LUCKNOW, Feb. 9 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has stepped in to address delays in financial assistance to juvenile homes run by NGOs for specially-abled children, directing the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure a time-bound release of funds in two instalments. At present, funds are being released in seven instalments.

Pushpendra Singh, deputy director, Directorate of Women and Child Welfare, Uttar Pradesh, told the court that five NGOs in the state are receiving funds to run Juvenile Homes for specially-abled children. These include Gramin Vikas Samiti in Gonda, Drishti Samajik Sansthan in Lucknow, and three other organisations. He said the institutions receive Rs.4,000 per child every month.

The minis...