High rent threatens inmates of Hyderabad children home homeless

HYDERABAD,10/12/2012:Children at the Zion Children Home, which provides free food and accommodation for needy chidlren at Mahendra Hills. Pastor, R.Ganesh Prabhu has been operating the home since last five years in Hyderabad. ---PHOTO:NAGARA GOPAL

They have a shelter alright. But they don’t know how long it will last. In the last five years inmates of Zion Children Home have changed four premises – all due to steep rents.

As Christmas is fast approaching, the children are worried what it is in store for them.

Run by R.Ganesh Prabhu, a pastor, Zion Children Home (Tel. No. 90528 27782) provides free food, shelter and accommodation for 38 needy children at Mahendra Hills. Most of the children here are from low income groups and their parents cannot afford education and two full meals a day.

Though, they have sufficient books, food, clothes, children here are now worried about shelter as the home is operated in a rented building. Since all the children pursue their education at St. Francis Convent High School in Mahendra Hills, Mr. Prabhu was forced to look for a rented accommodation in the area.

The school management offers admissions at concessional rates and left with no choice, Mr. Prabhu joined all the children in the school. But given the steep rents in Mahendra Hills and surrounding areas, his budget goes for a toss.

“Earlier, we used to stay at Macha Bolarum but students were finding it tough to travel all the way up to Mahendra Hills. Recently, we moved here and in a span of four months, we shifted into two houses as we could not pay rent. We need to pay Rs.27,000 monthly rent,” explains Mr. Prabhu.

“Initially, we stayed in Nagaram, Macha Bolarum and then moved to Dhanalaxmi Colony and finally we are now in Mahendra Hills. But we are not sure as to how many days we will be living here,” says Anil Prabhu, a tenth standard student.

Every month, the home needs about Rs.60,000 to meet the expenditure, including rent. Mr. Prabhu conducts prayers at several places and people offer some donations, which are used to meet the expenses.

Rotaract Club of JBIET, a voluntary organisation, provides some support and other philanthropists offer clothes and provisions but rent has to be borne by us. This month’s rent is yet to be paid and already the house owner is demanding it, he laments.

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