Ammathottil
Ammathottil (also called Amma Thottil in Malayalam, meaning Child Cradle) is an initiative brought up by the Kerala State Government under The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare.[1] Ammathottil provides care and services for abandoned children.
The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare has passed laws, and as part of these legislative actions, an automatic "Baby Cradle" was established at the council's headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, where women can bring unwanted children rather than leaving them in trash receptacles. The hope is that by offering such an alternative to abandonment, women might leave their children with people who can help the child. It is situated in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram.
Ammathottil was started in Trivandrum
References
- ↑ "Minister launches 'Ammathottil' project". The Hindu. Aug 21, 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
The Kerala State Council for Child Welfare is a society register under Travancore – Cochin Charitable Societies Act headed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala as President and the Minister for Social Justice as Vice President. At present the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram is holding the charge of Administrator of the Institution.
As part of reclaiming orphan kids, Council has already established fifteen “Ammathottil” (an electronic cradle system to receive abandoned children) spread over all the districts of Kerala. In the present social set up the children especially girl children are unsafe and insecure even among their parents. The children receiving through “Ammathottil” are reaching to the adoptive parents with legal transaction ensuring fullest safety and security.
The KSCCW is undertaking various activities for the well being of the Children from the age group of 0 to 16. For saving the life of abandoned children, the Council is running “Ammathottil and also maintaining 2 Foundling homes to protect the children so received. At present 15 Ammathottils- one each at 13 districts and 2 at Thiruvananthapuram District- and 2 Foundling homes are functioning under the Council. In addition to this, the Council is maintaining 260 creches, 10 Anganwadi Workers Training Centers at various districts, Autism Special School, Chachachi Children’s Doll Museum, Women and Children’s Library and Ambulance service for Children at Thiruvananthapuram etc. Now, 80 children below the age of six are under the motherly fold of the Council. This year, the Council has introduced Montessori system of education at Thiruvananthapuram and proposed to start more schools at all other districts in the next few years. Organizing vacation classes, various competitions etc., to motivate and inculcate good life skills to the children and sponsoring them for better education–“PUNERJENI” is one such scheme introduced from this summer vacation. Every year the council is organizing various functions to commemorate November 14, our 1st Prime Minister’s Birthday.