Hundreds of Tripura orphans are adopted by foreign families every year

Was there a choice, this isn't something which the Tripura government would have ever opted for. But there wasn't any choice, you see -- the raging militancy in the state makes sure there isn't one.

So every year, hundreds of Tripura orphans are send abroad to Western homes. To live as, not Indians, but Britishers or Americans or Australians.

Of the 7,810 orphans the state has found homes for in the past three years, 3,354 children have been adopted by families in foreign countries.

"Depredations of tribal militants are making orphans of many children," says Indian Council of Child Welfare official F C Pahwa, "The Union welfare ministry, however, favours the orphans to grow in India. So we have reduced the number of adoption by foreign families," adds Pahwa whose organisation works for orphans and abandoned children.

The ministry, through its Central Resource Adoption Agency, is pushing for in-country adoptions. Inter-country adoptions, it says, are to be encouraged only as a last resort.

But in 2,000 cases last year, the 'last resort' had to exercised -- of the 8,000 orphans adopted from the state, 20 per cent were by foreign families -- as Indian families were not forthcoming enough.

The welfare ministry's scheme for adoptions is being carried out by 43 organisations in the country. The homes they set up are for children till six years of age. Each home would care for 10 to 20 orphans. Last year, the government spent Rs 4.49 million for setting up such homes.

"Adoption-related legislations in the last few years have halted the illegal transfer of children from hospitals, orphanages and poor parents to undesirable elements," claims Tripura adoption sub committee chairperson Andal Damodaran, "Before handing over a child, the financial capability, status, family background, notice, and sincerity of the adopters are examined thoroughly."

And in the case of foreign families?

For inter-country adoptions, ministry officials say the scrutiny is even more thorough. Once adopted, the progress of the children are closely monitored through quarterly and half-yearly reports from foreign enlisted agencies, embassies and high commissions.

In a bid to boost in-country adoptions, the Centre has now issued a document emphasising that, as there is no uniform adoption laws in India, Hindus could adopt a child under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, while others could do so under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1980.

The ministry is also providing grants to Voluntary Coordinating Agencies (constituted as per the Supreme Court orders). This would, they hope, motivate Indian parents to come forward for adopting girl children.

UNI