Darjeeling Home wins 'Best Child Care Institution' award

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 7 Oct 2018 | Darjeeling: At a time when many Homes are under scanner across the country, the "Edith Wilkins Street Children Trust, Darjeeling for Girls" an NGO-run Home has been selected by West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Government of West Bengal for the "Best Child Care Institution" award 2018. 

A letter from the Commission to the District Magistrate, Darjeeling stated that the Home has been selected for its excellent performance and contribution in regards to care and protection of children through institutional care. The letter was signed by Ananya Chakroborty, Chairperson, WBCPCR. 

The award will be handed over on International Child Rights day, November 20, 2018, at Eastern Zone Cultural Centre, Salt Lake, Kolkata in a programme organised by the Commission.

"Many critical cases including child labour, abuse are sent to this Home from both the Hills and the plains. They do a good job looking after and counseling the children," stated Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate, Darjeeling. 

The Edith Wilkins Street Children Trust, India, is a non profit organisation that provides care and protective support to street children, victims of abuse and sex trafficking, child labourers and other minors at risk. Founded in 2003 by Cork born nurse Edith Wilkins, the foundation is based in Darjeeling, India. 

Due to the proximity of Darjeeling to the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, the town is a common route used by child traffickers when smuggling children into India. Till date over 3,000 children have come through the Trust in Darjeeling and currently there are over 300 children in the system. 

A total of 50 girls and 40 boys stay in the two Homes run by the Trust. The Trust also runs two national Child Labour School in Darjeeling under the West Bengal Labour Department. 

Around 150 children are under educational support of the Trust at present. In addition, the centre provides after school coaching classes. For older children who are not academically inclined, there is a pre vocational training centre attached to the Trust. 

"The biggest problem is local fund raising. Despite the fund crunch we try our best to provide the best for the children" stated Namrata Sharma, Assistant Director of the Trust.