2nd issue. Olive-green. Imperforate. Error: double printing.
The Commission for the Improvement of Children's Lives under the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK). Established by a VTsIK decree of 10 February 1921 on the initiative of F.E. Dzerzhinsky, Chairman of the Cheka (Chairman of the VTsIK Children's Commission in 1921-1923), in connection with the sharp rise in child homelessness that occurred as a result of the Civil War of 1917-1922. Its tasks included overall supervision of the protection of children's life and health, assistance to institutions responsible for these matters, and monitoring the implementation of directives by governing bodies on issues of child protection and providing children with everything necessary. The Commission's funds were formed through special levies, lotteries, voluntary donations, etc.
On 25 September 1938, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, the Commission was abolished in connection with the dissolution of the VTsIK, as well as the overcoming of mass child homelessness.
MEMORANDUM from the Chairman of the VTsIK Children's Commission, N.A. Semashko, to the NKVD of the USSR
28/IX 1938
SECRET
No. 61/S
In August of that year, during an inspection of orphanages in Altai Krai, we uncovered the extremely unsatisfactory condition of Orphanage No. 7 in the city of Biysk.
This orphanage was organized specifically for the children of repressed parents. It houses 79 children aged 8 to 16, and 5 of them have been arrested by NKVD bodies and are in prison.
From the very first days of the orphanage's existence, a group formed among the children that set itself the goal of "continuing the work of their parents." The other children were gradually drawn into this group; as an oath not to betray the organization, the person joining the group was required to drink a dose of manure liquid and eat half a glass of sand. Kolya Menshikova, who did not take this oath, was nearly hanged by the children in a stable (he was saved). Other children had nails driven into their heads as punishment. The children tore portraits of Party leaders off the walls. On 11 June, NKVD bodies took 5 pupils from this home, and following that, on 30 August, the educator Safronov was arrested, who together with the children participated in this group.
In the orphanage, the political and moral state of some of the children to this day continues to remain hostile, anti-Soviet. It is impossible to hang portraits of the leaders in the home, because the children will tear them down, as the head of the orphanage, Comrade Ledolevich, states.
The organization of this orphanage exclusively for the children of repressed parents was carried out erroneously, if not to say in a wrecking manner.
Reporting this, the Children's Commission of the RSFSR requests that measures be taken for the immediate reorganization of this orphanage and that the Departments of Public Education be instructed on the inadmissibility of organizing orphanages exclusively for the children of repressed parents.
Chairman of the Children's Commission under the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
N. Semashko
State Archive of the Russian Federation (GARF). Fonds 5207. Inventory 3. File 42. Sheet 41.