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Childcare institutions in TN lack perspective, funds
There is no definite structure in place to help the kids find their place in society. Also, non-governmental sources have shown little interest in donating for this cause, even as financial aid from the government is inadequate.
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Chennai
Even as the Tamil Nadu government is making efforts to rehome children from government homes and government-funded homes, since a large section of them is in NGO-run homes and limited sponsorship available for this task, make it challenging.
Activists and child rights experts worry that even as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) — acceded by India in 1992 — three years after it was adopted in the UN General Assembly, observed that the primary caregivers for the children are their families and the institutions are the last resort, thousands continue to stay in these institutions. Andrew Sesuraj, state convener, Tamil Nadu Child Rights Observatory, said, “The homes are for those who do not have families or are left without attention. But, many children from poor families land up in these homes for food and accommodation. As such there is no clarity between children’s home and an orphanage.”
He added that the Juvenile Justice Act too emphasises on rehoming the children. Andrew said, “The focus should be on strengthening family system and if it is poverty that is driving the children out of their homes to these institutions, subsidies should be offered to ensure that they stay with their families.”
Emphasis on sending children home
A source from the Department of Social Defence said they have been working towards reducing the number of children in these homes. “Through considerable pressure the number of children has been brought down the figures from 85,000 a few years ago to 56,000 children now. A couple of years ago, we also closed down a number of them that were not registered and reunited children with their families.”
The government allots Rs 10 lakh per annum to institutions in each district for the care of the children. The amount, however, is suitable for the needs of only 40 children. The source added that they have been trying to get sponsors to support children in these homes. “But, the response has been extremely poor. Only a handful of individuals have come forward for this. Companies involved in CSR initiatives also don’t seem interested in the proposal,” said the source.
Need to study reasons behind institutionalisation
MP Nirmala, the chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, pointed out that among many reasons is single mothers, who find it difficult to raise the children by themselves. “In certain sections of the society, single women, especially widows, are perceived as unable to take care of themselves and their safety is a huge question. Now, how are such women going to raise their children on their own?”
An official from the Department of Social Defence said that lack of a safe environment for the children has been a huge issue for a long time. He said, “We have a large number of children in homes at three districts including the state capital and the surrounding districts of Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur.” And Kancheepuram tops the list with the maximum number of institutions in child care institutions with 4,120 children, while Chennai has 3,299 and Thiruvallur has 3,015. The source added, “In these places, the parents work till late in the evenings and they fear for their children’s safety. The homes therefore are a safer bet for them.” He added that when children are sent back home, they tend to discontinue with their studies as well. “That is a challenging situation, as education is important for these children,” the source said.
Foster care model considered
The state convener of Tamil Nadu Child Rights Observatory also said that group foster care models adopted by institutions like the SOS Village, where one home with a few children are taken care by a foster mother assigned for them, can resolve the problem. “The Jayalalithaa government had shown interest in the concept almost four years ago, but there was no progress on the front,” Andrew added.
But, authorities are concerned that children should not be abused in the homes that they are taken in. The official from Social Defence and Nirmala said that there is a risk that such children may be forced to work as domestic help in such homes.
Foster care initiatives too have failed, said Andrew. “Some of the families that took these children in had high expectations from them — like being academically bright — and when they failed to live up to it, the children were sent back.”
Experts also pointed out that foster care and similar models are acceptable only for a period. Girija Kumar Babu, the general secretary of Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW), said, “In our country, the practice of being taken care by uncles, aunts and other relatives are more common. But, there is a need to understand what foster care is and it takes time to develop such attitude in people.”
She, however, maintained that institutionalisation cannot be a permanent solution, as the children lose their identity. “They don’t get attached to anyone and don’t know how to respond to relatives, etc. We do not even know about the quality of care given to these kids in these homes.”
Performance details
- Tamil Nadu has the highest number of abandoned children in the age-group 0-6, which is 1,326, residing in child care institutions and homes.
- Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of children with single parents in its institutions and homes.
- During the study period (i.e. 2016-17), it was found that total number of children occupying the CCIs/Homes across the country was 377649. Out of them there were 7,422 children in conflict with law (CCL) and 3,70,227 children needing care and protection (CNCP). The institutions of Tamil Nadu having the highest number of total CCL and CNCP children (87,866).
- On an average, each institution or home has 39 children residing in it. But, this number varies in institutions and homes across the states/UTs. Institutions and homes in Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir for instance have the highest occupancy with an average of 53 and 51 respectively
- The total number of orphans residing in institutions and homes across India is 41,730 of which Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra alone have 11,410 (27.3%) orphans.
- Tamil Nadu also has the highest number of abandoned children (1550) in the country.
* Report compiled by Knowledge Hub for Excellence in Child Protection, Department of Social Work, Loyola College containing relevant highlights on the Report of the Committee for Analysing Data of Mapping and Review Exercise of Child Care Institutions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and Other Homes, constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (study period 2016-17)
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