As I entered the gates two smiling faces greeted me. I felt
as if I have just returned from school and my mother was opening the gate for
me. The home from nowhere looked like an orphanage. I have been to many
orphanages before, but this one was entirely different. In this small home
lives a family, and the love present all around and the nature of caretakers
even made me feel as if I was a part of this family. The three caretakers Ms Promila,
Ms Manjuli and Ms Deepali take care of thirteen children living there, twelve
of them are girls. Most of the kids were abandoned by their unmarried mothers
right after birth. But in this home they never get a feel that they don’t have
a mother. Children call Ms Promila as “badi maa” and Ms Manjuli as “chhoti
maa”. The kids are smart, intelligent, well-mannered and study in good schools.
They are known across the society for their singing talent. This home
celebrates all the festivals. The birthdays of kids are celebrated very
specially. Promila and Manjuli didn’t get marry for the sake of these children
and even left their precious jobs. The home runs on charity. Sometimes they do
face financial problems because of not having an earning source. Also there are
only three rooms so a bit of space problem too.
How the journey started?
Ms Promila, a graduate from Delhi University was working for
a private firm in New Delhi, earning a handsome salary. One day when she
returned from work, she found a crowd standing in front of her house. When she
went there, she saw a new born child lying in garbage being bitten by dogs and
pigs. She was shocked by the cruelty of the world. This scene changed her life
completely. A month later she was in Bangalore for official work. She was
waiting for someone outside a bakery on the glamorous MG road. Few rag picker
children were picking trash there. A luxury car stopped by and all the children
went to the person coming out of the car, asking for some food. But that person
kicked them away. She was watching from a distance and couldn’t resist. She
held the hand of one child and took him inside the bakery and bought some food.
The child after going back, called all his friends and shared the sweets with
them. In her own words-“From a distance I saw them smiling and laughing. I
thought that if a hundred rupee note can bring so many smiles, then certainly I
can do a lot better to this world.” On returning back she shared her thoughts
of bringing up abandoned children with her sister Manjuli. She came along with
her to Kanpur. Promila left her job. Initially her family was against this move
but later they started supporting. One of the family members gave them a small
house to live. In 2002 they brought home first girl from a hospital in Kidwai
Nagar. Slowly number of children increased. Manjuli used to work as a Head
Constable in Unnao and Promila took care of children. But when children
increased, management became difficult so even Manjuli left her job to devote
her full time to the children. They had to pass through many tough phases where
they didn’t have sufficient money to take care all children. But with God’s
grace everything went well. Bursting in tears, she said “We are hurt the most
when we are not able to save life of new born children. Many of the children
have died while taking them to the hospital after rescuing from pathetic
conditions.” She blames Government hospitals for ill management and says that
now she takes the newly rescued to private hospitals no matter how much money
is spent.
For them these kids are their life and they will never let them
go. Last year they married their eldest daughter. “Mai jaldi hi naani ban ne wali
hu”, with a smiling face Ms Promila says. Her dream is to bring up at least
hundred such children. With hopes in her eyes she says, “Even if 20 of those
hundred will do for the society what I did, I will think my life has been
successful”.
I would request you to support her in whatever way you can.
You can take my word, it will be an out of the world experience.
Address of Haven Home- 4/10, New Azad Nagar, PAC By Pass,
Opp Shyam Nagar, Satbari Road, Near First Christian Church, Kanpur, UP.
Mobile: 9335247165/ 9335841065
Please do take prior permission from Ms Promila Ingle, if
you want to visit the Home.
