Nurturing Destitute Children with Ethical Leadership: A Case of Kishore Nagar - Boys’ Town

Shyamal Gomes

Professor of Human Resource Management Programme, Xavier Institute of Social Service, Ranchi, Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT:

The 1964 communal riots in eastern India left many children displaced, homeless, and out of school. In response, a Flemish Jesuit priest in Ranchi committed himself to serving disadvantaged youth. His mission led to the creation of Kishore Nagar (Boys’ Town) in 1969, starting with 50 street boys sheltered in tents and an abandoned house. The initiative gradually expanded into a structured campus providing education, shelter, and moral formation. The study situates the development of Kishore Nagar within ethical and servant leadership theories, emphasizing conscience-driven, inclusive, and participatory practices in resource limited educational settings. The case study aims to examine the ethical commitment behind creating an institution that fosters social reintegration, improves educational outcomes, and builds community trust. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on direct observation, interviews with leadership, staff, alumni, and students, and document analysis to capture lived experiences and institutional impact. Results reveal a 68 percent rise in school retention, fewer behavioural issues, and marked improvement in self -esteem, peer relationships, and community engagement. Alumni report renewed hope, strong moral foundations, and upward mobility. Kishore Nagar demonstrates that localized, ethically grounded, and inclusive interventions can break cycles of marginalization and drive sustainable social transformation. The case introduces the Integrity-Driven Support System (IDSS) as a replicable framework for integrating ethics, empathy, and empowerment into educational reform. It argues that ethical and servant leadership combined with community trust—can create meaningful long-term change and challenge deficit-based narratives about the education of destitute boys.

Keywords: Conscience-driven, Ethical Leadership, Social Reintegration, Educational Outcomes, Community Trust.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.70994/jjdms.11053.11065

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