Child sex stalks big-ticket orphanage

At least two Indian supervisors of SOS Village, world's largest orphanage supported by Mandela, Dalai Lama and Rooney among others, were transferred on charges of child sexual abuse

SOS Village, which calls itself the world's biggest orphan charity, has found at least two of its supervisors guilty of a "serious complaint of child abuse", which transpired over the last six months in two different centres.
Village director of the Jammu branch Sudesh Malla and assistant village director Rameshwar Singh of the Faridabad branch just 5 km from Delhi were transferred to other SOS Village locations pending internal inquiry in September 2008.

Malla was transferred to Purniya in Bihar, but resigned shortly after. Singh is serving at a youth facility (18 and above) in Bareily.

The alleged victims are two girls, aged 15 and 12 in Malla and Singh's cases respectively. In both instances, the village caretaker or "mother" had alerted the authorities about the alleged sexual abuse. SOS Village is still to file a police complaint against either of the alleged perpetrators.

A letter sent to Malla dated September 15 and signed by the then SOS Village National Director Pradeep Singh goes: "We have received a serious complaint of child abuse against you. A preliminary fact finding inquiry is being ordered. [Since] there is a possibility of you influencing the concerned child, mother and others, you are directedu00e2u0080u00a6not to get in touch with [them]." A similar letter was also sent to Singh on September 30.

Pradeep Singh declined to comment, but confirmed that the letter was issued when he was in office.

Malla, however, maintains he is just a victim of organisation politics. "I am innocent. I was targeted since I come from Kashmir, and the current top officials are against the Kashmiri faction," said Malla. "I had so much pressure that I had to resign." Singh declined to say much because an inquiry was on. "I am sure I'll come out clean from this," he said.

However, Rajiv Ranjan, HR head of SOS India, said: "Child abuse cases by SOS India co-workers are extremely rare and immediate action is taken against those who commit them. This incident is an exception." He added that caregivers were committed and dedicated professionals who had chosen to devote their lives to the cause and care of children in need. "Deviants are quickly identified and weeded out," added Ranjan and clarified that the police had not been informed because the organisation wanted to first conduct its own inquiry.

"More than 3,000 children who have grown up in SOS Children's Villages all over India are well settled in professions and leading productive and happy lives," he said.

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