Prayas Shelter Home for Boys -Samastipur
Prayas Shelter Home for Boys at Samastipur (Bihar)
The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Bihar proposes to establish a Children’s Home for the children in need of care and protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2000 at Samastipur in association with NGO. The Government wishes to use the old jail premises of Samastipur for the purpose. Further, the NGO would be provided financial assistance. The sanctioned capacity of the Home is 150.
Purpose of the Home:
Studies indicate that Bihar is a major source of children being pushed into trafficking, child labour and juvenile delinquency. Samastipur happens to be one of those districts wherein there is large number of children in situations of neglect and deprivation who are legally defined as children in need of care and protection under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The need to have a holistic programme that would focus on the most vulnerable categories of children in need of care and protection and their integration into mainstream society has been felt for some time. Hence, an integrated Program, which provides for care and protection of these vulnerable children beginning form crisis outreach services to final rehabilitation with their families, is found to be necessary. The purpose of this project is to manage a model shelter home at Samastipur for the children who are the most sufferers due to poverty, flood and other natural calamities, Bihar, a state, which is largely affiliated by socio-economic deprivation. Prayas began its work in Bihar on the premise of responding to the challenges of child neglect and delinquency who are mostly marginalized due to lack of opportunities, unemployment and myriad issues of neglect and deprivation.
The Objective(s) of this project is:
• To provide secure environment for children coming from abusive environment
• It help in restoring children to their biological families/adoptive families and preparation for productive and value based adulthood
• Provision for care and support for socio-economic rehabilitation of children coming from marginalized sector of society
• To provide all institutional services like education, vocational training, nutrition, medical care, psychological intervention including counseling, home visits, which are necessary for holistic rehabilitation of the child
• Coordination with emergency outreach services through CHILDLINE (1098), counseling rehabilitative services along with linkage to other available services under various schemes of Government of India/State Governments
• To establish linkage with organizations and individual who can provide support services to target group
• Capacity building of NGOs, local bodies and Child Welfare Committee to undertake child related responsibilities
• To encourage volunteers to provide for various services for children and families to become guardian
• Research and advocacy and spreading awareness about juvenile justice related issues, Networking amongst the Allied Systems (Government and Non-Government agencies) to ensure their care and rehabilitation through integration with biological/adoptive families
