Preamble
Many children-orphans and destitutes (those who lack parental care), find themselves in orphanages and Government Destitute Homes.
Orphanages
Many orphanages are private charitable organizations that receive children (all ages) often, for temporary care. Many of the parents/guardians, never come back and the child remains institutionalized until s/he reaches the age of 18 when s/he is on her/his own, backed, if lucky, by some education and sometimes, a measure of vocational training. Girls are most often, married. Most private orphanages survive on donations raised by the NGOs. Lack of fund is almost always, a difficulty that such orphanages live with. In addition, greed which often is the underlying intention of many a charitable organization, leads to extremely poor standards of childcare.
Destitute Homes
Each state has registered Destitute Homes where children (in the age group of 8-18 years) who lack parental care, are assigned for state care, through the Child Welfare Committee/ Juvenile Justice Board. Most such Homes are much better off in terms of funds and facilities and yet, run as they are, by Government employees, many of them suffer from limitations of Government organizations. Many of these homes have schooling facilities as also, vocational training. More often than not, however, such vocational training is restricted to skills which by current standards, are obsolete.
Destitute Homes in Maharashtra and Orissa
In addition to adoption, a second focus-area for CSA, is better child care while the child is institutionalised. CSA works with both, private Charitable Homes as also, Government Destitute Homes. At present we work with the following agencies in Maharashtra and Orissa respectively.
Objectives
1. To find a family for each waiting child.
2. To improve the childcare standards.
3. To coordinate with the Government and ensure implementation of policies
Project start
Participating agencies
1. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Udyog Kendra, Pune
2. State Home for Women & Girls, Mundwa, Pune
3. Boys’ Observation Home , Pune.
4. Nehru Seva Sangh, Kalahandi, Orissa
Methodology
1. Need-identification- situational analysis (factual information)
2. Understanding with the agency (‘You-do-some/ we-do-some approach’)
3. Co-ordination with the WCD, State Government.
4. Corporate participation- project sponsorship, donations in kind
5. Support
a. Improving infrastructure-civil work, furniture, drainage
b. Improving Health and care- hygiene
c. Vocational training
d. Recreation
Work done
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Udyog Kendra (PJNUK), Pune
Computer literacy and spoken English
A computer centre with 8 work-ststions and the services of an Instructor, was provided to the Institute. The first batch of training has been completed. 7 students from std. ix and x respectively completed a six- months course in Basic Computer Application, and appeared for the MS CIT Exam of the state Govt. The second batch has commenced.
Spoken English classes are being conducted.
Recreation
A fully equipped Gymnasium was set up. Facilities for playing Volley ball and carom have been set up.
Improved facilities
Civil work (kitchen) and painting were carried out. Suitcases for storage as also,
Shoes were provided.
State Home for Women & Girls, Mundwa, Pune
Functional Literacy
A Functional literacy Programme for ‘school-dropouts’, which aims at equipping every girl inmate of the Home, with basic reading, writing and Arithmetic skills is being conducted.
Family Life Education
A series of sessions on Family life Education, which aims at equipping the girls in ‘Life Skills’ is being conducted; small batches will attend 10 sessions@ 2 hours/day.
A session on Health- ‘Know your body’ and ‘Physical Changes during Adolescence’.
Recreation
The movie- ‘Tare Zamin Par “ was screened for the girls on the 19th January 2008.
Improved facilities
Shoes , storage facilities and material for 2 sets of School Uniforms each, were provided to 28 school-going girls. The girls attending the tailoring unit in the home, stitched the uniforms.
Boys’ Observation Home , Pune.
Recreation
Some boys participated in a Picnic at ‘ Abhiruchi Farm “ in Pune .
A study tour to the ‘Aga Khan Palace ‘ and ‘ Snake Park’ in Pune was
Nehru Seva Sangh, Kalahandi, Orissa
