Hyderabad

councilors denying to support since some of them had personal problems with Loreto school management. One of the sample YAs in Kolkata received birth certificates through a Local Councilor, even though she did not have any documental proof, as the Councilor found to be a relative of the girl. e) Despite the Guidelines of West Bengal to BC Welfare Department mentions that “special camps are to be held at regular intervals” and that “Such camps are to be organised in all the High and Higher Secondary Schools, as most of the applicants for caste certificates are

School or College students…”, the special camps are not organized at school level on regular interval. Officials mentioned that in case, the school takes initiative to call the officials, they visit the schools to collect documents and provide certificates to all children on the same day. f) Staff mentioned about non-cooperation from the officials in accessing Birth Certificates for children with no documentary evidence. Some of the staff went to Officials at Kolkata

Municipal Corporation mentioned that doctors from Govt medical college need to be approached to get a medical certificate to furnish as birth proof of the children. However, practically, no doctor would agree to provide medical certificate for children whose birth has not taken place under his/her supervision. Moreover, since all children in Loreto

Rainbow Homes were not enrolled through CWC recommendation, for Loreto not having

JJ license at the time of admission of few girls, CWC did not agree to provide any letter which would be helpful to get affidavit and court order from first class magistrate.

According to one of the staff members, “Even if the departments are working for children, none of the officials have been found to be cooperative and empathetic for children of our type who really lacks documentary proof”.

Successes

a) One of the young adults in Hyderabad applied for Caste Certificate when she was in 10th standard with the help of Rainbow Home Team member. She was an orphan and faced problem in accessing caste certificate since her initial was wrongly written in school record. The officials were not accepting documental proof with different initial name of family. She had to correct her name in school record and went to Mandal office in

Hyderabad with the Bonafied certificate from school mentioning caste along with Aadhar card, recommendation letter from Rainbow Homes and death certificate of her Parents.

The girl received Caste certificate with a month with all above documental proof. b) Most of the young adults interviewed in Hyderabad received Domicile certificates easily by furnishing Bonefide letter from school or transfer certificates or school marksheet as age proof and a letter from organization mentioning orphan status and duration of their stay with the organization.

c) Orphan certificates received for few children in Rainbow Homes, Hyderabad, with no documental proof of caste of paternal blood relatives. However, as mentioned by the staff, a separate form was to be obtained from Mandal Revenue Offices since Integrated

Orphanage certificate application forms were not accepted in MeeSeva centre and

Officials found to be unaware of GO of Telangana on Orphanages Integrated Application

Form. d) One of the sample young adults whose parents migrated from a district of Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad faced challenge initially roaming to different offices to access her caste certificate. Since the parental documental proof of caste was from the state of Andhra

Pradesh, the girl had to personally meet the Revenue Development officer to explain her birth origin. However, as the caste she belongs to was listed in Telangana state, she could easily get the certificate.

Challenges

a) Despite Government Order and application form available in Telangana for applying orphan certificate by the CCIs, most of the cases the forms are not accepted in MeeSeva centers. As an alternative to apply for orphan certificates, a different form found to be available with Mandal Revenue Officer which has to be filled up with details of children and documents such as, Aadhaar card, electricity bill, school certificate on schools’ letterhead Aadhaar card and a declaration by organization has to be furnished to MeeSeva centers. MeeSeva scans all the documents and upload form online and give acknowledgement slips which are to be submitted to Mandal office. Accepted or Rejected message come in the registered mobile numbers and certificates are received within 2530 days in Telangana. b) Team in Hyderabad had to roam around the Mandal offices to know the status and providing different documental proof asked at the Village Revenue Offices. Even after furnishing whatever available with team, certificates of the children were rejected. This indicates that officials wanted to get bribed and hence asked for different documents to furnish. It is in the discretion of issuing authority to ask for any documents if the official is not satisfied with the furnished document c) The main struggle of the team in Hyderabad Rainbow Homes had been to access the caste certificates for children who are from different districts and staying in Rainbow homes in

Hyderabad. Many children have parents who have caste certificates of other states and team struggled to access certificates for these children in Telangana state. If some of caste in another state are not listed in Telangana, then it stands difficult to access caste certificate for children with parental proof of another state’s caste. d) Staff in Hyderabad faced challenge in accessing Domicile certificate for few children challenge is to access domicile certificate for children whose parents have some residence outside Hyderabad and children have Aadhar card in the address of Hyderabad Rainbow

Homes. In such cases parents of the children are asked to apply for domicile certificate in