P.J.
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A family for life
In Bangalore, V Mani and his wife Saroja provide convicts' children comprehensive care, hope and a home to wipe the tears away,
Chitra Ramaswamy
On the face of it, hearing the soulful chant of the Vishnu Sahasranama in the morning in a suburban Bangalore home is nothing out of the ordinary. It's special, though, when a group of children, between the ages of four and 14, are singing it. More so when they are the children of convicts.
Welcome to Desik, a 2,800 sq ft, two-storied house in Rajaji Nagar, home to 67-year-old Venkataraghavachari Mani, his 65-year-old wife Saroja and around 30 children, all of whose parents are serving life sentences in prisons across Karnataka. At Desik, there are two bedrooms and a living room on the ground floor, with a kitchen, tuition room, three verandas and three bathrooms. The Manis occupy the first floor while the second floor houses a computer room for the children. Thirty more children live in a larger house leased by the Manis in nearby Chamrajpet with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a living room, dining room and prayer room. In a society where children of criminals are ostracised, the Manis provide a haven for these youngsters-their caste, creed, religious or social background is irrelevant.
"During my days as a banker, I would pass the Central Prison in Bangalore while commuting to office," remembers Mani, who retired as assistant general manager, Reserve Bank of India. "I saw women carrying very small children, waiting in queues to meet their husbands or family members. I would wonder about the kind of future these children would have." After his retirement in 1998, he decided to translate his concern into action. In June 1999, he threw open the doors of his home to two boys, aged three and four. Both their fathers had been convicted of murdering their wives. At the same time, he launched SOCARE IND (Society's Care for Indigent), a registered not-for-profit trust to provide comprehensive care for the children of prisoners with former DGP Prisons L Revannasiddaiah as chief patron and seven trustees.
Initially, his own family was sceptical. The response from his son and two daughters, settled overseas-his son and elder daughter live in California, while the younger daughter lives in Sydney, Australia-was far from encouraging. And wife Saroja had her own apprehensions. "It was not the children I feared but their kith and kin," she confesses. "But these fears have dissipated. I am now so confident that I had no qualms bringing my own granddaughter from the US to spend a holiday here with us this June. Now, even our children can see how steadfast we are in our resolve." Their children are so supportive, in fact, that they now raise funds for SOCARE among their own friends overseas. Saroja adds, "The children we look after, their discipline, their enthusiasm to prove themselves have been at the root of the change."
Like 11-year-old Mahesh, who aspires to become a policeman when he grows up. So does six-year-old Shiva, whose father is a member of the notorious Dandupalya criminal gang. This gang, which comes from a village of the same name, 90 km away from Bangalore in Kolar district, is infamous for its criminal activities but Shiva is clear he wants no part of it. Nine-year-old Vikram was a witness to his alcoholic father being killed by his mother. Seven-year-old Raju tells his own story: "I don't have a mother because my father killed her. I was small when it happened. Yes, I go to see my father in jail. I want to become a policeman when I grow up and catch all those people who do wrong." The newest residents at Desik are three sisters, aged three, five and eight-they all witnessed the killing of their mother. "The girls' father set the mother on fire and the testimony of the eight-year-old was responsible for convicting and sentencing him to life," says Mani.
With such traumatic backgrounds, these children need more than concrete-and-mortar buildings that just provide shelter and food. While Saroja ensures the children get nutritious home food-simple southern Indian meals including rice, sambar, curries and vegetables, and breakfast foods like puri, idli, upma and khichdi-Mani lobbies vigorously to get them admission in good schools in Bangalore. "Initially, Mani had to plead with the schools," says Revannasiddaiah. "But attitudes are slowly changing. In fact, Cluny Convent, a prestigious school, has not only given free admission to some of SOCARE's children but also provides an additional Rs 10,000 a month towards the children's maintenance."
Part-time teachers help the children out with their studies. "The children respond well and want to learn," says Veena Ramakrishnan, a part-time teacher. "It is as if they are walking that extra mile to prove themselves." The activities at Desik include computers, martial arts and Bharatanatyam training, and lessons on mythology. Mani has roped in a priest from a nearby temple who teaches the children shloka every morning. The children return the favour by doing odd jobs at the temple every day, including sweeping the premises and making garlands for the idols.
