Will dedicate life to children at home, says medical student who was abandoned as a child
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 18 2018:
"I never knew my parents.
I don't know if they are alive or not.
They disowned me when I was born.
Now that I have grown up, I have one clear aim...
I will dedicate my life for others like me," said Yaiphabi (not real name), a medical student who grew up at a children home in Imphal.
Yaiphabi, aged 22, was abandoned at the Punya Nawa Yaiphakol, Special Adoption Agency when she was little, she said speaking to this reporter.
Punya Nawa Yaiphakol, under Integrated Women and Children Development Centre (IWCDC), is a 10 bedded adoption cum rehabilitation centre, for children aged 0-6 years at Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai, Imphal West.
At the entrance of the home, there is.a child basket that read "Let me Live, Give Me a Future with Loving Parents".
Recounting her experience at the Punya Nawa Yaiphakol, she said she never felt alone.
"I have deep respect and love for my mother.
She always take care of us.
She is one simple lady with a big heart," said Yaiphabi about Annie Mangsatabam who is Chief Functionary of the IWCDC.
"All that I am now is because of mother's (Annie Mangsatabam) care," said visibly emotional Yaiphabi.
"Mother enrolled me in a private school from an early age.
In Class X board examination, I scored 70 % marks.
And in Class XII, I was able to score 80 %," she said.
"With all care and affection given, luckily, I cracked medical entrance examination and now I am pursuing 3rd year MBBS," she said giving all the credits for her feat to her friends and specially her 'mother' Annie.
Yaiphabi who now has all the opportunity and a bright career ahead has all things lined up.
She has many plans and ambitions which she said will make a difference and bring change in today's society.
After becoming doctor, she said she will educate and give shelter to children like her.
"I will do my best to be like my mother who shaped me the way I am," she said and thanked all members and friends at Punya Shelter Home for Girls.
Her role model is 'mother' Annie Mangsatabam.
Speaking to this reporter, Chief Functionary of the IWCDC Annie Mangsatabam said there are two homes for children under the centre.
While Punya Nawa Yaiphakol, Special Adoption Agency, is for children aged 0-6 years, Punya Shelter Home For Girls is 50 bedded child care institution for girls aged 7-18 years, she said.
She inherited the role after the death of her mother Arambam Ningol Mangsatabam Ongbi Punyabati.
Her mother looked after the home from 1980 to 1990, she said.
According to her, most of the children at the home were found abandoned on roadsides, near hospitals etc.
Sometimes parents and families also abandoned their children at the home for various reasons.
There are children in the home who refuses to be adopted, she said and added that such children continue their stay at the home under her care.
One of the girls aged 21 stood third position in BA Arts and is now pursuing MA at Manipur University.
She also has strong willpower and is hard-working.
She teaches other kids at the centre, said Annie.
Till March 31, 72 children out of 148 have been adopted from the home.
216 out of 269 girls admitted have been rehabilitated, she said.
IWCDC is a non-profit, voluntary organisation working on social issues and socio-economic welfare of the society.
It has 23 employees looking after the homes.
With lack of funds from the Centre and Department concerned, the homes are facing various hardship, said Annie.