Patna: Did the social welfare department know what was happening at shelter homes across Bihar? The answer, if one goes by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tiss) social audit report, is yes.

The report, which brought to light crimes and malpractices at the shelters, says the department had "a general sense of some of the prevailing issues".

The social audit was conducted by Koshish, Tiss's field action project on homelessness.

Asked whether the social welfare department knew about the wrongdoings, Koshish director Md. Tarique said: "Any department knows about broad concerns in the key areas. The top leadership of any department would be aware of general issues... I don't think they (the department) wanted to hide things. The social audit was not initiated by them under any pressure."

Social welfare department director Raj Kumar, however, denied that the department knew what was happening at shelter homes.

"Our department was spending money. Financial audit of the money was conducted, but we wanted to know whether the expenditure was being suitably done. The social audit report did flag grave concerns, but things tumbled out only after the FIR was lodged and investigations started," Raj Kumar said.

The report criticises the functioning and attitude of NGOs entrusted with running the shelters, with examples of how they tried to pass the buck about their failures.

For example, when questioned about poor quality of food served and non-confirmation to the prescribed menu, the NGOs cited non-payment of grants for periods ranging from six months to two years.

Similarly, the report reveals that the absence of staff on the day of audit or their non-appointment was often explained with the reasoning that the staff could not be made accountable as they did not receive their salaries in time.

The lowest paid staff, such as sweepers and guards, are still on daily wages lower than the minimum wage mandated by the government, and their salaries have not been revised for over a decade.

The Tiss report does point out how some NGOs are doing exemplary work with similar funds and constraints.

But it also talks about NGOs running roughshod over the rights of the residents, carrying out and condoning acts of severe physical and sexual violence.

"Ironically, the documents maintained by these organisations were more or less perfect, giving illusion of decency and appropriateness. If the department intends to clean the rot that has accumulated in the functioning of these homes, it is very important that it keeps these players out of the system," the report says.

Asked about it, Raj Kumar said: "We are already removing NGOs. The state government will run these homes. A system for this is being prepared, but till that time these homes will function through these NGOs because we cannot leave the children and the aged unattended."

Most NGOs, the Tiss report says, "were found to be operating from the position of a 'giver' and this understanding itself limits their ability to recognise and appreciate concepts of 'individuality', 'value for consent' and 'fundamental rights and entitlements' of persons coming to these institutions".