Exploitation, illegalities breed in ashrams
The word 'Ashram' has a very deep meaning in Indian languages since the word indicates the philosophical and spiritual bond that one shares with the space. The place where saints and monks live, is called Ashram. But in today’s India, schools and colleges host varied types of ashrams. The ones that have mushroomed in the country host a variety of people too like orphans, aged ones, poor people, dalits etc. The most disheartening part is that, they have long ago lost their significance to their name and the works they engage in. They are just places that are set up to save taxes and may be even hoodwink people.
Some months ago, a few ashrams run by self-styled godmen and saints were raided and some gory details of women getting sexually exploited was discovered. Hundreds of women were being used as sex machines in another godman’s ashram. Though these incidents have been happening in all sorts of ashrams since long time, no government made up its mind to tackle this heinous crime with some stringent policies. Because if this is to be done, the government will have to bear the ire of thousands of such spiritual gurus, both original and fake. Many politicians are at their beck and call, so something revolutionary like this may not even happen.
The team of TISS or Tata Institute of Social Sciences exposed the sexual exploitation that was continuing unabated in CCI orphanage in Muzaffarpur. Among the 42 residents, 34 children and underage girls in age groups of 7 to 17 years were being sexually and physically exploited for years at CCI and affiliated orphanages. The report mentioned the situation at such shelter homes was so gory that those places were unfit for human existence. Shelter homes barely promised any minimum freedom to their inhabitants. The seven of the accused caregivers who connived with wrong doers in the incident happen to be women.
A girl, barely of 10 years age, ran away from Deora CCI in UP and exposed the sexual exploitation that took place there. The world was shocked to hear the details of this as well. Once a complaint was filed, the fact that this was an illegal organization and had no necessary permissions came to light. About 18 girls have gone missing from this place.
There is no dearth of law to stop such crimes from happening. But since the implementation is poor, such inhuman incidents take place time and again. The invigilation task forces are yet to be formed.
According to 2005 Act, all CCIs have to enroll themselves with the government. Every district needs to have a Child Protection Officer. A committee for child welfare and justice has to be set up. All such policies have failed before the money numerous CCIs have been able to feed the corrupt officers who have failed in invigilating the said organisations.
According to the survey conducted by NCPCR, about 32% of CCIs are not registered under policy guidelines of 2015 and the other 33% CCIs are not monitored by any authority either. Women and Children’s Department has been entrusted with the responsibility of allocating funds under comprehensive child protection scheme and conduct a social audit to avoid misappropriation of funds. Hence either none conducted an inquiry or audited the CCIs or has been maintaining a guided silence over the whole gory episode for a cost.
Now, NCPCR has directed all states that a social audit has to be carried out in all CCIs. This step is coming a bit too late after many lives have been silenced or affected owing to the inaction of such committees. With this, we may be witnessing more such incidents coming into broad day light. Not only private ashrams, but also those run by government or even with the aid of government may have been breeding place for such heinous crimes. Since children and girls who are in such shelter homes belong to very poor families or have no other place to go, they are unable to voice their miseries against this because the high and mighty with all economic and political backup are party to such instances.
Supreme Court has expressed its anguish over Muzzafarpur shelter home incident. According to NCPCR there are more than 1,515 children in CCIs that have been already subjected to various sexual crimes. Even if they got another chance with life, they are undergoing the same misery in shelter homes too. Hence the government has to initiate stringent action against people who have been party to such an inhuman crime. But the responsibility of the government does not end there. It must ensure the women and children living in such places have access to better living conditions and this has to be constantly monitored.
Many a times women and children live under most inhuman conditions being subject to such gruesome exploitation physically and sexually. They have no opportunity to register their opinion in the policies that are made for their protection. Their future is tied to the vision of the government and its officers. If their lives have to see better days, we must understand that though they live at the mercy of the government, they deserve a better chance with their future and a life of dignity. More than anything else, they have to be considered as equal partners with the society and its inhabitants.
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Arnab Goswami’s Homecoming? Anchor tears into Modi Government over aviation chaos
Says, govt not going to be happy with us saying this
New Delhi: In a striking turn that surprised even his regular viewers, Arnab Goswami spent the evening of December 4 taking direct aim at the central government over the ongoing crisis in the domestic aviation sector. The debate, aired on Republic, focused entirely on the severe disruption caused by IndiGo flight cancellations and the state of air travel in the country. The tone was sharp, emotional, and openly critical, raising the larger question of whether this marks a homecoming of sorts for the anchor long accused by critics of being soft on the government.
Goswami began the show by saying the central government had “completely let down” air passengers. He pointed to chaotic visuals from airports in Pune, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, describing passengers packed into crowded spaces, long queues, and travellers lying on the floor with little access to basic facilities. He said anyone travelling with children or elderly parents would understand the distress such situations cause.
According to him, the government often claims to have improved the aviation sector, but the day-to-day experience of passengers tells a different story. He argued that whatever help the government may have extended has benefited individuals and individual companies, not the sector as a whole.
Goswami highlighted data from the last three days, saying IndiGo had canceled 1,232 flights in November. He broke down the reasons for the cancellations: 755 linked to crew and FDTL constraints, 258 due to airspace and airport restrictions, 92 because of failures in air traffic control systems, 127 for other reasons.
He said passengers in India are often “taken for granted” and that only in this country can such large-scale cancellations take place without consequences.
Throughout the debate, Goswami repeatedly returned to the theme of duopoly. He said Air India and IndiGo together control 91.5 percent of the aviation market, leaving only a small share for others like Akasa and SpiceJet. This, he said, gives the two big players the power to decide prices and escape accountability.
“They can set the prices. They can torture passengers. They can be not answerable for air crashes.” He added.
Goswami also questioned why such a structure is allowed to exist if the government claims it opposes monopolies. He asked whether the government has made Air India accountable after the recent air crash, and said he did not believe so.
“We are told that the Modi government does not like monopolies. First of all, I don't agree with that. There are too many monopolies happening.” He said.
The anchor accused Air India of operating aircraft that were not airworthy and said no serious action followed. According to him, any other minister in charge of civil aviation would have been removed after such incidents, but nothing happened.
“He is not answerable. And why is the central government not bothered about it? Because he comes from the TDP, an alliance party. So let him do,” he said.
He added that Air India continues to seek government support, including compensation for losses after the Sindhur episode. Goswami questioned why public money should be used to support the airline, drawing a comparison with the earlier controversy involving Vijay Mallya seeking help from the Manmohan Singh government a move that was labelled as scam.
Goswami said passengers are suffering because of delayed flights, sudden cancellations, and lack of compensation. He criticised the DGCA, saying it was not enforcing safety and operational norms. He also questioned why the Prime Minister’s Office had not intervened.
He noted that Republic had carried multiple exposés on these issues and claimed that Air India chooses to give interviews and advertisements only to other channels.
He also called for Parliament to debate the aviation mess and examine whether monopolies or duopolies should be allowed in a nation of India’s size.
“I'm sure the government's not going to be happy with us saying this, but someone's got to speak up for the people of this country.” He added.
Known by his critics as the “Godi Media Chief”, Goswami’s direct attack on the Modi government over civil aviation raised eyebrows across media circles.
Whether this is a one-off outburst or a sign of a new editorial direction is something viewers will be watching closely.
#AviationCollapse | India’s aviation sector is in turmoil as IndiGo’s mass cancellations and Air India’s alleged safety lapses leave passengers stranded. The disruption raises serious questions about airline management, regulatory oversight, and who is ultimately responsible for… pic.twitter.com/Dqt6pcoW8w
— Republic (@republic) December 4, 2025
