Shelter
The Platform Children’s Society runs a shelter in a house near the station at Kothavalasa, 7km from our headquarters. It is staffed by a House Mother and a Supervisor, Ramu (an “ex-platform kid”) who regularly travels on trains between Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram to befriend, counsel and win the trust of “platform children” and tell them about the shelter. All are welcome with no strings attached. They can come and go for cleanups, medicines and food. Those wishing to settle can move on to our headquarters at Kantakapalli. An average of 10 children visits the shelter every day.
Girls’ Home
Platform Children’s Society also rents a good house with secure tenure at Kothavalasa, a busy market and business centre. Living here with her son and two girls is Jyothi, our House Mother, Bookkeeper and Purchasing Officer. Though homeless girls are rare on railway platforms, space is available to accommodate four more should the need arise.
