An Odisha couple who could hardly fend for themselves and their children now run an orphanage – ‘Yasoda Anath Ashram’ in Kalahandi district. Years ago, Shyam Sundar Jal and his wife found a baby abandoned near his house and that became a turning point of his life.
They then decided to build a small house dedicated to children who were abandoned.
One day, my mother asked me to get the newborn, who was lying abandoned near a hospital close to my home. The police beat me for picking up the child. my brother too beat me for saving the newborn.19 children (from my orphanage) are studying in schools and colleges of Bhubaneswar. I gave my name as their father, and my wife’s name as their mother for their school registration.Shyam Sundar Jal, Yashoda Anaath Ashram Owner
Rupa Mishra, the then District Collector of Kalahandi constructed this house and also inaugurated it. Local leader gave money for the ashram to Shyam Sundar Jal.
He and his wife have been looking after the children for many years now. All the children that are abandoned in the area are brought to the orphanage. The orphanage currently has more number of girls than boys.
There are 23 boys, and we used to have 113 girls. We got 13 of them married, so now 100 are left. Female infanticide is not a new thing, it’s been happening for a long time. Every month, girl infants get discarded more. Few of them have umbilical cord attached, and few without it. For some infants, the blood is not even wiped properly .So I pick only those girl infants that have the cord attached.Shyam Sundar Jal, Yashoda Anaath Ashram Owner
Both husband and wife find happiness in raising children.
However, the couple does not consider these children to be orphans or illegitimate. They blame the parents by saying that due to the fear of the society or inability to raise them people throw away their children on the road like this.
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