Chandigarh ‘the city beautiful’ is proud of its name and its heritage. The city has bagged many awards in the national and International circles such as the first smoke free city, plastic free city, a city for its all round development in every sphere, catering to the well to do as well as the poor, the below poverty line group, the slum dwellers, day to day wage earners. A quick drive through the city one find street children, beggars, rag pickers, porters, tea vendors, shop boys, children exposed to all types of vulnerability.
Chandigarh Administration opened SNEHALAYA with the objective to bring the above children to the mainstream of life and rehabilitate them. It is to safeguard the street children from the abusive and hazardous life styles on the street.
Snehalaya when completed provides residential facilities to 600 boys and 300 girls especially children who are in need of care and protection. In the same campus, facilities are being set up for Vocational Training such as embroidery, computers etc. The criterion for admission is very simple. It is meant for children between the age group of 5 to 18 years. Children found on the streets, children working on the streets, single parent children, orphans, abandoned, handicapped, children having the impact of HIV/AIDS.