In Jammu and Kashmir, the number of children diagnosed with special needs such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and Down syndrome is steadily increasing. Health experts attribute this rise to various contributing factors including environmental influences, increasing exposure to mobile phones and screens at an early age, late marriages, changing lifestyles, and a lack of awareness among parents and caregivers.
Despite the magnitude of this issue, government hospitals and education institutions are lacking essential services. Inclusive education, vocational training, and structured rehabilitation programs are either insufficient or entirely absent.
As a result of this glaring gap in public healthcare and education infrastructure, parents are left with no option but to rely on private rehabilitation centres and Child Development Centres to access therapies like speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural interventions, and physiotherapy.
However, these private services often come at a high financial cost and are not uniformly regulated, leaving families vulnerable to exploitation and inconsistent quality of care.
The Growing Problem in Srinagar
In Srinagar district, a significant number of Child Development Centres have been established over the past few years, driven by both rehabilitation professionals and private entrepreneurs. While this growth may appear promising on the surface, it raises important questions about regulation, quality control, child safety and accountability.
The majority of these centres are registered under various legal entities such as Private Limited Companies, Section 8 non-profit companies, and charitable trusts. However, only a very small number, perhaps one or two, are formally registered under the Directorate of Health Services, which is the appropriate regulatory authority for health-related establishments in the region.
Several parents of children with special needs have complained of facing humiliation and mental harassment at the hands of staff in certain rehabilitation centres across Srinagar. These incidents often occur when parents raise legitimate concerns about the quality of treatment, lack of qualified professionals, or inadequate services being provided to their children. Instead of addressing these concerns constructively, some child development centres reportedly respond with hostility and dismissive behavior, leaving already distressed families feeling further marginalized and silenced.
Frustrated by the lack of accountability at the local level, a few courageous parents came forward and submitted a formal complaint to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, RCI and Women and Child in New Delhi.
In their letter, they highlighted the unethical practices, unregulated operations, wrong psychological assessments and the psychological trauma inflicted on families seeking care for their children.
The Ministry took swift action, sending an official communication to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to investigate the matter and ensure the rights and dignity of these children and their families are protected.
Official Investigation Begins
Responding to the Ministry's directive, the Jammu and Kashmir administration took immediate steps by issuing instructions to the Child Welfare Committee Srinagar to initiate a thorough inquiry into the functioning of these private rehabilitation centres.
The CWC was tasked with verifying staff qualifications, inspecting the facilities, and interacting with parents to document grievances. This intervention marks an important step toward addressing the long-standing issues in the rehabilitation sector.
The Child Welfare Committee Srinagar, under the leadership of Chairperson Dr. Khair-ul-Nisa, comprises a team comprising professionals from diverse backgrounds including law and social work - Binish Kazimi, Advocate Shahid Ronga, Nuzhat-un-Nisa, and Misbah Rashid.
Shocking Discoveries Behind Closed Doors
During surprise inspections of various rehabilitation Child Development Centres across Srinagar, members of the Child Welfare Committee uncovered a number of serious lapses behind closed doors, raising significant concerns about the quality and legality of services being provided.
The CWC team conducted detailed inspections in accordance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 and the Juvenile Justice Act 2015. While some of these Child Development Centres present themselves as professional establishments, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Several rehabilitation centres were found to be operating without qualified professionals, including essential staff such as licensed speech therapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists.
In numerous cases, critical therapies such as speech and occupational therapy were being administered by unqualified individuals, posing serious risks to the physical and psychological well-being of the children in their care.
According to CWC Chairperson Dr. Khair ul Nisa, many rehabilitation child development centres in Srinagar are operating without the mandatory registration required under the Directorate of Health Services, as well as failing to obtain proper registration under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
As per sections 51 and 52 of the RPWD Act, it is mandatory for every institution working for persons with disabilities to be registered under the RPWD Act. This lack of official oversight raises serious questions about the legitimacy and safety of these facilities.
In addition to regulatory violations, many child development centres were found to lack even the most basic infrastructure necessary to support children with special needs. Accessible entryways and disability-friendly washrooms, critical for ensuring mobility and dignity, were either completely missing or poorly designed.
Essential therapy equipment was either inadequate, outdated, or entirely absent, severely compromising the quality of therapeutic services provided. The overall hygiene and sanitation conditions in several child development centres were also found to be substandard, with therapy rooms that were poorly maintained, small, lacked ventilation, and were not designed to provide a safe or stimulating environment for children undergoing treatment.
Another major concern highlighted by the CWC committee was the absence or non-functionality of CCTV surveillance systems, which are legally mandated to ensure child safety and transparency. In some child development centres, either the cameras were not installed at all, or existing cameras were non-operational.
When CWC members questioned the administration about this, they were told that only the centre’s head had access to the CCTV footage, effectively denying parents the right to monitor or review the recordings. This lack of transparency is particularly alarming in institutions dealing with vulnerable children and violates standard child protection protocols.
Taking Action for Change
Following the surprise inspections, Dr. Khair-ul-Nisa promptly issued an official notice to all rehabilitation centres operating within the district, calling for an urgent meeting with the heads of all rehabilitation child development centres to discuss the findings and seek detailed information regarding their operational status, particularly with respect to registration and compliance with legal norms.
Dr. Khair-ul-Nisa and other CWC members emphasized the mandatory requirement for centres to be registered under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 in order to operate legally and ethically. The discussion focused on proper registration, staff qualifications, adequacy of infrastructure, accessibility and the implementation of child protection measures.
The CWC stressed that centres working with children with special needs must maintain professional standards and operate within a legal framework to ensure the safety, dignity, and development of the children in their care.
In a step toward corrective action, the Committee granted all unregistered or partially compliant centres a grace period of three months to complete the registration process under the RPWD Act 2016 and to meet the minimum required standards in staffing, infrastructure, proper accessibility, equipment and therapeutic care.
The meeting marked a decisive moment in reinforcing accountability and prioritizing the rights of children with special needs.
Moving Forward
The Child Welfare Committee Srinagar is preparing a comprehensive and detailed report highlighting the irregularities, violations, and safety concerns observed across various Child Development Centres. This report is being submitted to the Department of Social Welfare, Ministry New Delhi, and other relevant regulatory agencies. The CWC has emphasized that this report is not just a record of violations, but a call to action aimed at reforming the sector and ensuring that children with special needs receive care that is safe, professional, and rights based.
The recent surprise inspections have exposed a troubling reality behind the closed doors of several rehabilitation child development centres. While these institutions are meant to serve as safe spaces for children with special needs, many have been operating without proper oversight, unqualified staff, and in clear violation of guidelines and ethical standards.
This is not merely administrative negligence but a serious breach of trust that endangers the well-being and development of vulnerable children.
All parents of children with special needs request that Child Welfare Committees be established across all districts of the Jammu Division, as well as the remaining districts of the Kashmir Division. Similar proactive steps must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of children with special needs through thorough inspections of all rehabilitation centres and special schools.
However, lasting change will require more than one round of inspections. It demands sustained monitoring, stronger regulatory enforcement, and above all, a collective commitment from government bodies, centre administrators, professionals, and the community. Children with special needs deserve not just care, but competent, compassionate, and compliant care. Anything less is unacceptable.
Rehabilitation orders and reports are attached below.
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