Majority of orphanages in Kerala were becoming breeding centres of religious fundamentalism, an official committee has warned in its report submitted to the government.
The committee, headed by CPI(M) MLA Prakashan Master and comprising of experts and officials, pointed out that a major chunk of the 1,400 orphanages in the state were run by religious organisations of various hues and children staying them were not being taught secular values.
The committee was deputed by the child welfare advisory board to conduct a comprehensive study of orphanages in Kerala.
“We found out that most of these institutions were teaching sectarian religious beliefs and rituals to the children instead of giving them secular values,” Mr Master told this newspaper on Friday. “This applies to all institutions — Hindu, Muslim and Christian,” he said.
In its report, the committee expressed fears on whether these children would grow up to become recruits of various fundamentalist outfits. “We are a secular country and it is necessary to create secular feelings in kids,” the MLA said.
According to the committee, even orphanages receiving aid from the government were busy inducing religious tenets into young minds. Prayers too are conducted in the format of particular religions. Non-sectarian prayers addressing an all-embracing God were rarely noticed.
Food taboos prescribed by various religions are also practised in these orphanages.