In the year 1999, members of 14 Non Governmental (National and International) Organizations like Lions, Rotarians, Y's Men, JC's, Waltair Round Table 92, Mahila Action Help Society and others along with members of the Police Department of Visakha Police, started a home for street children under the aegis of its Founder Chairman, the then Commissioner of Police of Visakhapatnam, Sri Kode Durga Prasad, IPS.
They realized the pressing need for remedial measures to curb crimes by street children. Many a time, innocent children are found going into the clutches of the Mafia gangs and the urgent need to rehabilitate them was felt. Thus was born 'PAPA' (Public And Police Association for Street children) started with the intention of bringing them into mainstream. It is registered under Societies Act with Regd No. 971/99.
In order to prevent these children from indulging in social crimes, PAPA was started in 1999 in the premises provided by the Municipal Corporation of Visakhapatnam with nine children. At present, the strength has gone upto 100 children. The home was later shifted to its present premises which was a closed police school on 21-10-2000, at Police Lines, Visakhapatnam provided by Sri. Kode Durga Prasad IPS, Commissioner Of Police, Visakhapatnam city.
Street children are, children neglected by their own parents and also by society. They seek to survive alone on the streets, railway platforms and public places. Their shelters are unsafe, without care, medical aid or education.They are the so-called street children, needing as much care, nourishment, love and education as any normal child does.
They are seen as dirty urchins, loitering on railway platforms and in railway compartments, as rag pickers, most of them scantily clad, with a lost and hungry look. They can be distinguished by their unkempt hair, dirty and grimy bodies, obviously in dire need of a bath.
These children, having no one to guide them, often tend to indulge in anti-social activities such as gambling, smoking and petty thefts and at times are forcibly dragged into homosexual relationships, learning the jungle code of 'survival of the fittest' quite early in life. They survive on left-over food stuff from railway carriages or dust bins.It is however, very surprising to note that they enjoy this freedom unaware of the negative effects of such a life.
The Children whose parents are below poverty line and who are in need of care and protection and also considered as street children and taken care of after screening their conditions.