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Focus on Orphans
The Social Welfare Ministry has decided to construct six new Shlshu Paribar Bhabans (Children's Family Homes for orphans) by the end of next year. This will add to the 17 such homes currently existing. The plan to transform normal orphanages to the so-called Family Homes was taken by the previous government The idea was to gradually reform all the 73 stale-run orphanages What exactly the government had in the mind in instituting this change is not really very clear except some vague notion that these unfortunate children were to have a more family like environment in these homes than they had before The initiative is definitely laudable and is based on humane and refined consideration
The question ts how far have we succeeded in this regard? In addition to the total number of government-run orphanages, there are 324 others which are government aided but privately run. Then there are 972 totally prtvately-run — or NGOrun— orphanages, guite often funded by external assistance. Togetner tn all these homes about 50.000 orphans are housed. How does this compare with tne actual need? Well in Dhaka alone, it is estimated that there are more than 400.000 street children. It is understood that all street children are not necessarily orphans, but In their destitute condition and need for shelter and care these, kids are in no better situation than the actual orphans.
The challenge therefore is far more complex than one which can be solved by a few orphanages here or there. Social scientists are of the view that issues of child care and special facilities for the orphans must be Integrated into the overall poverty alleviation strategy of the country. The problem of orphans should not be addressed In isolation because it cannot be solved in isolation. The children who inhabit all these homes' are not always the one who have lost their parents. There is a large number of abandoned ones also. First the father abandons his children, being unable to feed and take care of them. After a while the mother, having tried her best, abandons them, the lucky ones among them finding their way into the orphanages.
So where do we go .from here? With the population on the rise, poverty on the rise, number of abandoned children on the rise, what can the government and the society at large do to meet this challenge?
According to the plan announced yesterday it will cost the government Tk. 23.20 crore' to construct the new Shlshu Paribar Bhabans' — al Tk. 5 crore each. We all know almost all of this allocation will go for construction of a building and some perhaps for furniture and equipment. Cannot this fund and many other similar funds be better spent? Inventing in buildings will line the pockets of the contractors and will be of very limited use to the kids for whom it is meant. A building worth Tk. 5 crore is not really a very cheap one. Depending, of course, on how many kids are planned to be housed. Can we not look Into the possibilities of cheaper but adequate constructions. which after providing shelter for the children during the night can be used as skills imparting centres for youth and adults during the day ? We really cannot pretend to know all the answers But this much we are certain about : that the traditional approach is not only too costly but is also tirjie-consumlng and cannot keep pace with the rise In the size of the problem Itself