A Christian orphanage in a poll-bound central Indian state has been closed down, citing attempts to convert children to Christianity.
The children housed in the orphanage were moved to government-run facilities on July 26 following a surprise raid on the orphanage by the child rights officials of Madhya Pradesh state.
The orphanage housed 73 children, 38 boys and 35 girls. It was managed by a Christian tribal group called Adivasi Sahayada Samiti (council for helping tribal people) Jobat in Alirajpur district.
The orphanage failed to comply with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act as it “did not have a valid registration,” said Omkar Singh, who headed the inspection team.
The inspection team also accused the orphanage managers of working for religious conversion after seizing copies of the Bible from some Christian children.
Kalpana Daniel, president of the tribal council and a member of the Church of North India (CNI), said she sought time to register the orphanage and get licenses. But officials closed it down.
Some 30 children, who are orphans, were moved to government facilities in the state. Children of single parents were sent back to their houses.
The tribal council has been working for the poor for the past three decades. “It is duly registered,” Daniel told UCA News on July 27.
“Until now, nobody, including the district child welfare committee, informed us about the need to separately register the orphanage,” Daniel said.
“We will soon apply for the registration and continue with our work,” she added.
The council runs an old-age home on the same premises for 13 elderly people…
This story was originally published in ucanews.com. Read the full story here