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New rules in India may halt these important works of the churches, “which is like burning the house to smoke out the rat.” Kochi. Her 33-year-old daughter, Elsmi, has been a resident at this home for women with physical and intellectual challenges for the past 20 years. “I had three daughters — two of them were born with severe autism. One of them died a few years back. The other is Elsmi and she’s here,” Elsie says, wiping away tears as she speaks of her family. “My eldest daughter is married, but her 11-yearold son also suffers with a disability.” Elsie is a daily wage worker. Her husband is retired. “It is impossible to look after Elsmi at home because of her challenges,” she says. “When she was at home, she’d keep running
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away. She’s doing much better at Sneha Sadan.” The Preshitharam Sisters also administer Sneha Sadan; Sister Stella Maria is its superior. “We house girls, ages 9 to 50,” she says. “After that, they move on to our senior care facilities. The women we have here are severely physically and mentally challenged. Most are autistic, have Down syndrome or hyperactivity disorder. They are unable to understand or make sense of anything,” she says. At any given time, Sneha Sadan takes on 25 residents. Sneha Sadan, which is served by four sisters and two support staff, is primarily funded by CNEWA.
Sister Stella Maria says she is worried about the new rules for foreign aid that have come in. “I hope this doesn’t make things difficult for us,” she says. “We also get donations from parishioners and sometimes parents of our residents give us whatever they can,” the nun adds, but most of the women at the home come from poor families. Although most of the residents are Christian, the facility cares for girls and women of other faiths, too, such as those from Hindu and Muslim families. “I believe it was my calling to work in homes like these,” Sister Stella Maria says. “I have a sort of