SOCARE is prepared to take care of the children until they are ready to stand on their own feet. Every three months, Mani takes all of them to visit their father or mother in jail. While some children don't remember their parents' faces, others are unwilling to meet them. But Mani acts as the bridge between them because "we don't want to be the focus of all their love and affection; we don't want to take their parents' place. Whatever the circumstances, we feel the children should learn to respect their parents." There have been stray cases where children have chosen to return to their earlier homes, either because their families' circumstances have improved or because they couldn't handle the discipline levels at SOCARE-the fixed hours for waking up and meals and the compulsory chores. "We don't stop them if they want to go," says Mani. "But we're equally firm about not taking them back if they desire to return."
SOCARE also organises counselling for the families of prisoners and, in some cases, arranges for parole in case of any emergency that requires convicts to visit their families. There's even a room with an attached bath on the second floor of Desik where parole prisoners can stay. "Everybody in society feels a prisoner deserves the punishment he gets," says Justice M F Saldanha of the Karnataka High Court. "But the fallout of this is that the kith and kin, especially children, are the most affected. People like Mani must be encouraged and given every support so that something is done for these people." Affirms Revannasiddaiah, "A lot of people have gathered around us and it has become a small movement now."
Though raising funds remains a constant challenge, the movement has managed to sustain itself financially. Mani has invested all his retirement benefits-a sum of Rs.3 lakh-into SOCARE. The project requires Rs.50000 a month for day-to-day functioning. Apart from this, about Rs.2 lakh a year is spent on the children's education and activities. SOCARE's 'home participation' drive among the middle class has met with some success-under this scheme, people pay for one meal at Desik to mark occasions in their own families. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bangalore, which, according to Mani, has broken away from the original ISKCON organisation to maintain a distinct identity-chips in by providing the children lunch 250 days a year. SOCARE has placed drop boxes in several apartment buildings in the city to collect contributions and sells greeting cards for various occasions.
Like-minded people continue to come forward and make the cause their own. "I took voluntary retirement from Bharat Electronics Ltd in Bangalore in 1989 and went back to my native place," says Gopinath Rao, a SOCARE volunteer who handles administration. "But when I came back to Bangalore a few years later, I heard about SOCARE and joined up. Yes, we do have day-to-day problems, but it is nothing that we cannot handle, with a little bit of patience and care."
This patience, care and commitment have won Mani several accolades, including the 'Exemplary Service to Society' Award 2003-2004, instituted by the Government of Karnataka. But for Mani and Saroja, the real reward is the promise of hope in the eyes of their extended family.
To contact SOCARE,
SOCARE IND
2642, Desik, 12th 'E' Main
Rajaji Nagar, II Stage Bangalore
Pin code-560010
Tel No- 080-23321864, 23520329
Harmony
Please also read from these sources
He put his life's savings for a home for prisoner's children - Rediff.com News
Rescuing the future of convicts' kids - The Times of India
V. Mani, the unsung hero who has given a new life to the children of life-term prisoners - AchhiKhabre
In Bangalore, V Mani and his wife Saroja provide convicts' children comprehensive care, hope and a home to wipe the tears away,
Chitra Ramaswamy
On the face of it, hearing the soulful chant of the Vishnu Sahasranama in the morning in a suburban Bangalore home is nothing out of the ordinary. It's special, though, when a group of children, between the ages of four and 14, are singing it. More so when they are the children of convicts.
Welcome to Desik, a 2,800 sq ft, two-storied house in Rajaji Nagar, home to 67-year-old Venkataraghavachari Mani, his 65-year-old wife Saroja and around 30 children, all of whose parents are serving life sentences in prisons across Karnataka. At Desik, there are two bedrooms and a living room on the ground floor, with a kitchen, tuition room, three verandas and three bathrooms. The Manis occupy the first floor while the second floor houses a computer room for the children. Thirty more children live in a larger house leased by the Manis in nearby Chamrajpet with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a living room, dining room and prayer room. In a society where children of criminals are ostracised, the Manis provide a haven for these youngsters-their caste, creed, religious or social background is irrelevant.
"During my days as a banker, I would pass the Central Prison in Bangalore while commuting to office," remembers Mani, who retired as assistant general manager, Reserve Bank of India. "I saw women carrying very small children, waiting in queues to meet their husbands or family members. I would wonder about the kind of future these children would have." After his retirement in 1998, he decided to translate his concern into action. In June 1999, he threw open the doors of his home to two boys, aged three and four. Both their fathers had been convicted of murdering their wives. At the same time, he launched SOCARE IND (Society's Care for Indigent), a registered not-for-profit trust to provide comprehensive care for the children of prisoners with former DGP Prisons L Revannasiddaiah as chief patron and seven trustees.
