Four Abandoned Children Sheltered

Our Railway Staff spotted a couple with 7 children travelling by train. Immediate doubt was whether the children were being trafficked. But they were looking for shelter for four children. Our staff brought all of them to the office. After talking to them we found that three children were of the couple and other four children were of their neighbor! The neighbor’s first wife had deserted the family and was living separately with their children and filed a case against husband for maintenance.  During this time he met another lady with five children and not having a husband. He started to live with her and her five children. Meanwhile his wife left their children and took off with another man taking only the last girl child who was too young.   She left the children with the couple who were presently finding it difficult to look after all seven children. The couple sought the help of his friend to come to CHILDLINE to find shelter for the four children. We produced all four children before CWC and provided shelter for two boys at Don Bosco Shelter home and two girl children at Chithra Home.  

As all the four children are presently without their mother or father it is appropriate that they be given in continuous foster care. A family atmosphere for a child can never be replaced with an institution. The alternative child care systems such as adoption and foster care are very much inadequate in Kerala. Because of this there are a large number of children who lose their childhood due to insufficient care in children’s homes. Appropriate laws and prompt implementation are the need of the hour.