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In need of life sponsors
LUCKNOW: Ashish knows only two ways to communicate -- cry or smile. Bedridden since birth, the eight-year-old boy is suffering from an acute neurological disorder. Abandoned by his parents, the child was found in a garbage dump in 2004. Since then he is living in Rajkiya Shishu Grih at Prag Narain Road. He cannot move his limbs, not even eat or drink by himself. Forget about taking care of toilet needs, he is also mentally retarded. The boy has to be fed by hand and that too a liquid diet. Caretakers are worried about his future. After crossing 10 years of age, that is, after two years from now, the boy as per rules will have to leave the Grih. Nobody knows where will he go as there is no government shelter home for disabled orphans above 10-years-of-age in the state.
The story of seven other disabled orphans in the Shishu Grih is no less heart-rending. Though looked after well by the staff, there are no facilities to train disabled children in taking care of themselves. The government home in Motinagar is for children above 10 years but is jampacked. There is not a single home specially for disabled children. As such children require 24X7 care and attention, both government and private homes avoid taking disabled and prefer those who at least can address toilet needs. Couples coming for adoption don't even bother to look at disabled children. Even in government hospitals, these babies do not get treatment on priority basis. In such a situation, these children are forced to live a miserable life with a bleak future.
Banking entirely on the government for solution would be foolish because such babies are responsibility of the entire society. People have reservations about adopting disabled orphans but they at least can SPONSOR such children -- help can be both in cash and kind. For example: Shishu Grih authorities have got Ashish examined by doctors and he is on medication but still one can come forward and help with money to get the best possible treatment to the boy by taking him to AIIMS or by getting him examined by an expert who is on visit to Lucknow. "We do every possible thing for these children but any help from people is always welcome. Our main worry is what will happen after these babies cross 10 years of age," said Manju Verma, assistant superintendent at Shishu Grih.
Jaipal Verma, Shishu Grih superintendent, made attempts to get two visually challenged baby girls admitted in a special home in Dehradun but they refused on grounds that they take girls who have undergone some training. But UP does not have any special shelter homes for disabled orphans. S S Dhapola, who runs home for mentally retarded people, said that government-public partnership is required to create infrastructure and mechanism to serve such children. "A home for disabled orphans should be created in every district either by government on its own or in partnership with non-government organisations," he said. But then, the heart, sensitivity and patience required for service cannot be bought or hired, it will have to come from the people, he added.
"The plight of these children often makes me ask a question to myself that can God be so cruel? But after seeing devotion and dedication of caretakers here, who look after babies like their own children, I also thank God," said Varsha Sharma, coordinator, Childline. Socials activist also said that people should sponsor such babies but government cannot shelve its duty as a welfare state and constitutional obligation to provide every citizen right to live with dignity. "Government has created a university for disabled by spending crores but only few can afford to go there. Instead, the thrust should be to empower disabled orphans and those coming from poor families, so that they can rise to a level of being capable of availing higher education," said Ashish Awasthi, an activist.
Additional Information
Country: India
Website: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/In-need-of-life-sponsors/articleshow/5224729.cms
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Source: Email from: MORI, Soya
When: 25/11/2009
