Parkash Kaur, a social worker from Jalandhar has been honoured with the Padma Shri award. Her social service to abandoned girl children in Punjab, which has one of India's most skewed sex ratios, earned her the award.
"She has played a pivotal role in saving and serving the children who were abandoned, by providing all facilities and education to them," read the tweet by President of India's
official account.
Bibi Parkash Kaur is the driving force behind the "Unique Home" in Jalandhar, which truly care for unwanted, unclaimed, and orphaned children. Unique Home is run by a trust
named after Guru Gobind Singh's disciple Bhai Ghanayya Ji.
The 63 years old Parkash Kaur was herself abandoned as a child and after receiving the Padma Shri believes her responsibility towards society manifold has been increased after the award.
Kaur recalls that her journey began in 1993 with eight abandoned girl children. Kaur left Nari Niketan in Jalandhar after many years and formed her own home in 1993 to provide a secure
and protective environment for abandoned girls and to make them proud citizens of this country.
Prakash Kaur is now the mother of over 80 girls who live at Unique Home for Girls. "They are my own children," Kaur says, "and they are never made to feel like abandoned
children."
When Kaur was nominated for the Padma Shri earlier this year, she stated that her biggest would be when all children are raised by their parents.
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"I'd like to make a strong plea to everyone not to abandon their newborn girls in garbage or bushes. If anyone is unable to raise a girl child for whatever reason, we will welcome
her with open arms and a promise to raise her respectfully and dutifully. Many abandoned children have been bitten by stray dogs, which has resulted in their death in some cases. It's very upsetting,” said Kaur while
talking to Indian Express.
Kaur's "Unique Home," houses over 80-odd abandoned girls varying ages from nine days to early twenties. More than 17 of the inmates have married.
Each inmate is treated like a pampered child who can attend English medium schools such as Saint Mary's in Mussoorie and St Joseph's in Jalandhar, and shop at any of the city's
major shopping malls. Every year during the summer, the children can take a 15-day vacation to any hill station. Every year on April 24, the home celebrates all of the children's birthdays with a large cake.
"Newcomers are given Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh names," Kaur explained.
The children's home does not believe in adoption. "People approach us, but we refuse," she explained, adding, "These are my daughters, and I am their mother. How can I give them to others."