This programme was started in the year 1993 and it was approved by the Government of Tamilnadu in the year 1997 and afterwards this progamme has been modified many times. Now it is name as “Open Shelter Program for the Street Children”. The program is funded by Ministry of Women and Child Development and Department of Social Defence, Government of Tamilnadu.
This progamme was initiated by the Department of Social Defence for children who are classified as rag pickers, child labour, beggars, street and working children, small vendors, street performers, orphaned, deserted, trafficked and run away children, children of migrant population and any other vulnerable group of children come under open shelter programme.
The children who are not willing to go to school either remain at home or roaming around the places without any aim and ambitions in their life and such children are asked and advised to come under open shelter programme and these children are allowed to remain in the institution during the day and retire to their respective homes in the evening but for the children who are homeless are allowed to stay back with their free will.