Workers at Mumbai’s Children’s Aid Society deprived of benefits despite decades of service

The Umerkhadi home run by the Children’s Aid Society. FILE PIC/ASHISH RAJE

For the last fifty-four years, employees of the Children's Aid Society (CAS), Mumbai's oldest child-welfare institution, at 98 years old, have waited for basic justice. Despite risking their lives to protect and rehabilitate vulnerable children, these Class III and IV staff remain deprived of pension, medical cover, and leave encashment, even as similar organisations receive full state benefits. Many retired workers now live in heartbreaking poverty. The society's proposals, supported by ministers, remain stuck with the state finance department despite requiring a budgetary allocation of only R1 crore annually. Employees now plead for urgent state government intervention or warn of a statewide agitation.

History

For the care of orphans, destitute, street children, those in conflict with law, victims of anti-social acts, and children with disabilities, the Bombay Children's Act, 1924, was enacted. In 1927, the Children's Aid Society, Mumbai, was formed under Governor Sir Leslie Wilson and Working President JBH Hodson, converting the historic Dongri Jail - famous in the freedom struggle - into India's first remand home. Today, under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the society runs seven residential homes, schools, and training centres, admitting children via the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committees, rehabilitating them into responsible, empowered adults.

No benefits

For the past 54 years, officers and staff serving under the government-approved structure of this essential service organisation have been deprived of natural service benefits. The society is controlled by the department of women and child development.

Importance and national recognition

>> CAS is a pioneer in India's child welfare and juvenile justice system.
>> It has contributed to national policy formulation through the Planning Commission (now the NITI Aayog).
>> Awarded the National Award for Best Child Welfare Organisation in 1983 by the President of India.
>> Recognised as a "State" under Article 12 by the Supreme Court.
>> Authorised to use the State Emblem.
Despite its stature, employees remain deprived of benefits such as pensions, insurance, and medical reimbursement.

Other critical issues

>> Earned leave accumulates, but leave encashment is denied, a glaring contradiction.
>> The Seventh Pay Commission and allowances are implemented, yet pension remains unpaid.
>> Minister Aditi Tatkare has inspected homes,
praised staff, held review meetings, and directed submission of a Cabinet proposal - yet the finance department has denied approval three times.
>> Employees continue to wait helplessly for a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Financial requirement

The Women & Child Development Department clarified that the cabinet proposal requires just R1 crore per year, which can be met through existing grants. Compared to ongoing development expenditure in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, this amount is negligible.

Post-retirement hardships

After 30-35 years of service:

Retirees receive extremely meagre payments.
Housing is unaffordable.
Medical and living expenses are unbearable.

Appeal and warning

With civic elections approaching and many employees being Mumbai residents, they hope the government will finally resolve this long-standing issue. The CAS Employees' Union has demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (chairman of the Society), Deputy CM (finance & planning), and the minister for women & child development immediately convene a joint meeting with the Union to settle this matter. The union is contemplating agitating at Azad Maidan and may even approach the court if their plea is not heard.

Quotes:

‘After 32 years of service with various child care institutions in the CAS, we are still not receiving justice or our rightful retirement benefits. I hope Devabhau [the chief minister], being the head of the CAS, will ensure justice for all employees' - Shankar Jadhav, retired employee

‘Over 100 employees of the CAS have worked exclusively for the Maharashtra government since day one and cannot be treated as private staff. They were recruited transparently, following state guidelines. Despite their service, many have been denied post-retirement (benefits-delete) and legitimate PF benefits. This long-standing injustice must be corrected immediately' - Milind Tulaskar, president, CAS Employees' Union