Inmates of Shraddha Sanjivani Join Fight against Covid-19

Berhampur: Only a few times in the history of mankind have human beings as a race faced challenges beyond their comprehension like the current situation arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people worldwide have been impacted and are in need of help. The pandemic today needs a fight united by all along. From poor people to the members of higher strata, all are trying to contribute their best in the fight against the virus.

At this critical juncture, the inmates of Shraddha Sanjivani Child Care Home (SSCCH), an institution providing shelter to HIV-infected children, orphans and the vulnerable, have come forward to join the Odisha’s fight against the corona pandemic.

The institution, which was set up in 2007 by the Ganjam District administration during the tenure of the then Collector VK Pandian, now the Secretary to CM (5T), at Gopalpur to take care of the children, who are mostly orphans, has been playing its own role to strengthen Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resolve to keep the State safe from the virus.

The inmates of Shraddha Sanjivani, who are below the age of 18 and have their own struggle to fight the social stigma being associated with HIV, have put their hands together to stitch masks for their own internal uses. At present, there are 52 inmates in the Child Care Home.

As part of their training purpose, the tailoring unit of SSCCH has undertaken the task of preparing masks for the inmates as well as staff members of the institution.
Even though, the masks prepared by the SSCCH will be not distributed to the outsiders, but it shows how the children are aware of the situation. They are indirectly contributing to the ongoing war against the COVID-19 creating awareness among the people, said Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange.

With the help of the staff members, they are making cotton masks as per the guidelines of the government inside their campus.

Lokanath Mishra, one of the founding members of SSCCH, said that the institute provides vocational training to the inmates. In view of the current pandemic situation, the tailoring unit of the SSCCH is training the children on stitching of mask.

The masks prepared by the children will be used by children themselves, he said.

“We provided the raw materials and showed them how to stitch the masks. They were given the guidelines for making the masks.  They are taking up the task passionately”, he added.

Notably, the SSCCH was set up on December 21, 2007 to provide shelter to HIV-positive destitute children of Ganjam district. It is being managed by the Ganjam district administration.

Till now, around 80 HIV-positive children have enrolled in SSCCH and 52 of them are residing there currently. The rest have left after attaining 18 years of age or were taken back by their surviving parents.

Currently, nine inmates of SSCCH are pursuing their education in government-run ITI at Berhampur. Others are also enrolled in various skill development programmes launched by the government.  Most of the former inmates of this child care home are well settled in their lives.
The SSCCH brings a ray of hope in these vulnerable children to beat the challenges and excel in life.