LilMtnCbn
02-03-2004, 06:11 AM
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/471188.cms
Dohle case puts the spotlight on adoption issues
SIDDHARTHA D. KASHYAP
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2004 01:49:41 AM ]
PUNE: Adoption agencies here are closely following the case of a German
national who has moved the Bombay high court, seeking information about his
biological Indian mother.
The case of Arun Dohle (30), who was adopted by a German couple in 1973 from
Pune, has brought to the fore the sensitive issue of reunion of adoptees with
their biological parents.
"This is a very sensitive, but conflicting issue," said Bharati Ghate,
executive director of ‘Shishudhar for the child’, an adoption-facilitating
agency.
"On the one hand, every child has the right to information about its biological
history. On the other, the biological mother’s right to confidentiality
should be maintained," Ghate said.
She said that the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and the Guardians
and Wards Act, 1890, do not explicitly say whether the information should be
made available.
Ni****a Saha, chairperson of Voluntary Co-ordinating Agency (VCA), an adoption
facilitating agency, which networks with nine adoption placement agencies in
Pune and Aurangabad , said that there have been "rare cases" where the adoptees
have sought information from the agencies about biological parents.
Saha said that in a few cases, "background information" such as the
circumstances in which they were brought to the adoption centre is revealed.
However, Indian agencies do not encourage the sharing of information because of
the social circumstances in India , she said.
Roxana Kalyanvala, deputy director of the Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra, said, in
most cases, it’s the Indian children adopted by foreign parents who seek
information about their biological mother.
"Most children in an adoption agency are born out of a wedlock or to a
divorcee," Ghate said, adding that a surrender affidavit is signed at the time
of handing over the child,where the mother often requests the agency not to
disclose her identity under any circumstances.
Ghate said that the affidavit is required to be preserved by an adoption agency
for at least 18 years, and can be made available only in the court.
Saha said that her agency had once established contacts with a biological
mother to acquire some medical records of the child, but in vain.
"We had to back-track after the woman, who was married and expecting another
child, refused to get involved," she said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
Dohle case puts the spotlight on adoption issues
SIDDHARTHA D. KASHYAP
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2004 01:49:41 AM ]
PUNE: Adoption agencies here are closely following the case of a German
national who has moved the Bombay high court, seeking information about his
biological Indian mother.
The case of Arun Dohle (30), who was adopted by a German couple in 1973 from
Pune, has brought to the fore the sensitive issue of reunion of adoptees with
their biological parents.
"This is a very sensitive, but conflicting issue," said Bharati Ghate,
executive director of ‘Shishudhar for the child’, an adoption-facilitating
agency.
"On the one hand, every child has the right to information about its biological
history. On the other, the biological mother’s right to confidentiality
should be maintained," Ghate said.
She said that the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and the Guardians
and Wards Act, 1890, do not explicitly say whether the information should be
made available.
Ni****a Saha, chairperson of Voluntary Co-ordinating Agency (VCA), an adoption
facilitating agency, which networks with nine adoption placement agencies in
Pune and Aurangabad , said that there have been "rare cases" where the adoptees
have sought information from the agencies about biological parents.
Saha said that in a few cases, "background information" such as the
circumstances in which they were brought to the adoption centre is revealed.
However, Indian agencies do not encourage the sharing of information because of
the social circumstances in India , she said.
Roxana Kalyanvala, deputy director of the Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra, said, in
most cases, it’s the Indian children adopted by foreign parents who seek
information about their biological mother.
"Most children in an adoption agency are born out of a wedlock or to a
divorcee," Ghate said, adding that a surrender affidavit is signed at the time
of handing over the child,where the mother often requests the agency not to
disclose her identity under any circumstances.
Ghate said that the affidavit is required to be preserved by an adoption agency
for at least 18 years, and can be made available only in the court.
Saha said that her agency had once established contacts with a biological
mother to acquire some medical records of the child, but in vain.
"We had to back-track after the woman, who was married and expecting another
child, refused to get involved," she said.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
