A home with a difference

Manavatha Sadan launched under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan has 85 orphans

Safe haven Inmates of Manavatha Sadan, an orphanage run by the government, playing in their leisure time, in Dichpally mandal in Nizamabad district on Sunday.

Within a year of its launch on a pilot basis under the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the orphanage named Manavatha Sadan here, has become a role model for others to follow.

The home, which has 85 students comprising 48 girls and 37 boys, provides a homely atmosphere to the inmates who are orphans. The home organisers, particularly Collector Yogitha Rana, has been taking utmost care about education, healthcare and overall future of the inmates.

HIV affected

Of them, 53 children were born to HIV-affected parents and 23 are tested HIV positive. In the case of nine students, their parents died of different reasons. They are all examined regularly and given medicine at the Government General Hospital. Blood test is also conducted for them once in six months.

Though it is funded by the government, a number of philanthropists contribute their mite towards school uniforms, food, fruits and so on. Six staff members, a counsellor, three tutors, an accountant and a housekeeper led by caretaker K. Ramesh stay at the home taking care of their needs.

One peon, a watchman and a cook and an assistant cook are also there on regular basis.

The home, launched on February 19 last, has two separate sections for girls and boys. There are children studying class I to graduation, according to Ramesh who is a school assistant deputed on the SSA project to work as a caretaker.

Regular excursions

Generally, these students do not go anywhere outside the home as they have no near and dear ones.

However, they are taken out on excursions by the home management. The inmates consider the Collector as their mother and take liberty with her to share their pleasures whenever she visits the home.