Following are Press releases about us in leading Newspapers / Publications.
1.The New Indian Express – June 2nd 1999
A retired couple's dream come - true orphanage
Chennai, June 1: The Children Welfare Home' in Maduravoyal in the City outskirts is a shelter for 20 destitute children and a dream-come true cradle for a contented couple.
The Home was started in 1995 by J.Anthony Muthu, a retired assistant executive engineer of the TNEB and his wife D Lalitha, retired assistant Headmistress of a private school, with about six boys deprived of proper parentage, deceased mother, father, or both.
This couple, deprived of children, are running the home with their own earnings and the pension they receive. The Home has been educating, inculcating discipline and most of all nuturing the children with love and care, for about 12 years now.
"Though the idea occurred to us late, it was a metamorphosis, and it has brought meaning to our lives," Anthony Muthu told. "The New Indian Express".
"According to the law, there is a certain age limit imposed on those willing to adopt children, which both of us had surpassed, owing to the busy professional life we led and we had almost given up hope of ever having children". Recalls Antony Muthu, "However it was this flash idea to establish an orphanage that changed it all".
And just the couple could bring about a change in the lives of all the 20 boys growing here. The boys between the age group of 8 and 12 are from interior district in the State which include Chidambaranar, Tiruchi and Kanyakumari districts.
Praveen hails from Azhagiyapandipuram in Kanyakumari district. He joined the Home when it was started and is now in the 10th standard. "I have written my SSLC exams well and aspire to pursue my studies." a beaming Praveen says.
After he lost his parents, his grandparents found it difficult to bear the burden of nurturing the boy, and admitted him to this Home.
Anthony Muthu, now about 70 years old, says his aim is to expand his Home so as to nurture at least about 100 boys before his time ends, for which he will need more support. About Rs.35,000 is spent on the boys per month, and increasing the number can go out of bounds for them, he feels.
Help had been sought from the Government of India to acquire about one acre, which will enable the Home house more children, which however, has been officially procrastinated for about a year now. Another attempt to seek support from those economically sound, within the country and outside, had been turned down by the Government recently, stating that those with a Management where close relatives were involved are not entitled for financial aids and cannot officially seek support.
Just as Anthony Muthu is putting up boards in buy places announcing that the Home is ready to accept destitute boys, he hopes that he can nurture all of them, and help them grow into disciplined and educated youths.
2.Thina Thoothu – January 8th 1998
3.Malai Malar – December 12th 1998
4.The Hindu - October 19th2002
The seventh anniversary of Children Welfare Home (Gospel Orphanage)
Maduravoyal was held on October 15. Former Chief Secretary, N.Haribhaskar, who was the chief guest lauded the service activities of the organisation, which cares for 26 children at a residential facility. The NGO has announced plans to expand, to be able to help 50 children.