HYDERABAD: Children between the age group of two and six years, who are admitted at Sishu Vihar, Yousufguda are cramped in groups of 20 to 30 in rooms. More than 25 children have been sleeping in tightly packed like sardines on mats, in rows. In some rooms, air cannot pass between two children as there was no space between them. Sources who have witnessed the distressing situation expressed concern over children packed in rooms and said a solution has to be found to it.
In this summer heat, staying in congested spaces exasperates people. The Sishu Vihar comes under Telangana Women and Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Department. Officials from the department too said that it is congested for the children.
As renovation works are underway at the Sishu Vihar building, officials said that they provided accommodation to the children in rooms at Children’s Home located in the same premises. The inconvenient situation might continue for three to four months as the renovations might continue up till then.
Children who are orphans or who have single parent are admitted at the Sishu Vihar which was inaugurated in the year of 1985. Around 210 children between the ages zero to six-years are admitted there.
The renovation works were taken up at the Sishu Vihar as water from toilets in first floor of the building was seeping to the rooms in ground floor. Also, when rains wrecked havoc in the city in August of 2016, situation became worse. Besides, there was problems with drainage system. The situation was unhygienic and inconvenient for children to stay at the Sishu Vihar. However, the interim solution of finding space for the children too is not convenient.
When contacted, in-charge officer of the Sishu Vihar I Lakshmi Devi said that a part of the works are expected to complete in two weeks. Thereafter, they will shift 90 to 100 children back to the building which has spacious rooms.
“We searched for other buildings to hire so that we can provide accommodation to children until works are completed.
We searched for hostels too, but we did not find any. So we opted for the Children’s Home in the same premises. Works on the first floor of the building might be completed in 15 days. The rooms in the home where children are accommodated now, too are spacious,” said Lakshmi Devi, the in-charge officer.
She said that they fixed Air Conditioners (AC), air coolers in some rooms and some ACs are under repair. The official hoped that a part of the renovation works will be completed before expected time if they constantly monitor the works.
