Hyderabad: “After my father’s death, my mother married a man who did not want me around and I was separated and made to stay with my grandmother. When she fell sick I was eventually brought here, my new home,” said nine-year-old Geet (name changed) who lives at Grace Children’s Home in JJ Nagar Colony, Neredmet.
Hers is a story of instability and being passed from the care of one relative to another, until finally she landed up at this home.
“Seeing that no one would care for me, neighbours brought me here. I could never understand why my stepfather did not want me but now I have a new home and many friends, and some day I will become a teacher and help others,” said the little girl. Geet will have been at the home a year, loves to sing and claims her favourite pastime is running.
G. Vijaylakshmi, who practices at the family court said, “We often see children being placed in the custody of their mothers, however years after the divorce, the women seek a new life partner, who does not approve of her children from a previous marriage. The children are left to the care of their grandparents. The children pay the steep price for no mistake of theirs.” It is unfortunate that these callous parents are not brought to book for their cruelty.
Seven-year-old Shyla (name changed) was placed in Grace children’s home because her father, a daily labourer, was an alcoholic and used to beat her mother. Unwilling to let the children witness such acts of violence and crude behaviour, Shyla’s mother took the difficult step of leaving her children in a home that she hoped would be safer than the one she could provide.
“My sister and I were brought to this home as my other home was having problems and it was not good. I am able to study and some day plan to become a police officer and solve problems that I am too small to solve now,” she said.
These are just a few of many untold stories of children who reside in institutions and orphanages in the city.
Their safety and well being should be a priority of the government, but that is not always so. Stories of children in such homes being abused and neglected are legion. Child welfare departments and NGOs must wake up to the task of protecting these most vulnerable of all sections of our society.
