Ban Khru Noi closing leaves kids in limbo
The Social Development and Human Security Minister has ordered his subordinates to provide care for children from Ban Khru Noi after the shelter announced it would officially close on Sunday due to ongoing debt problems.
Jiraporn Chowprayoon Yamamoto, who represents the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), yesterday led authorities and social workers to Ban Khru Noi in Bangkok’s Rat Burana district.
Ban Khru Noi was set up by Nualnoi Timkul, also known as Khru Noi, in 1980 to provide care for underprivileged children and orphans. She turned her private house on Soi Rat Burana 26 into a charity home for children.
The visit was aimed at finding ways to help children at the charity shelter following the recent closure announcement.
The i nspection was conducted i n response to Minister Adul Sangsingkeo’s directive, Ms Jiraporn said.
Authorities were interviewing children to assess their condition and needs, she said, adding the responses varied.
There are around 65 children under the care of the charity home. Most children come from poor and broken families. Many of them are homeless and some are disabled, she said.
Interviews at the home are set to be completed tomorrow, Ms Jiraporn said.
A meeting with authorities will be held on Monday to determine each child’s needs.
The home has helped give children access to education and also provide their families with basic necessities.
The charity home has been running on public donations and borrowed money with Ms Nualnoi shouldering the burden from time to time.
The shelter has monthly expenses of almost 200,000 baht. It has faced financial problems due to high operating expenses.
Ms Nualnoi said yesterday she had run up more than 800,000 baht in debt, forcing the shutdown.
She has been accused of using donations for her own personal purposes and running up the home’s debt to more than one million baht.
Criticism has also mounted against Ms Nualnoi for her alleged lack of proper accounting and management procedures at the shelter.
Ms Nualnoi admitted yesterday that poor financial management is to blame for accumulated debt.
“I just want children in my care to be happy. I want to give them access to education. If they have education, the world is their oyster,” she added.