Child Orphanage
India has over 29 million orphaned or abandoned children, more than the entire population of Sri Lanka. However, in 2017 only 370,000 of these children were living in child care institutions, despite it being the state's responsibility to care for them until age 21. A government report found that over 27% of children received no aftercare support after leaving state care, and 44% were not consulted about their care plans. The annual government expenditure on child protection for these 30 million children amounts to less than $2 per child per day, which is inadequate to cover their basic needs like food, clothing, education and healthcare. One organization, SERUDS, has been operating an orphanage called Joy Home for 60 children since 2012 in a
Child Orphanage
- 2. India has 29.6 million orphaned and abandoned children more than the population of Sri Lanka! In 2017, of these 30 million children, there were only 370,000 children in over 9500 child care institution. serudsindia.org
- 3. Such young adults are the state’s responsibility until they turn 21. This is a reassuring policy, but only in name. More than a 27 per cent had not received any form of aftercare and 44 per cent were not consulted in their care and rehabilitation planning, in September 2018 report of the Jena Committee. serudsindia.org
- 4. The government’s annual expenditure on child protection (covering the entire gamut of child rights) is Rs 1500 crores : it amounts to less than Rs 2 per child per day, covering food, clothing, education and medical needs for the 30 million abandoned children serudsindia.org
- 5. SERUDS has been running Joy Home Orphanage for 60 children since 2012. The children receive care in a family-like environment. If this story touched you, and you wish to do something for the invisible orphans of India, you can click here to donate serudsindia.org