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The insensitivity of the government-employed staff obliged the Delhi government to seek alternative management for its home for destitute boys.
Four years ago, the Delhi government's Observation Home for destitute boys functioned like a mini jail. Children were locked up in a big hall for the better part of the day. They had the bare floor to sleep on, foul-smelling toilets, rags to wear, a dirty, dingy kitchen, a dysfunctional medical room, and absolutely no freedom or recreation or educational privileges. Fortunately, much of that has changed. There is a cleaner, healthier air at the institution, newer playgrounds, fewer security guards, and the freedom for boys to walk in and out of the Observation Home. They have cots to sleep on, and a trunk each to lock their few and precious belongings in. Th! ese winds of change were ushered in when Prayas, a child-centred NGO, took over the management of the home in July 1997. It transformed the facility from a detention centre into a 'model home'. The Prayas experiment is the first of its kind and its success has prompted other states to replicate the effort. To bring about a metamorphosis in the life of the home's residents, Prayas started off by chalking out a new time-table. The schedule has children attending classes for non-formal education, vocational training, healthcare and hygiene. Playtime, mealtime and breaks are clearly spelt out, and there is siesta time too. Medical facilities were previously not provided. Now, Prayas maintains a case file for each child. No sooner is a child admitted to the home than he is medically examined. Minor ailments are attended to at the inhouse mini-hospital. Serious cases are referred to neighbouring government h! ospitals. Medical check-ups are regularly conducted. The transformation is noticeable. Common skin diseases are not visible and the very look of the children has improved. It is the attitudinal change of the staff that has made the biggest difference. Many of the former all-male, government-employed staff were callous. Abusing, beating and robbing the children of their food rations was common. The Prayas staff have brought in a child-friendly attitude. Prayas' success reflects the incapacity of state agencies in running such an institution. The indifferent, impersonal government staff lacked the sensitivity to handle children who came traumatised and emotionally disturbed. Of paramount importance today is the endeavour to restore destitute children to their families, since each child is supposed to be in the Observation Home for not more than three months. Since July 1997, 510 ch! ildren have been restored. Each 'restored' child is encouraged to write back to the home whenever he feels the need to. The Home also maintains contact with the child to see if any kind of follow-up action is required, and so keep alive the hope of a better life this time round. Contact: Amod Kanth/R M Varma
Prayas
D-1/1017, Vasant Kunj
New Delhi 110070, India
Tel: 91-11-612 2784/612 2784
Email:
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