02 September,2021 06:49 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
Vatsalya Trust at Kanjurmarg that has got nearly 1,200 kids adopted since 1983
Orphanages in Mumbai and Thane are facing their worst challenge amid the Coronavirus pandemic since physical distancing protocol has prompted the government to impose a ban on visitors. NGOs working for these homes said that this has led to a sudden and sharp drop in the supply of food and donations for the young inmates. At the same time, their resources have been stretched since expenses have gone up in an effort to protect the residents under their care from the contagion.
Birthday parties and many other donor-sponsored functions always brought cheer to the orphans at children's homes. With restrictions ordered by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), administrators say they have no idea when the kids will be able to smile and dance again.
On August 29, eighteen of 102 kids from Chembur Children's Home at Mankhurd tested positive for COVID. Though all were asymptomatic, they were shifted to a quarantine centre near Vashi Naka. Few days before that, 26 inmates, including 15 kids, from Agripada's St. Joseph School and Orphanage caught the viral disease. At the same time, 14 children from an orphanage from Ulhasnagar were also infected.
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Ever since the pandemic struck last year, orphanages have been struggling to manage their affairs. In July 2020, a guard at the Mankhurd home succumbed to the viral infection, triggering strict regulations. In the same month, 26 kids at a home for special children in the vicinity tested positive and were moved to the BKC Jumbo centre and all recovered well.
Authorities said they have taken the harsh decision of banning visitors as experts have been warning of a third wave and that it would hit children hard.
mid-day visited some of the orphanages to take a first-hand view of the challenges faced by them. The difficulties spanned from food supply to staff salary to maintenance charges.
The number of kids at this centre has gone up in the past one and half years. Some of the kids were abandoned on the streets, a clear sign of the distress that has hit the people. The centre has 25 children between 2 and 15 years of age and no outsider is allowed to meet on the orders of the CWC.
Shrikant Joshi, secretary of Vatsalya Trust, told mid-day, "In lockdown, the number of kids had gone up to 40 and it has come down to 25 now. With no help coming from outside, our caretakers are managing everything. They are our heroes." The centre had started facilitating adoptions in July 2020 though it was stopped due to the pandemic. "Our in-house doctors regularly check the kids and staff. Earlier, we had even given paid leave to a few employees after they got a cough and fever. But the safety measures have eaten up our funds and we barely get any donations nowadays," he said.
A staffer said many donors, who are businessmen, themselves are struggling financially. "We have been running this trust since 1983 and have helped in the adoption of over 1,200 kids. We have 100 staff members and it is quite difficult to pay them," he said.
The centre has 62 girls between 7 and 18 years of age and 24 staffers. Superintendent Madhuri Ramekar said, "We do RT-PCR tests of our children every 15 days. The girls are attending their online classes and we are providing them with devices and books." While some of the girls have been sent to the centre by their parents who are too poor to take care of their wards, they are also not allowed to meet them. She said, "We have put up a banner outside our main gate saying our centre is in a containment zone though we don't have any positive cases. We are allowing kids to go outside only for medical purposes."
This facility too is crippled over finances. "Our donations have dried up. Earlier, we would celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and many more things but all stopped due to COVID. Somehow we manage and fulfil the children's needs. Online education has also cost us a lot," she said.
This center has 21 children of 6-18 years and 30 employees. Despite dwindling financial support, this NGO helps 2,000 street and slum children and those living in red light areas. Christopher, a director, said, "Donors like to ensure that their money is being used for the right cause. Since nobody is allowed to meet the kids and that we have also stopped all functions for visitors, nobody is giving donations directly. We have started special drives for donations and small corporations are helping us now. Someone is giving rice, dal and groceries and someone is donating money. To save money we are buying all vegetables from a Nashik farm."
Christopher, who goes by one name, said the centre has a doctor and they give concoctions made of tulsi, neem, ginger and other common immunity boosters to the kids. "Fortunately, we haven't had any cases so far. We hope things will go smoothly and we will receive help soon."
This center has 15 girls of 6-18 years. Its founder Vijay Karande said, "CWC sends children to them for care. We have another centre at Malwani that houses 10 boys. Many visitors have told us that they are ready to donate but would like to spend time with the kids and celebrate events with them. But we had to decline their requests as we can't take any risks. Donors don't realise that money given by them will be used on food for the kids. We also feed children who beg on the roads. None of our kids has got COVID so far."
The centre is home to 12 children as many employees and 117 senior citizens. Rupesh Patil, the in-charge, said, "Earlier, we nearly collapsed financially, though donations have started coming in slowly. In the first lockdown, 58 inmates got COVID and 7 senior citizens were infected during the second lockdown. BMC has helped us with 3 months' ration."
Urmila Jadhav, a CWC member said, "Currently many COVID cases have increased in city in orphanages. We informed all NGOs to strictly follow COVID guidelines and not allow any visitors to meet the kids. We also informed them to conduct COVID tests if anyone shows any symptoms. Due to the lockdown NGOs are also facing financial issues and the BMC IS supporting them. Earlier we instructed all orphanages to have 15-day shifts for their employees but it's not for everyone as they also have their families. Visitors are restricted for the safety of the kids."
25
No. of children currently staying at Vatsalya Trust