Like 11-year-old Mahesh, who aspires to become a policeman when he grows up. So does six-year-old Shiva, whose father is a member of the notorious Dandupalya criminal gang. This gang, which comes from a village of the same name, 90 km away from Bangalore in Kolar district, is infamous for its criminal activities but Shiva is clear he wants no part of it. Nine-year-old Vikram was a witness to his alcoholic father being killed by his mother. Seven-year-old Raju tells his own story: "I don't have a mother because my father killed her. I was small when it happened. Yes, I go to see my father in jail. I want to become a policeman when I grow up and catch all those people who do wrong." The newest residents at Desik are three sisters, aged three, five and eight-they all witnessed the killing of their mother. "The girls' father set the mother on fire and the testimony of the eight-year-old was responsible for convicting and sentencing him to life," says Mani.
With such traumatic backgrounds, these children need more than concrete-and-mortar buildings that just provide shelter and food. While Saroja ensures the children get nutritious home food-simple southern Indian meals including rice, sambar, curries and vegetables, and breakfast foods like puri, idli, upma and khichdi-Mani lobbies vigorously to get them admission in good schools in Bangalore. "Initially, Mani had to plead with the schools," says Revannasiddaiah. "But attitudes are slowly changing. In fact, Cluny Convent, a prestigious school, has not only given free admission to some of SOCARE's children but also provides an additional Rs 10,000 a month towards the children's maintenance."
Part-time teachers help the children out with their studies. "The children respond well and want to learn," says Veena Ramakrishnan, a part-time teacher. "It is as if they are walking that extra mile to prove themselves." The activities at Desik include computers, martial arts and Bharatanatyam training, and lessons on mythology. Mani has roped in a priest from a nearby temple who teaches the children shloka every morning. The children return the favour by doing odd jobs at the temple every day, including sweeping the premises and making garlands for the idols.
SOCARE also organises counselling for the families of prisoners and, in some cases, arranges for parole in case of any emergency that requires convicts to visit their families. There's even a room with an attached bath on the second floor of Desik where parole prisoners can stay. "Everybody in society feels a prisoner deserves the punishment he gets," says Justice M F Saldanha of the Karnataka High Court. "But the fallout of this is that the kith and kin, especially children, are the most affected. People like Mani must be encouraged and given every support so that something is done for these people." Affirms Revannasiddaiah, "A lot of people have gathered around us and it has become a small movement now."
Though raising funds remains a constant challenge, the movement has managed to sustain itself financially. Mani has invested all his retirement benefits-a sum of Rs.3 lakh-into SOCARE. The project requires Rs.50000 a month for day-to-day functioning. Apart from this, about Rs.2 lakh a year is spent on the children's education and activities. SOCARE's 'home participation' drive among the middle class has met with some success-under this scheme, people pay for one meal at Desik to mark occasions in their own families. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bangalore, which, according to Mani, has broken away from the original ISKCON organisation to maintain a distinct identity-chips in by providing the children lunch 250 days a year. SOCARE has placed drop boxes in several apartment buildings in the city to collect contributions and sells greeting cards for various occasions.
Like-minded people continue to come forward and make the cause their own. "I took voluntary retirement from Bharat Electronics Ltd in Bangalore in 1989 and went back to my native place," says Gopinath Rao, a SOCARE volunteer who handles administration. "But when I came back to Bangalore a few years later, I heard about SOCARE and joined up. Yes, we do have day-to-day problems, but it is nothing that we cannot handle, with a little bit of patience and care."
This patience, care and commitment have won Mani several accolades, including the 'Exemplary Service to Society' Award 2003-2004, instituted by the Government of Karnataka. But for Mani and Saroja, the real reward is the promise of hope in the eyes of their extended family.
To contact SOCARE,
SOCARE IND
2642, Desik, 12th 'E' Main
Rajaji Nagar, II Stage Bangalore
Pin code-560010
Tel No- 080-23321864, 23520329
Harmony
Please also read from these sources
He put his life's savings for a home for prisoner's children - Rediff.com News
Rescuing the future of convicts' kids - The Times of India
V. Mani, the unsung hero who has given a new life to the children of life-term prisoners - AchhiKhabre
