Orphanages In India

1.1 Introduction

An orphanage is a housing institution dedicated to the care of orphans – children whose parents are dead or not capable or not willing to care for them. Organic/biological parents, and sometimes organic grandparents, are lawfully responsible for sustaining children, but in the nonexistence of these, no named godparent, or any other relatives willing to care for the children, they become a ward of the state, and orphanages are one way of providing for their concern, shelter and education.

It is often used to explain institutions abroad, where it is a more accurate term, since the word orphan has a different definition in international adoption. Although many people assume that most children who live in orphanages are orphans,

Orphanages in India

India has a very large number of orphans as well as destitute child population. Orphanages operated by the state are generally known as juvenile homes. In addition there is a vast number of privately run orphanages running into thousands spread across the country. These area run by various trusts, religious groups, individual citizens, citizens groups, NGO's etc.

While some of these places Endeavour to place the children for adoption a vast majority just care and educate them till they are of legal majority age and help place them back on their feet. Prominent organizations in this field include BOYS TOWN, SOS children's villages etc.

Some scandals have been there every now and then especially with regard to Adoption. Also since government rules restrict funds unless a certain number of inmates are there, some orphanages make sure the resident numbers remain high at the cost of

The Elizabethan Poor Laws were enacted at the time of the Reformation, and placed public responsibility on individual parishes to care for the indigent poor.

1.2.1 Foundling Hospitals

The enlargement of sentimental philanthropy in the 18th century, led to the establishment of some of the first charitable institutions catering for the orphan. The Foundling Hospital was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram in London, England, as a children's home for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The first children were admitted into a temporary house located in Hatton Garden. At first, no questions were asked about child or parent, but a distinguishing token was put on each child by the parent.

On reception, children were sent to wet nurses in the countryside, where they stayed until they were about four or five years old. At sixteen girls were generally apprenticed as servants for four years; at fourteen, boys were apprenticed into variety of occupations, typically for seven years. There was a small benevolent fund for