Kathmandu, February 21

Chief District Officer of Lalitpur Rishi Ram Sharma today said children’s homes should aim to provide the best care possible for children, and their welfare, safety and needs should be at the centre of their care.

Launching a summary report on ‘Assessment of Residential Child Care Homes in Lalitpur’ prepared by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages Nepal, Sharma said many children’s homes were established with an intention of making money.

“These days, child care homes are being established with the aim of making money. Children should receive personalised care that promotes all aspects of their individual identity and are each treated as an individual rather than a member of a group,” he said, adding that running a child care home is a social work and those operating such homes should not view it as running a business enterprise.

He also warned of action against unscrupulous children’s homes operators, who take undue advantage of orphaned children to earn money. He also said that some child care homes were found promoting particular religion.

He urged the SOS and other involved in preparing the report to identify why parents send their children to residential child care homes. He also directed child care homes to clearly state their objectives.

The summary report was based on the report entitled ‘Report on the Assessment of Residential Child Care Homes in Lalitpur’ released in December 2014.

In addition, reference has also been made to the compiled report entitled ‘Report on the Assessment of Alternative Care in Nepal and Quality Care in Residential Child Care Homes in 10 Study Districts’.

Shree Shankar Pradhananga, national director, SOS Children’s Villages Nepal, said assessment of child care homes was a part of ‘Care for ME! Quality Care for Children’ launched by the SOS Children’s Villages Nepal.

He said ‘Care for Me! Quality Care for Children’ campaign is a five year global campaign of SOS Children’s Villages International, running from 2012 to 2016.

“The campaign aims to ensure the rights of child in alternative care settings and attempts to facilitate implementation of UN Guidelines for Alternative Care of Children, 2009,” he said adding, “In this background, the ‘Assessment of Quality Care in Alternative Care in Nepal’ was conducted as part of the ‘Care for Me!’ campaign in Nepal aiming to ascertain the situation of children in residential care as well as the situation of residential child care homes in 10 selected districts.”

He said that a total of 4,365 children (2,152 girls and 2203 boys) are residing in 131 residential child care homes covered in the 10 districts.

Similarly, a total of 120 residential child care homes are operational in Lalitpur where 2,847 children (1,324 girls and 1,523 boys) are residing.