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The making of a family
RENU DESHPANDE
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2004 10:19:38 PM ]
Though the society has opened up towards the issue of adoption we still do not
have enough co-ordinating agencies, finds Pune Times
The two babies abandoned outside JJ Hospital, Mumbai have been the objects of
national, nay, international affection as families rush to adopt them.
And it is the same in Pune. While there are parents in the city who long to
adopt a baby, there are also plenty of orphaned children yearning for a home.
Yet adoption is a complex issue with many legal and ethical strings attached.
A major issue of concern in the city is lack of co-ordination between adoption
agencies. Catalyst For Social Action (CSA) is one such initiative working
towards networking. Says Bharti Dasgupta of CSA, "We are trying to bring
medical and legal experts, child care and adoption agencies as well as adoptive
parents on a common platform. The assumption is that if the child is available,
it is ready to be adopted. But the first priority is to trace the biological
parents. The child has to be legally cleared to be adopted."
The Central Adoption Resource Agency has been set up by the government to
regulate adoption. With international adoptions becoming easy, a dangerous
practice has raised its head. "The Lambada tribe case in Hyderabad where girls
from the tribe where sold to international adoptive parents is one example.
Only if a child is rejected thrice by Indian parents, and cleared by the
government's Voluntary Co-ordination agency (VCA), can he/she be placed for
international adoption. But there's a lot of money involved and agencies can
misuse that," Dasgupta adds.
The VCAs are an important part of the mechanism and Pune has reason to be
happy. "Since, 1981, we have been working towards regulating ethics in foreign
adoptions. The government has taken Pune VCA's work as a model and have made
VCAs compulsory all over the state since 1996," says Shubhada Hiwale, a social
worker.
The other major setback is the regressive Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of
1956. "The Act states that while the father adopts, the mother is only a
consenting party. Also if you have a girlchild, you cannot adopt another girl.
This definitely needs some modifications," says Madhuri Abhyankar of
Shreevatsa, an adoption agency.
But the scenario is not all dark. Says Abhyankar, "The PMC has been the first
to regularly issue birth certificates to adopted children." What is most
heartening is the change in the society's attitude as reflected in the response
to the babies at JJ Hospital.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "**** . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
The making of a family
RENU DESHPANDE
TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2004 10:19:38 PM ]
Though the society has opened up towards the issue of adoption we still do not
have enough co-ordinating agencies, finds Pune Times
The two babies abandoned outside JJ Hospital, Mumbai have been the objects of
national, nay, international affection as families rush to adopt them.
And it is the same in Pune. While there are parents in the city who long to
adopt a baby, there are also plenty of orphaned children yearning for a home.
Yet adoption is a complex issue with many legal and ethical strings attached.
A major issue of concern in the city is lack of co-ordination between adoption
agencies. Catalyst For Social Action (CSA) is one such initiative working
towards networking. Says Bharti Dasgupta of CSA, "We are trying to bring
medical and legal experts, child care and adoption agencies as well as adoptive
parents on a common platform. The assumption is that if the child is available,
it is ready to be adopted. But the first priority is to trace the biological
parents. The child has to be legally cleared to be adopted."
The Central Adoption Resource Agency has been set up by the government to
regulate adoption. With international adoptions becoming easy, a dangerous
practice has raised its head. "The Lambada tribe case in Hyderabad where girls
from the tribe where sold to international adoptive parents is one example.
Only if a child is rejected thrice by Indian parents, and cleared by the
government's Voluntary Co-ordination agency (VCA), can he/she be placed for
international adoption. But there's a lot of money involved and agencies can
misuse that," Dasgupta adds.
The VCAs are an important part of the mechanism and Pune has reason to be
happy. "Since, 1981, we have been working towards regulating ethics in foreign
adoptions. The government has taken Pune VCA's work as a model and have made
VCAs compulsory all over the state since 1996," says Shubhada Hiwale, a social
worker.
The other major setback is the regressive Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act of
1956. "The Act states that while the father adopts, the mother is only a
consenting party. Also if you have a girlchild, you cannot adopt another girl.
This definitely needs some modifications," says Madhuri Abhyankar of
Shreevatsa, an adoption agency.
But the scenario is not all dark. Says Abhyankar, "The PMC has been the first
to regularly issue birth certificates to adopted children." What is most
heartening is the change in the society's attitude as reflected in the response
to the babies at JJ Hospital.
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "**** . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown