Two dingy rooms for 32 minor orphans — this is all that a country which swears on growing youth power has to offer.

Shishu Sadan provides shelter to 16 boys and 16 girls, all less than 10 years. Located at Shivkuti, Shishu Sadan is the only government children home in Allahabad, under the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare.

In a dilapidated condition, it has only two maids, Noorjahan and Beenu, who take care of the children throughout the day. What is even more appalling is that for the last six years the meagre fund — Rs 550 per child monthly — released by the state government has not yet been revised.

“How can a child have a proper diet and nutrition along with clothes and other necessities with Rs 550? We have been requesting the government to increase the amount but have always been left disappointed,” said a staff member. The home also has two HIV+ children who demand greater care and nutrition in order to increase their immune system, added the staff member.

“Khana to milta hai per itna nahi hota ki pet bhar ke kha saken per yahan ke log pyaar bahut karte hain (We do get food but it is not enough to fill our appetite but people here do take care of us,” said an eight-year-old HIV+ girl.

“It is really very tough to run the home with this amount which is usually spent on providing milk for the children,” said another staff member.

... contd.