Most of the over 120 of the children at NCO who go to private schools in Kathmandu, are still awaiting admission, text books, new uniforms and other basic items despite the new academic session beginning over a month ago. [break]
Children have to get readmitted in the new class every year and the organization is facing problems to pay for their readmission. Director Ramesh Bhumi said the organization is requesting the school administrations to allow the children to study without any hindrances. “Many of our children are compelled to go schools in ragged uniforms and bags,” Bhumi added.
The organization, which has significantly reduced intake of new children in the past few years, has also started to send the orphans back to their relatives with over 300 handed over to the relatives in the past three years alone. The organization, which is taking care of 411 children currently in its 11 shelters, took in just 26 children last year, but 13 of them had to be sent back to their relatives.
“We have been forced to change our policy and are now starting to search for the relatives of our children,” Bhumi said. He claimed that the organization will continue to support the children in their study even after they return to their relatives. But his pledge lacked conviction as the organization, opened to provide shelter to orphans and helpless children, itself has becomes helpless.
The non-governmental organization, which used to get grants directly from the palace in addition to the regular government funds, now doesn´t get even a rupee from the government after the abolition of Monarchy. Another major income source, the inter-country adoption, has also been hit due to indefinite suspension of adopting children from Nepal by European countries and USA in 2009.
“The piling dues and declining financial resources have compelled us to take drastic steps,” Bhumi stated. The organization had to shut down its two shelters in 2010. Bhumi claimed that the meager income it earns from leasing its land in Kathmandu is not sufficient to feed the children. “We are buying food in credit from dealers. We owe more than Rs 15million to various schools and food dealers,” he revealed.
Foreign donors and Nepalis living in foreign counties are sponsoring a few of the children but others are living in deprivation. Employees working at the organization have not recieved salary for the past nine months while those who had quit are yet to be paid their dues.
The organization has sought help from government and even met President Ram Baran Yadav for help but to no avail. “How long can the government provide assistance to the organization?” Legal Officer at the Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare Sher Jung Karki responded conveniently ignoring the fact that the children who are now being forced to return to their relatives had joined a government supported institution.
Acknowledging that the organization has approached the ministry seeking financial assistance Karki argued that the government does not have policy to provide assistance to an NGO.
Related story
Cases filed against 17 persons over below par lease rental of B...
