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| Jose Maveli, Jana Seva Sisu Bhavan, P.B.NO:107, Aluva, Kochi. Ph: 0484- 2606079 |
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Jose
Maveli’s first encounter with forsaken children happened when he was
a student of ITI. Going for
bath in the river, he and his friend were alerted by the cry of a
3-year-old child. As they
approached, the child pointed to the bush where his mother, a beggar
woman, was in the throes of giving birth to another child. With help from passers by, Jose was able to admit her in the
hospital to complete the delivery safely.
At
another time, he was instrumental in snatching a child from the hands of a
mad women who had jumped into swollen canal.
Such experiences planted in his heart the picture of a home for
abandoned children. And so it
was that in 1996, a voluntary organization, Jana Sevana was formed at
Aluva. With contributions
from more than 1000 well-wishers, the organization has been providing
lunch to about 500 students in various high schools.
The
organisation’s activities entered a new phase with the starting of Sisu
Bhavan for children in 1999. Jose,
a retail trader in Aluva, took up the reins of the Bhavan. Starting with
an initial intake of 5 children, the Home now has about 230 children, all
either abandoned by their parents or rescued from the racket of organized
beggary.
With
205 life members contributing Rs.25000 each, the Bhavan has been able to
afford reasonable surroundings for the children.
In the 45-cent plot in Settlement Compound at Aluva, the Jana Seva
built a Rs.75 lakhs multi-storied building capable of housing 300
children. The Bhavan complex
includes an English-medium LP School, play ground and swimming pool.
With
well-wishers among film stars and other prominent citizens, the Bhavan
appears well placed to make a difference in the occurrence of child
beggary.
Courtesy: Lathika Subhash, Kanyaka, October 31, 2003
Contributed by: Administrator
