Children's Day

Today was National Children's Day in India, so we had lots of fun celebrating with the toddlers. The carers enjoyed dressing them up and the children enjoyed dancing and action songs. Their beautiful dresses have all been donated by local families. We also did activities with our tuition students from nearby villages (99 kids in all. Photos coming soon!)







PHOTOS: 1. Suleka, Manju and Darshana performing their action song.
2. Beautiful Manju.
3. Group (from back left) - Melvina, Suleka, Manju, Darshana, Pushpa Raj, Induja
4. Melvina has only learned to walk recently, but she loves dancing.

More Packages

We received more packages at the Mercy Home from many wonderful friends and supporters. Details are on our website:
http://www.reliefprojects.org/Packages_recd.html

Dowry Murders and Torture in India

Last week, the following article appeared in the Times of India newspaper:
NEW DELHI: Shaken by the large number of women being killed for dowry, the Supreme Court said Indian society has become sick. "The hallmark of a healthy society is the respect it shows to women. Indian society has become a sick society. This is evident from the large number of cases coming up in this court and also in almost all courts in the country in which young women are being killed by their husbands or by their in-laws by pouring kerosene on them and setting them on fire or by hanging/strangulating them," an anguished bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Mishra said in a recent judgment.

"What is the level of civilization of a society in which a large number of women are treated in this horrendous and barbaric manner? What has our society become," asked the Bench before upholding life term for the husband and mother-in-law of a woman killed for dowry.

The bench had a point. Data compiled for 2008 by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) showed that there were 8,172 dowry deaths in the country . (RPI comment: The actual statistics are probably much higher as many deaths go unreported or are reported as suicides.)

Read more: Our society has become sick: SC on dowry deaths The Times of India

Please read about the RPI SHE programme that is aimed at improving the status and treatment of women and female children. An integral part of our programme is college presentations where we present a powerpoint on relevant social and moral issues, and discuss these issues with the young students.

Photo copyright © Ron Harmon: In-laws or husbands will frequently pour acid on a wife's face in an attempt to force her family to pay more dowry.

Babies leaving for adoption

These babies are dressed in special pretty dresses to go to join their new adoptive parents, and begin what we hope will be a new, happier life.

Alistair will be leaving us

A few months ago, a couple came forward saying they were 3-year-old Alistair's parents and asking to take him. The courts have examined their claim and finally approved it so he will be leaving us in the next few days. We are all going to miss him and there have been a few moist eyes amongst the staff. We are all hoping his parents will take good care of him. The Mercy Home director will be giving them a little talk about the fact that they abandoned him for 3 years, and challenging them to be good parents.

New Packages of Supplies

Recently quite a few packages have arrived at the Mercy Home.
A complete list of the packages can be found at: http://www.reliefprojects.org/Packages_recd.html
On the left, Suleka is wearing a pretty dress that arrived in one of the packages. On the right is a wonderful set of 'Peter and Jane' readers which we will use to teach the older toddlers to read.

Asika and Sujita Adopted!

We are so happy that these two toddlers, both of whom are 2 years old, have finally been adopted by good families who are happy to have them. We miss them but wish them and their new families a happy, loving life together.

More Renovations

Some of the dormitories for the senior citizens have been renovated. (Thanks again to Claretian supporters in Spain.)



Before.... and after

There are new photos of the toddlers on our website. Enjoy!
New Little Darlings Photos

TV Report

SBS TV Channel in Australia did a very good new article on our work at the Mercy Home and on the problem of unwanted female babies. The show can be watched on their internet site:
http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/watch/id/600752/n/Mercy-Mission

Divining for water

First the man walks around with a magnet on a string. When it starts swinging wildly, that indicates the presence of water. Then he checks with a coconut!! The coconut wobbles and even falls off his hand over the same spot where he thinks there's water. Jesse wanted to try! And all the neighbours came to watch the fun.

Land Purchase

Here is a view across the land that was purchased for RPI for a new SHE centre, to promote the health and welfare of mothers and children, especially female and physically challenged children. The centre will also be involved in the fight against female infanticide and foeticide. The land is located near Usilampatti, which is the heart of the infanticide belt in this part of Tamil Nadu.

Generator room.

Thanks to Brandon, the small generator for the nursery has been moved from under the stairs, where the diesel fumes blew right into the nursery. It is now housed in a specially built room on the roof.

Renovating the shower rooms for the elderly.

Thanks to the generosity of friends of the Claretians in Spain, the bathrooms for the elderly have had a 'face lift' and are vastly improved from the dilapidated and moldy state they were in. Tiling is underway in their bedrooms too, but sponsorship is still needed for a room for the dying.

Toddler Progress

The toddlers are making lots of good progress. Asika is now walking, the quieter ones like Manchu and Rani are much happier, and they are learning lots. They love their flash cards and have already learned, fruits, vegetables, wild and domestic animals and transport. They even know the flags of Asia. "What is this?" asks Jennifer, "Bhutan, or India, or Japan" reply excited little voices. Glen Doman was right--toddlers love to learn and can learn anything presented to them in a fun manner.