It is bizarre but true! Despite existence of free schools with fooding and lodging facility for orphan children, large number of such children are found battling for food, shelter and safe future.
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2000, clause (3) of article 15, clauses (e) and (f) of article 39, articles 45 and 47, which imposes a primary responsibility on the State to ensure that all the needs of children are met and that their basic human rights are fully protected, Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC), opened schools for the unfortunate children in five districts-Ranchi, Hazaribag, Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad in the year 2005-06 but irony is that most of the stake holders are unaware about it. JEPC member Pramood Kumar sharing information about the said, “With the objective to provide quality education to our State vulnerable children, orphan schools were opened in five districts in the year 2005-06. Ironically, not even a single orphan child has turn to it so far. This is because of lack of awareness. Moreover, to keep the school ongoing the school administration has started providing education to children of single parent.”
As many as 100 students’ orphan school has classes from nursery to class V for both boys and girls, besides free education the students also receives three time meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and space for their shelter. In Ranchi, the school is situated at Hindpiri area, in Hazaribag- beside bus stand, in Jamshedpur- near Sakshi colony, in Bokaro – J Reddy More and in Dhanbad at Gobindpur. “The council has failed generate awareness among the people as a result it has appealed for help from the members of Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) and the NGOs working for the welfare of such types of children,” added Kumar.
There are only ten to fifteen teachers for the five schools. JSCPCR member Ranjana Choudhary said, “Strangely, we were also not aware about existence of such schools for the underprivileged section of the society. The commission has decided to personally visit the schools first and then will work for its popularity.” She further said within couple of days the commission will visit the Hindpiri situated orphan school.