THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The general body of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare will meet on May 14 to put an end to the row over the governance of the council. The controversy erupted after the previous executive committee was dissolved following charges of corruption and misgovernance which had damaged the reputation of the council during the past three months. The death of a infant at the adoption centre last month in a bizarre incident had further strengthened allegations of mismanagement at the centre. ‘’The general body meeting to be chaired by the Chief Minister will seek the mandate of the members on whether the previous executive committee should be retained,’’ said a top official of the Social Welfare Department who has been deputed by the High Court. ‘’The council bylaw stipulates giving a 15-day notice prior to holding a general body meeting and the members had already been intimated of the meeting,’’ he said. The mandate will be sought through secret ballot and the Social Welfare Department director will be the electoral officer. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and the members have been asked to report by 9.30 a.m. They have to carry with them the intimation notice and a proof of identity such as electoral ID card, passport, driving licence, PAN card or photo attached passbook of a public sector bank. The row over governance began after the executive committee members of the Council were disqualified by the State Government on charges of carrying out an illegal construction in the old council building posing a threat to the life of the children at the adoption centre. The government, in the order issued on January 28, had also nominated two new members to the executive committee. The uncertainty over the council administration had also resulted in the procedures for adoption at the adoption centre of the council coming to a standstill. Though there are around 500 applications pending for adoption, no action had been been taken on them. The council row had also cast a shadow on the future of the children whose chances to get adopted ends at the age of 5. According to rules, they should then be sent to government-run orphanages. Among the 54 inmates, two girls would turn five in six months. The last adoption at the centre took place on February 21 for which the formalities were completed well before the row erupted.
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