A govt baby home where inmates face starvation

The 39 children at Chhotto Moni Nibash. PHOTO: STAR

This is the scene at the Chhotto Moni Nibash (baby home) at Goila in Agailjhara upazila in Barisal, which shelters 39 helpless and orphan children.

Seventeen officials and employees of the baby home are also not getting salary for 16 months.

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Its sorry plight is because of inaction by officials concerned. It has not yet been included in the government's revenue budget though the project under the development budget was completed last year. Development funds have been stopped after completion of project.

Food supply to the baby home by contractors is stopped since November 1 as they did not get arrears of Tk two lakh, said Bahauddin Mia, one of the contractors.

As the children faced starvation, some local people came forward and arranged food supply by rotation on humanitarian ground, local people and its employees told this correspondent during a recent visit.

The Social Welfare Directorate set up the baby home on 1.92 acres of land at a cost of Tk 3 core to rehabilitate abandoned and helpless children. It has a capacity to accommodate 100 children.

The complex includes six buildings for children's dormitories, office, training centre and staff quarters for employees. It was built by the Public Works Department (PWD)

Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mujahid inaugurated it on March 8, 2003, but it was not started functioning till June 5, 2003.

Its Deputy Superintendent Abul Kalam Azad said, 39 abandoned children aged up to seven are provided education at baby home. A part-time doctor visits it when necessary. The children would be handed over to their parents or relatives after proper identification, he added.

When contacted, Shawkat Mohammad Kamal, Deputy Director of Social Welfare Directorate in Barisa, said he has requested the contractors to continue food supply to baby home. But he could not say anything whether it will be included in the government's revenue budget to end their sufferings.