Manjeshwar Consumer Forum raids Snehalaya Orphanage following complaints

Manjeshwar Consumer Forum raids Snehalaya Orphanage following complaints

Mangalore Today News Network

Kasargod, June 1, 2013: A  team of members from Manjeshwar Consumer Forum and Thoominadu Nagarika Samithi raided  the Snehalaya Orphanage at Thoominadu in Manjeshwar  on June 1, Saturday following complaints that the  conditions at the orphanage were very poor. The raiding team was led by Sanjeeva Shetty, President of the Forum.

The orphanage run by Joseph Crasta has been functioning since the past three years and had licence to operate between 2011 to 2014 as per the Kerala Board of Control of Orphanages and Other Charitable Homes. However, the raiding team claimed that the orphanage was functioning since 2009.

According to some sources, the Consumer Forum had received a complaint that the premises of the orphanage was in a bad condition. An RTI application  by the Thoominadu Nagarika Samithi also revealed that the orphanage housed 86 persons though it had permission for only 25.

It is learnt the condition of the orphanage was poor and a foul smell emanating from the orphanage had made locals to complain.

Meanwhile, Raju Singh, a teenager from Jammu who  went missing from Jammu and is in the Ashram since one and a half years alleged that the orphanage authorities made no attempt to send him back to his parents.