Another child restored to mother

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MAY 3. The allegations of child lifting by adoption centres have got further credence with yet another child, shifted from the "Precious Moments" to the Sishu Vihar, reunited with his mother, Shantakka, on Thursday.

Haribabu (10), a resident of Roda Mistry Nagar near Gajularamaram, had allegedly been picked up by Renuka and Samuel couple, who were known to his parents some three months ago, from his house when he was alone. Later, he had allegedly been "sold" to one of the adoption centres.

Shantakka, who had enquired about his whereabouts with relatives and others, failed to locate him. A complaint was lodged with the Nampally police in this regard. However, after seeing reports in the media about Shahvi Begum, who was reunited with her parents two days ago, Shantakka had visited the Sishu Vihar in the hope of finding her son.

Her search proved fruitful as she could locate her son from among the number of children shifted to the Sishu Vihar from various adoption centres in the city and neighbouring districts. According to sources, Haribabu had been shifted from the "Precious Moments", an adoption centre in the city, after it had been raided by the Women and Child Welfare Department officials recently. He would be formally handed over to his parents on Friday.

The media reports had led to several parents visiting the Sishu Vihar in the hope of finding their lost children. On Thursday, another woman approached the Women and Child Welfare Department officials, claiming that her child, who had been kidnapped from a Government hospital, was among the rescued children. However, the authorities were said to have told her that they would have to conduct DNA finger printing test before accepting her claim.

Meanwhile, the State Government has sanctioned Rs. 50 lakhs to provide proper care and protection to the 188 children rescued from various adoption centres and put up at the Sishu Vihar.

According to the action-taken report issued by the Government, to control and prevent the social problem of sale of infants and procuring them through dubious means, a massive campaign would be launched to educate poor sections among whom this practice was prevalent.

In an effort to bring about transparency, the Government would take up computerisation of all the records and a software was being developed to monitor all the cases. All the details about adoption were being put up on the website -- "www.anganwadi.com".

A meeting of Collectors and Superintendents of Police of Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Medak, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad would be held soon to elicit their views on the problems and the circumstances leading to the rise in the illegal activity. The Government would also prepare a long-term action plan after studying the best deterrent practices in the country. A State- level workshop was also being proposed in this regard.

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