Hindu Newspaper Article on our Work

The Hindu newspaper recently did an article on our work. You can read it here:
The Hindu/A Story of Love 

News From the Little Darlings

Several of the Little Darlings are going or have gone for adoption. This is wonderful news and we are so happy for them. Suleka was adopted by a local family. They say that she talks often of the Mercy Home but they are determined to win her with love. We couldn't be happier that such a wonderful couple have taken on the challenge of raising Suleka in spite of her physical challenges. Rani has also gone for adoption with a local family. Melvin, who was born with only one hand, will be going to a family in the United States, and Preita, who was operated for a cleft palette, to a family in Scandinavia. (The government has been putting emphasis on finding overseas adoptive parents for the special needs children who have not been chosen for adoption within the country, with great success.)

Official Eye-Camp Results

Eye Camp for the Poor

On the 17th March, RPI conducted a free eye-camp for 30 villages, with the help of the world-famous Aravind Eye Hospital, and the Madurai District Visual Prevention Association. The Aravind Hospital conducts many free eye-screening camps and then provides free cataract operations and other treatment when required. However, they need a partner organisation to a arrange the venue, do the preparations, make sure electricity is supplied, do advertising to make sure needy people attend, and to provide food for the medical staff. This was our role. As a result of the camp, 205 people received examinations, 45 people went for surgery, mostly cataract surgery, and 25 people received spectacles.

A Tragic Story--and a New Tution Centre

Today we learned the tragic news that an 11 year old girl in a nearby village commit suicide.  Her teacher had scolded her for not doing her homework and for not having a notebook.  So she went home and killed herself. 11 years old. So many thoughts have passed through our minds--if only her teacher had corrected her more carefully, if only her parents had bought her a notebook, if only she had asked us for a notebook..... The villagers came to our staff today and begged us to open a tuition/evening study centre in their village. We are making it top priority but alas, too late for one little girl.

We are determined to try to  make a difference through our programmes--to teach our staff, and tuition teachers to talk to children with respect and kindness; if they have to correct them, to balance it with encouragement and not to assault their dignity. Corporal punishment is forbidden in our centres. No using sticks to keep the children quiet, as we have seen in some anganwadis. And through our activities and youth club,  we shall endeavour to teach children to treat each other with respect and courtesy also, no matter their caste or community.

Can you sponsor a tuition centre? Rs.1000 a month pays the salary for a teacher for 2-3 hours an evening so the children can complete their homework and get needed assistance.  (About $20, £12 or €14)

According to a recent Lancet report, suicide death rates in India are among the highest in the world. A large proportion of adult suicide deaths occur between the ages of 15 years and 29 years, especially in women. 

Light blankets for the elderly toddlers

Many thanks to Mr. Srinavasan for donating these light-weight blankets which are perfect for the cool winter evenings.

And a big smile from Dashana and Melvina.

Child Sex Ratio in India continues to fall.

(From Rediff News:) In an alarming trend, girl child numbers in India have shown a sharper decline than the male children in the decade beginning 2001, leading to a skewed child sex ratio. Ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child on Thursday, the government said that while the decade saw an overall drop in share of children to total population, nearly three million girls, one million more than boys, are "missing" in 2011 compared to 2001 and there are now 48 fewer girls per 1,000 boys than there were in 1981. "During 2001-2011, the share of children to total population has declined and the decline was sharper for female children than male children in the age group 0-6 years," said the study "Children in India 2012-A Statistical Appraisal" conducted by the Central Statistical Organisation. "Though, the overall sex ratio of the country is showing a trend of improvement, the child sex ratio is showing a declining trend, which is a matter of concern," the study said.

Distributing Stationery Goods

Many thanks to Link Pen for sending a wonderful supply of stationery items for the tuition students. As a new school term recently started we have been busy distributing them. We are also keeping a few supplies back so that we can offer the students a little something every two months if they faithfully attend the tuitions. We hope this will be an incentive for them.

Above: Giving some 'pep' talks to one of the tuition groups.

Left: These two little girls are a bit young for tuitions but they wanted to make sure they received a package too!

Construction Progress

Top: Underground rain-harvesting tank, and irrigation pipes
Bottom: Engineer room and storage shed (left) and main building (right.)

Packages Received

Many thanks to Leena, Vaaka organisation and Kestovaippayhidistys organisation, all from Finland, for the wonderful packages you sent.

Annual School Day for Creche Students

Before the new school year started in June, the Creche students participated in the annual school day organised by RPI and CESS. They enjoyed performing their rhymes, alphabet songs etc for their parents. Students 'graduating' to first grade received school bags

Construction Progress

Work in progressing on the SHE rural and educational centre, which will house 5 classrooms, 2 offices, 4 toilets, handicap facilities, meeting areas, and a rain-harvesting tank.

Five Day Summer Program for Teenage Village Girls

For the month of May, (summer school holiday time in India) we organised a five day camp for the teenage girls who have been attending our awareness programs. Topics covered included education, career counseling, moral life, abortions, feoticide and infanticide. Special speakers came to cover some of these topics. Talks, as usual, were interspersed with lots of games, competitions and fun activitites. The first day, about 60 girls attended, the second day, 90 and the third day, over 100. Many more girls wanted to attend from villages further away, but were unable to because of transport difficulties, so next time we will look into the possibilities of organising transportation for them.

PHOTOS: Top left - some of the attendees; top-right - lunch time; bottom left - fun and games; bottom right - special guest giving a talk.

Baby girl tortured to death by her father for being a girl

"Despite the laws, the committees, and the rest of it, unwanted little girls are either exterminated inside the womb or crushed outside. India’s already skewed infant sex ratio is getting worse." This is an excerpt from one of the many articles about the tragic incident of a second baby girl in a matter of months being tortured to death by her father, who wanted a boy. Read the full article here: Asian Age
RPI continues working with mothers, children and adolescent girls in 16 villages to fight against the discrimination of the girl child, and also to improve the health standards of women and children.

Thank you Samir for this Easter present for Lil' Darlings

A new bicyle with training wheels!
Photos: Daniel needed some help at first (top left) but soon got the hang of turning the pedals (top right.) Then he gave a helping hand to Rani (bottom right.) Induja is a bit too short but that didn't stop her from having fun on the bike (bottom left.)