Madhuri Shinde
Superintendent Naunihal
29th December 2021………..
Working in the Naunihal Children’s Home for the past 8 years, I am well versed in my tasks of the day. Usually, my day begins with taking attendance of the children and discussing the day’s tasks with my team members. After taking the attendance, while I was discussing the daily task with the team members, I mentioned to them that for the first time since I had joined, Naunihal has only 11 children. During the COVID 19 pandemic very few children were referred for admission by the CWC to Naunihal Children’s Home (CH). A new Children’s Home for girls was given registration in the Raigad district last year under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act 2015. I had learned that some girls who would have otherwise been referred to Naunihal were sent to this new CH. Additionally, in the last 3 months, 10 children from Naunihal who had completed their 18 years of age were moved to an Aftercare facility, and some were restored to their families, etc by the order of the Child Welfare Committee. Therefore, Naunihal had only 11 children residing presently.
After completing my morning tasks in Naunihal, I stepped out to undertake home visits to complete Needs assessments under the UDAAN project wherein we work with children from families who have suffered a socio-economic loss due to COVID-19. Post the needs assessment under the UDAAN project we support these children financially and also through linkages etc. At around 5 in the evening, I received a call from the District Women and Child Development Officer (DWCDO) asking me if I was in Naunihal. When I told them that I was on visit, they requested my presence in the Naunihal at the earliest. The DWCDO informed me that 19 children will be brought to Naunihal for admission, therefore I have to reach Naunihal for processing their admissions. A lot of thoughts crossed my mind after the call which contained hardly any information about the children. I was a bit anxious as well. I started thinking about their needs, wondering what would be the reason for the urgent shift of these children in Naunihal, what would be their age group, whether we had enough welcome kits for the children, etc. On my way to Naunihal, I also remembered that I should instruct the team to make arrangements for dinner for these children.
When I reached Naunihal, I was happy to see my team members, taking a lead and also following the child-friendly protocols, and taking care of the admission process. While we all got down to making arrangements to welcome the children one of my team members with a smile also recalled our morning conversation about how there were only 11 children, and how things changed in a matter of hours. I reciprocated the sentiment with a smile and, I started helping with the work for the admission process.
When a child is admitted to Naunihal, we have a checklist that is followed entailing details of their health and recording their weight and height at the time of admission, making a note of all the belongings they have come with, their health and medical care needs, etc. After completing the admission process, as per the protocol we give them an orientation to the staff of Naunihal and all the services available.
The 19 girls looked overwhelmed and so we did not want to insist on getting all information about them that is required in the admission form. With their permission, we took photographs of all the children for our files. We asked the children if they had any questions for us, and none of them said anything, we assured them that they could reach out to us any time if they had any questions. I also simultaneously looked at the arrangement made for their dinner and the team had handled this also very well. After their dinner, we gave them a welcome kit which comprised of basic toiletries and clothes. We allocated all the children to their beds which were also kept ready.
Many of the adolescent girls were unable to engage themselves in any kind of activity. All the 19 girls preferred to be together and we decided not to disturb this. While the children were getting ready to sleep, I observed that all the children had questions on their faces. This was a big change in their life. This shift was unplanned and not something they had expected to happen to them. I stepped in and assured the children that even though this is a change in their life, in this part of their journey they will not be alone. I told them it is normal to have questions about Naunihal, about the period of their stay here, etc and they could ask us these questions as and when they were ready to approach us. I informed them that they will be assigned a Caseworker who would work for their safety and holistic development, ensuring them that their opinion mattered to us and at every step we would seek their opinion while taking all the steps for their stay in Naunihal and their rehabilitation. I also informed them that they will be receiving an orientation about the rules and regulations in Naunihal and information regarding their stay here.
I realised I should also not overthink, I needed rest too. I wished the children good night and reminded them they can contact me in case of any help.
After taking care of the work, I finally retired to my bed. I was tired and kept thinking of how in a matter of hours there were many changes not only for the children, (both the 11 children in Naunihal & the newly admitted 19 children) but also for us, the team. I was also shocked that today morning we had only 11 children in the home and by the end of the day the count rose to 30!
The change occurred overnight and I realized maybe their children were feeling anxious, angry, and disorientated due to this unplanned and sudden change in their life. Empathizing with the children’s feelings, I vowed to myself that I will help these children to settle into this new chapter of their life. With that vow in my mind, sleep came quickly to me, the next day when I opened my eyes, I remember my vow and I buckled up to fulfill it.
