Social Welfare Officer Found Guilty Of Forcing Boy At A Govt-Run School In UP To Give Massage, Clean Toilet

Former Agra district social welfare officer Sanjeev Nayan Mishra has been found guilty of forcing a student at a government-run school to clean toilets, give massages and do menial tasks.

In 2017, district magistrate Gaurav Dayal had ordered an investigation into the matter following a complaint by a child rights activist on the basis of a TOI report.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) also took cognizance of the matter and issued notices to the district administration.

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In a recent response to the commission, the incumbent district magistrate Ravi Kumar NG stated that Mishra, who is now social welfare officer of Unnao district was found guilty of forced child labour. He said that the principal secretary of the state social welfare department has already been asked to take disciplinary action against Mishra.

Now, NCPCR registrar Jagannath Pati has informed the complainant, child rights activist Naresh Paras, regarding the development in the matter and asked for further comments if any within 10 days.

On September 15, 2017, TOI had carried a news report in which the 14-year-old student at a state government school here had alleged that Mishra, in addition to making him do menial tasks, had physically assaulted and starved him.

Amit Kumar, from Sikandarpur village in Saiyan block here, was a student at Rajkiya Ashram Paddhati Vidyalaya at Itora.

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In his complaint to the DM, he had alleged that school superintendent Rakesh Dubey called Kumar to his office and ordered him to give a head massage. Kumar was then told that he would be given Rs 8,000 per month for working at the Ghaziabad residence of Mishra.

¡°I was taken to Ghaziabad on May 16. Mishra forced me to give full body massage, do household chores, clean toilets and look after his dogs. I was not given enough to eat and did not get enough sleep. I was frequently beaten by Mishra,¡± Kumar had told TOI.

Kumar managed to flee the house after 33 days of this forced labour. At Agra Cantt railway station, he was found by railway police travelling without a ticket, and sent to the school. He alleged that though he had raised the matter with senior social welfare department officials visiting the school, he was warned to keep quiet or he would be made an accused in a theft case.

Talking to TOI, child rights activist Naresh Paras said, ¡°I am going to write to the commission to ensure immediate termination of the officer from service for his crime against a poor child. Besides, a criminal case should be registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and Child Labour Act.¡±