Crisis at the Childfen's Home
Girls taken away with no warning. A very stressful time.
At the beginning of August 2023, in the night and during the day, but while Thirumaran was away, an unannounced visit from Child Welfare Committee officers (CWC) and the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) took all the children away from TRUST Children’s Home. When the staff objected, the Police became involved. The children were taken away to Government Homes and Hostels, with no warning. No formal paperwork giving reasons was presented.
The crisis relates to the home for the girls; the boys are fine.
As you can imagine, this has been a huge upset to Thirumaran, his family and the staff who were looking after the girls at TRUST Children’s Home with such care.
We know Thirumaran to be a man with a strong sense of integrity. He is known for his honest dealing with officials (he refuses to hand over bribes) which does not always make for smooth progress. But this is a crisis unlike any other.
TRUST Children’s Home is the home for girls – it was the original home after the 2004 tsunami and initially looked after both boys and girls. In 2012 the authorities required a separate home for the boys, and TRUST Boys’ Home was built for them.
As the children reach 18, and move on to Further Education, they have been living in the Hostels which were built for them. For a number of reasons, including the soaring cost of staple vegetables (the price of onions and tomatoes have increased as much as 500%), the older ‘leavers’ from the homes have not all been replaced with youngsters. So, in both Children’s Homes the numbers have reduced post-covid.
The older girls who are living in the Girls’ Hostel are still there. They are not ‘children’ and so the CWC is not involved.
This crisis has been brewing for some time. One of the trustees of our UK Support Group was visiting in February and Thirumaran was clearly anxious about frequent unannounced ‘inspections’ at the Girls’ Home. The visiting officials found minor problems, such as a leaking pipe or a failed light bulb, which were corrected, of course. Although the trustee was granted permission to visit the Boys’ Home, he was not given permission to set foot on the Children’s Home (ie Girls’ Home) campus.
The Homes have to be ‘registered’ and the Registration of the Children’s Home expired a few days ago, on 18th August. There has, so far, been no formal information about why the registration has not been renewed - although there has been pressure for building a wall around the compound, in place of the secure chain link fence which has been sufficient until now. Until now there have been visits from officials for over seventeen years and they have always commented positively on the Home.
The children were removed before the registration of the home expired, not because the home wasn’t registered.
Thirumaran is strongly supported by many local people who are unhappy about the turn of events. Their support of the children, in addition to the support from the UK, has enabled Thirumaran to look after these children since 2004.Thirumaran is very conscious of your support in funding the buildings that have made TRUST Children’s Home possible and for your regular support which has supported the day to day expenditure.
There have been meetings of local people who are asking the authorities that the Children’s Home be reopened. The local press is also very supportive – they know the amazing work that Thirumaran does for the community. Thirumaran has taken advice from a lawyer and notices are being sent to the government officials.Whatever happens now, Thirumaran has looked after children at TRUST Children’s Home for over seventeen years. They have been loved, supported and educated through their childhood, becoming happy and balanced members of society. Many of the girls are married, many have careers as teachers and nurses. It is tragic to see this wonderful venture falter.
