Sometimes, finding your way home begins with the kindness of a neighbour. For Rakesh (name changed) and Rani (name changed), two siblings from a village in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, that kindness changed everything.
When an illness took their parents’ lives, the siblings found comfort in their grandmother’s care. But when she too passed away, they were left utterly alone, two children in a fragile kaccha house, with no relatives willing to take them in. Hope returned in the form of a kind neighbour, a farmer who, despite his modest means, took them in with his family as their caregiver. With support from a local teacher, the District Child Protection Unit assessed their situation to ensure their safety and future.
Recognising the caregiver’s financial constraints, Rakesh was placed in a Child Care Institution (CCI) in 2023 to continue his education. During district efforts to strengthen Family-Based Care, a social worker identified Rakesh’s case and worked with local authorities and the village Sarpanch to build a plan that would bring the siblings back together sustainably.
Through the Gharkul Yojana (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana), Rakesh was sanctioned a permanent home. A joint account was set up between the Sarpanch and the CCI to ensure his welfare. Meanwhile, Rani stayed with the same caregiver family, studying in Class 11 (Commerce). The family has applied for foster care and sponsorship support, which will soon provide ₹4,000 per month. She is currently enrolled under the Bal Sangopan Scheme, which provides her with ₹2,250 a month and supports her education
By December 2025, Rakesh will leave the CCI and continue to stay connected with the caregiver family that has been caring for Rani, a family that now feels like their own. With his ITI training completed, he has secured an apprenticeship at Tata Motors in Pune and will soon begin earning ₹18,000 per month, his first step toward independence.
Even as he prepares for life in a new city, Rakesh will make sure to visit Rani often and support her as she carves her own path to independence. He is also determined to complete the construction of their home. Because for them, “home” isn’t just a house – it’s the people who believed in them when no one else did. Their story reminds us that rebuilding a family takes more than policies or programs; it also takes a community that cares.