Snehalaya inmate gets his own home

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11

For 15-year-old Sahil (name changed), an orphan, it was a dream come true when he got the information that the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has transferred a house in his name which was allotted to his late father six years ago.

An inmate of Snehalaya, he was not sure where he would stay after he turns 18 since he would not be allowed to stay in the rehabilitation home beyond that age. Even though he has two elder sisters and a brother, they are not financially in a condition to bear his responsibility. The news of the transfer of the house has ended the uncertainty.

Records of the Child Welfare Committee reveal that after the death of his father six years ago, his sister and Sahil were sent to Snehalaya as both of them were minors and since their elder brother and sister were not in a position to take their responsibility. During counselling of the four siblings, it came to light that their father was allotted a one-room tenement by the CHB, but it was not transferred in their name after his death.

Committee chairperson Neil Robert said the issue was taken up with state legal services lawyers, who raised the issue with the CHB after which the procedure for the transfer started. After a struggle of six years, an allotment letter was issued in the name of the four siblings by the CHB at Mauli Jagran. He said it was for the first time that the Child Welfare Committee was able to provide a roof to an orphan staying at Snehalaya.