22-05-2025
Sishu Gruhas, Bala Sadans reel under fund crunch as they await release of budget by govt.
Members of child rights organisations have appealed to the government to release the budget for Sishu Gruhas and Bala Sadans, pending for the last few months, in the State.
The children staying in Bala Sadans and the infants referred to the government-run Sishu Gruhas were suffering as funds were not sanctioned for the last six months, said a child rights activist, James Phillip.
According to sources, about 46 Bala Sadans (children's homes) and 26 Sishu Gruhas (specialised adoption agencies) are there in the State.
The rescued child labour and child marriage victims and the victims in the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) cases, are produced by the Police, Revenue and Labour Department officials before the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), which then refer the children to Bala Sadans.
Infants rescued in bus and railway stations, abandoned places, orphans and relinquished babies are referred to Sishu Gruhas.
'More than 500 children are staying in the government-run Sishu Gruhas and Bala Sadans in A.P. but budget has not been sanctioned to the homes for the last six months,' said a District Child Protection Officer (DCPO).
The government sanctions ₹2,500 per month for each child staying in Sishu Gruhas and ₹3,000 per head per month for the children referred to Bala Sadans.
'As there are no funds, we could not follow menu and buy medicines for the children,' said the supervisor of a Bala Sadan.
Speaking to The Hindu on Thursday, Principal Secretary, Women Development and Child Welfare, A. Surya Kumari said the budget for all Sishu Gruhas and Bala Sadans has been sanctioned.
'We have sent proposals for the first quarter budget which will be released shortly,' Ms. Surya Kumari said.
