Urgent Appeal
What’s happened…
It is with sad news I write this:
Recent reforms acts in India, including provisions under the Orphan Child (Welfare and Development) Act, 2024 and existing laws like the Juvenile Justice (Car and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, impose specific standards on orphanages. These include infrastructure, staffing, health, and educational requirements, sometimes requiring separate accommodations for boys and girls. Non-compliance can lead to license revocation or legal liability.
Why has this happened…
In India - roughly 80% of orphanages, children's' charities and social programs are run by western NGOs which are (explicitly or implicitly) primarily established, managed, staffed, supported and financed by Christians or Christian organisations.
Many see this an attempt by some to stop the Christian influence and good works in India by a increasingly hostile Hindu government. I will not link any news articles here from news outlets; the persecution of Christians in some areas is extreme - many have already lost their lives. Two local churches within half an hour of our orphanage and have already been sent on fire - thankfully no one was hurt.
The impact for us…
We had circumnavigated these rules so far by having all the girl on the top floor and all the boys on the first floor which had seemingly had satisfied local politicians/officials - we are now told that this is no longer an acceptable solution.
To fully comply with the new government we are required to build an entirely new block (orphanage) to accommodate the girls and have it entirely staffed by woman - if they are resident. This will cost in minimum of 20,000-25,000 and totally unaffordable for me. As a result, unless we can prove these works are started we will be left with the very difficult decision to remove all the girls from the building - and it they can't be rehome with extended family, alternative accommodation or extended family - they will be back on the streets.
This news is not unexpected but has left me broken. Our youngest girl just turned 5...
Unless we can start build a completely new block - adjoining the current block - within the next few months our 25 girls will have to leave us. Many have been with us for over 10 years... we are their family.