Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, has called for stronger legislation on parental neglect to ensure individuals can be held accountable.
She raised this during a meeting on Friday with the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Special Administrators, and other stakeholders to address the prevalence of street dwellers, beggars, and individuals with mental health challenges in Nadi and Namaka.
“In some cases, people from educated families, people who are affording are leaving their old out, whether it’s on the streets, trying to take them to Koroipita, and all these places, we’re very aware,” she said.
Ms Kiran said while there was some legislation in place, the focus needed to be on how the ministry implemented them.
“When a child is dead because of negligence of the parents, then we charge them, but the children on the streets, which is also negligence and a high risk for parents. We have not been charging them, because you have to prove it.”
Ms Kiran said the ministry was strengthening this as children and the elderly were much more helpless.
“In Suva, we’re looking at halfway homes, so we collect them and take them into one place, then being able to work with them individually, case by case.
“In Nadi, we are still working on work organising a facility like that, and in Nadi, the organisations haven’t been very forthcoming in helping.
Ms Kiran said this was mainly because the cases were much more complex however the ministry was in discussions with a few organisations regarding this.
