Abandoned baby cases on the rise in Uttarakhand

Eight to ten children are found abandoned in Uttarakhand every year and a couple can adopt a child only if they are married for more than two years.

Dehradun:One frequently comes across reports of newly born babies abandoned in secluded places. In many such cases, the baby dies. However, there are still some good Samaritans in society who adopt such abandoned babies and give them a new life.

In Uttarakhand too one gets reports of newborn infants found dumped in dustbins or amid bushes. Some of these abandoned babies are saved by local citizens while some of them are left to die. Those who were saved are today leading a good life. The government has made arrangements for the adoption of such children by families who give them the love and care of parents.

Numbers of orphan children in Uttarakhand

- From 2016 till today, a total of 73 children were adopted.

- In Dehradun, government children’s home, Children’s Vanita Ashram and Indira Rashtriya Chetana organization are taking care of children.

- These three institutions for children in Dehradun have so far given 46 children for adoption.

- Of these 36 children have been adopted by families residing in different districts of India while 10 children have been adopted by foreign nationals.

- From the government children’s home of Almora, 20 children have been given for adoption, of these ten have been given to families in India and three to foreign nationals.

- From Haridwar’s Shishu Palan Trust, seven children have been given for adoption, all of them to families in India.

No action against those who abandon children

Though news of abandoned children has become a regular feature, no action is taken against the guilty parents. This is so because it is difficult to trace the parents and hence no action can be taken against them.

Projects of Uttarakhand government

The state government is concerned about the abandoned new-born children. The government, under the 'PALANA' plan, appeals to the people that:

-If they cannot own their children out of some compulsion, they should safely put their children in the cradle placed near the children’s home or at different locations so that the children are not harmed.

- The government has reserved 5 per cent of government jobs for such orphan children.

- There is 2 per cent reservation in medical colleges for the orphans.

- The government is also giving temporary jobs to adult orphan children.

Children's protection commission president Usha Negi says that the primary responsibility of taking care of the orphans is of the society. The society needs to be sensitive about the problem. All the doctors of nursing homes and hospitals need to be alive and sensitive about the problems of orphans.

Procedure for adoption of achild in India

Every year in Uttarakhand, eight to ten children are found abandoned. However, it is a good thing that there are a large number of institutions who adopt orphan children. However, the government agencies first verify that the adopted child is handed over to the right family. This verification is done by the Central Adoption Resource Authority, which acts as the nodal agency, for the adoption of orphan and abandoned children.

These factors are verified before theadoption

- The parents need to be physically, mentally, emotionally and economically fit and none of the parents has a terminal illness.

- Any couple, whether they already have biological children or are childless, can adopt a child. If the couple desirous of adopting a child is legally wedding both the partners need to give their consent for adopting the child.

- The couple can adopt a child only if they are married for more than two years.

- A single woman can adopt a child of either gender, boy or girl while a single man can adopt only a boy.

- The age of the couple to is important. If the child they want to adopt is of lesser age, their average age should also be less.

- The age difference between the foster parents and the adopted child should be a minimum of 25 years.

- This rule is not applicable if the foster parents are relatives of the adopted child or are stepfather or mother.

- Those who already have three or more children of their own are not eligible for adopting a child. Only in some exceptional case, they can adopt a child.

Ten documents are necessary

- The latest photograph of the foster family or the photograph of the couple or single woman or man.

- The PAN card of the person who wants to adopt a child.

- Birth certificate or any document to verify the date of birth of the person who wants to adopt the child.

- Proof of residence (Aadhar card/voter ID/Passport/latest electricity bill/telephone bill)

- Certified copy of the year’s Income Tax

- Medical certificate issued by a government doctor to show that the person desirous of adopting a child is not suffering from any terminal disease.

- Each of the couple desirous of adopting child needs to submit a separate medical certificate.

- Marriage certificate (if married).

- If the person is a divorcee, a certificate to that effect.

- Statement of two persons in support of the person desirous of adopting a child.

- If the person already has a biological child above the age of five, a consent letter from that child.