New Delhi, Nov 27 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil Friday hosted lunch for children of an orphanage from Jharkhand at Rashtrapati Bhavan and gave a cheque of Rs.50,000 for their welfare.

The orphanage, Dampara Vikas Samiti, was started in 2004 by Kantha Singh, a poor man with no permanent source of livelihood.

According to an official spokesman, most children at the orphanage belong to tribal groups and had been either abandoned by their parents or were orphans. As word spread about the orphanage in nearby villages, people started sending more destitute children to Kantha Singh. He accepted them all and took to begging to feed and educate the children.

Assisted by six adult volunteers, Kantha is looking after 40 destitutes at present. The orphanage is located on private land from which it can be removed. The orphanage consists of a thatched hutment and there are no toilets and other necessities.

The spokesman said the story of Kantha Singh first appeared in a newspaper and President Patil was deeply touched by it. She desired to meet Kantha Singh and the group of 40 children at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Ever since the president expressed her desire to meet the children, donations have started pouring in for the orphanage from various parts of the country. The president handed over a cheque of Rs.50,000 to Kantha Singh, the spokesman added.