Greed-driven relatives claim orphans

AHMEDABAD, FEB. 23. Greed for government sops is driving distant relations of the children, orphaned during the killer quake in Gujarat, to claim their custody without genuine concern for their future, social workers say.

``Unknown relations have started emerging on the horizon to look after the ill-fated children who are currently camping in government shelter homes in Kutch,'' according to Deena Patel, probation officer attached to a home for destitutes here.

``We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the children as also the widows who have nowhere to go. But almost a month after the disaster none have turned up here,'' she told PTI.

Ms. Patel's views were echoed by many other social and non- government organisations who are skeptical about the intentions of the people coming forward to establish legal claim over the quake-hit children.

Mr. A. M. Kadri, Assistant Commissioner, Disabilities, attached to the Social Security department of the Gujarat Government, said. ``We have to take into account all possibilities and the government will not be acting in a naive manner while handling this issue.''

``We shall be executing certain legal formalities before handing over the children to the relatives or those volunteering for adoption,'' he emphasised.

The district collectors, who would be asked to complete this task, would also be carrying out ``surprise checks'' at the residences of the relatives claiming custody of the children, to ensure that they were being looked after properly.

- PTI

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Section  : Other States
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