This story is from July 15, 2015

Cheshire Home inmates find peace away from kin

Forty-seven year old Joseph Tudu, an inmate at local Cheshire Home here cannot remember when his brother, the only member in his family last visited him. Joseph said, “I miss being at home but my brother is very poor. He can’t even send his children to school, how will he provide for me.”
Cheshire Home inmates find peace away from kin
RANCHI: Forty-seven year old Joseph Tudu, an inmate at local Cheshire Home here cannot remember when his brother, the only member in his family last visited him. Joseph said, “I miss being at home but my brother is very poor. He can’t even send his children to school, how will he provide for me.”
Since its inception in 1968 as a rehabilitation and vocational training institute for physically challenged men, women and children, the Cheshire Home has been acting as a ray of hope for its inmates who have been left here for better care and treatment by their kin.
From education to vocational training to medical treatment, the home takes care of all needs of the special people lodged here.
Sister Cecelia on the societal prejudice about disability said, “They’re differently-abled and have a lot of talent. It’s just that we need to make them aware of it.”
The day here begins early. For Sister Sanomi who came to the home a year ago, waking up at 4:30 am is a part of the daily routine. The home is looked after by four nuns and has been receiving volunteer service from students of XISS and St. Xavier’s College regularly. A group of St Xavier’s College’s students have been coming here for the past few weeks .
Arunima, one of the volunteers said, “We do all sorts of work here ranging from teaching to cleaning.”
Education for children is also provided at the home while many go to private schools. Sandeep, a volunteer said, “The kids have much more aptitude than that of UKG students. It’s not because of their disability that they are studying in a lower grade but perhaps because they started their schooling late.”
Many inmates have received college education and some have taken up jobs as well. Some of the former inmates have got married and are now settled. One of them is 23-year-old Vijay, son of a truck driver. He recently received an honours degree in Hindi from Ranchi University and is now looking forward to sitting for the SSC exams. Another inmate, 25-year-old Raju composes Nagpuri songs.

Sister Cecelia, in-charge of the home said, “Once the inmates get a job, they leave the home. However, if they wish to stay back, we provide them with some work here itself.”
The inmates also get to develop creative skills. Both girls and boys are trained in different crafts. While the girls make cards and bangles, the boys indulge in making fancy candles.
The home currently houses more than 60 inmates from marginal backgrounds. It’s run mainly on donations while the administration is being looked after by MECON. Most of the inmates are children with a considerable number of middle and old-aged people as well. Some children were sent here by their parents while others come from orphanages.
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