Health camps, birthday parties and Sunday cinemas are regular occurrences at the 57-year-old government home for boys in Royapuram.
Many orphaned and disadvantaged children are housed here with basic facilities and restored to their families when they are ready to take them.
The home houses more neglected children and child workers than any other district in Tamil Nadu.
In the last six months, 165 children, who were rescued by the child-line helpline (1098) and social workers, have been restored to their families by the home staff.
Home superintendent Glory Gunaseeli proudly recollected that a group from the home had won a cash prize of Rs 50,000 in a city-level art and theatre programme. “They competed with posh schools in the city and won prizes in skits, dance and singing competitions.
They showcased their talents and shared their victory with other participants,” Ms Glory told this newspaper.
Eighteen-year-old Balaji, a Viscom student in a top city college said, “My drunkard father abused me. With the help of our neighbours, my mother brought me to the government home. I studied in the indoor school. And now the home staff have helped me join a college,” he said.
Playing in the toy library, learning parai and keyboards are some of the entertainment/learning options available to these children.
Former child welfare committee chairperson Dr P. Manorama said, “This government home and staff have given new lives to many downtrodden children.
But their success stories are not highlighted in the media,” she said, adding that recently a group of 34 children had fled from the home and 27 of them had returned as they couldn’t find any place better. Two of the seven others were rescued and restored to their parents, said the home staff.