Any toll-free no. for orphanages? asks Patna high court

Debashish Karmakar | TNN | Updated: Apr 23, 2020, 10:51 IST

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PATNA: The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Vinod Kumar Sinha on Wednesday directed the state government to apprise the of Patna high court if there is any dedicated toll-free number to specifically deal with the problems of orphanages, old-age homes and centres for disabled persons in the lockdown scenario.
The court also asked the state government if any nodal officer has been appointed in the backdrop of central government’s direction to regulate the work with civil society organizations (CSO) and NGOs. The matter would come up for hearing on Thursday.
Advocate Parul Prasad filed a PIL urging HC to issue direction to state government for ensuring arrangement of food and other essential articles in orphanages, old-age and shelter homes for the disabled persons. TOI article ‘Tough to run old-age homes, orphanages’ published on April 15 has been attached as annexure in the PIL along with other central government’s letters.
Prasad has urged the HC to direct state government to follow the guidelines of Centre and NITI Aayog for allowing CSOs and NGOs willing to aid and supplement efforts made by the state government in helping the needy persons.