Orissa takes up orphans8217; cause

The Consortium for Rehabilitation of Children CRC, a forum comprising the Women and Child Development WCD department, Orissa State Council for Child Welfare and 69 other NGOs have so far identified 1,200 orphans and 755 children at risk for rehabilitation. 8220;We have to first ensure the survival and protection of children. After that, we can think of their education and participation in the mainstream,8221; said commissioner-cum-secretary in the WCD Tarun Kanti Mishra.

Though many children have been orphaned in the cyclone, not all are bereft ofassets. Under the Community-based Rehabilitation CBR programme, the ex-gratia amount of Rs 75,000 given to orphans would be put in a joint account in the name of a special officer from the WCD department and the orphan8217;s guardian. The monthly interest of Rs 700 from the amount in the bank would be spent for the child.

The State Government will also form a supervisory committee comprising an NGO member, a local panchayat official and a government official that would periodically inspect if the child is getting the actual benefit.

The State Government has also started a foster mother scheme called Operation Sneha8217; in which a foster mother would be appointed for the orphans in the area. For example, in Jhatipari village of Jagatsinghpur district a widow has been appointed as foster mother to 10 orphaned children. The woman has been provided with utensils and other household items. In other affected areas a search is on for foster mothers and fathers. The rehabilitation process will be undertaken for thenext six months after which the programme will be reassessed.

While 18 of the 87 orphanages in the State have shown interest in taking the orphans, many institutions outside the State like Dayasadan Children8217;s Trust, Bharat Sevashram, Help, Sampark, Shanti Alias Trust and Salam Balak Trust have shown interest in taking all the children orphaned by the cyclone.