Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 17 2010:
For the first time in Bishnupur district, a destitute home for boys has been opened by the New Life Foundation without any assistance from the Government.
Located at Moirang Konjengbam Mamang Leikai and christened the Glory Children Home, the newly opened destitute home is already housing 13 boys.
Till date, there is no children home or observation home or shelter home or special home run with Government grants or assistance in Bishnupur district.
Guided by the novel objectives to ensuring all the rights entitled to child like right to life, right to education etc, the New Life Foundation opened the home on August 11 .
Out of 44 children referred to the home by the Bishnupur District Child Welfare Committee, 13 children, considered to be in need of a home the most, have been given shelter at the home.
Children staying at the home includes those whose parents have been killed in gun violence, HIV affected children and children who families were evicted by Loktak Project.
Out of them, five are school going children while the remaining eight have dropped.
Aged between 4 and 12 years, all of them have now been admitted to Konjeng Junior High School.
The boys' home has one cook, one helper, two care-takers, one counsellor and one yoga instructor.
At times of illness, the children are diagnosed and treated at Moirang CHC.
Talking to media persons today, general secretary of the New Life Foundation Pishak said that the home was established with the help of the people without any assistance from the Government in view of the dire need for destitute homes for children in Bishnupur district.
The general secretary noted that Bishnupur district is the most backward district among the valley districts and children of the district have fallen prey to child trafficking.
Even as they required institutional care, they were receiving none.
This newly opened home would help in addressing the problem at least to some extent, Pishak added.