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A village for homeless children in Orissa

Bibhuti Mishra in Bhubaneswar

Of the 10.6 million people affected by the super cyclone in Orissa, over 300,000 are children.

Deprived of family support and struggling to cope with the trauma of having seen their families perish, these children are destined to land up as beggars on the streets.

But there is hope. Thanks to SOS Children's Village of India some of these orphans would again find a home again. The organisation has already brought 86 such children to its village in Khandagiri near Bhubaneswar and is trying to locate more children.

"There are different cases," says village director S K Kar. "Some children have been orphaned, while others have their parents missing.''

''Those who have lost everything are in our permanent care, while others have been supported temporarily,'' Kar revealed.

Thirty-three orphans picked up from cyclone-affected areas are in the permanent care of the organisation. Kar said they are fast adapting to the new life in the village, which is home to 157 other children.

Like everybody else in the village, these kids too go through the regimen of prayers, games and studies. Some also undergo special psychological treatment.

While the younger children do not talk much, older ones relate horrific tales of death and devastation in their villages. These are stories of families ruthlessly torn apart by the cyclone. Stories of sacrifices made by mothers and fathers. Stories of unkept promises.

These young children have gone through experiences that can unsettle any mind. Some of them sleep fitfully, while others wake up in the night and wail for their mothers.

Though there are caretakers, teachers and friends to comfort them, Kar says it will take time before these children start leading a normal life. Time, they say, is the best healer.

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