inmates escorted back home

Eighty women inmates of Navjeevan Mahila Vastigruh, Deonar, who were stuck at the shelter home due to lack of police escort, were finally sent back to their homes.

Despite a court order saying they be released, 133 women staying at the shelter had not been released due to the lack of police personnel to escort them, which is a must as per the court order.

Prompted by two reports in DNA this week, the home ministry and commissioner of police swung into action and made police escort available.

“The DB Marg police escorted 22 women to their homes on Wednesday and 58 on Thursday. The rest 53 will reach their destinations by Monday,” said a top official of Women and Child Development (WCD)department. Among the 53, nine are from Bangladesh and two from Nepal.

The women, aged between 18 and 40, were rescued from various bars and brothels in the city early this year.

The official said 80% of inmates were rescued by DB Marg police and it was their job to send them home.
The women were stuck at the shelter home although WCD minister Varsha Gaikwad had repeatedly requested the home minister and the commissioner of police.

On November 19, Gaikwad complained to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan against the home ministry’s inaction.

DNA reports, ‘Mankhurd shelter home: Inmates stuck for want of escorts’ (November 20) and ‘Gaikwad takes up shelter issue with Chavan’ (November 21), highlighted the plight of women stuck at the shelter home. The reports also said Gaikwad’s repeated pleas fell on deaf ears.
“I am unaware of the development as I am out of station,” said Nisar Tamboli, spokesperson of Mumbai Police.
Varsha Gaikwad said, “We will approach the consulates to send back women who are from Bangladesh and Nepal.”