The Hindu : Council hard put to look after abandoned infants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Council hard put to look after abandoned infants

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MAY 29. The State Council for Child Welfare is faced with the problems of funds shortage and delay in the adoption process even as the number of abandoned infants in the `Amma' electronic cradle is on the increase.

The council used to get an annual revenue of Rs.1 crore through the sale of 50 lakh Children's Day stamps. However, the Government scaled down the number to 30 lakh stamps in 2001 and last year, the council was altogether denied permission to sell any stamps.

The council secretary, Sunil C. Kurien, said the State Government had taken the stand that the Council was getting Central funds. However, the annual assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakhs provided by the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) was hardly sufficient for the activities of the council.

The council has wound up its vacation classes as well as several development projects in various districts due to the funds crunch. The council's vocational centre for the handicapped and counselling centres at Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram have also been closed.

The council authorities say that the installation of the electronic cradles in the city and at Malappuram has brought down the number of babies being abandoned in hospitals and on the sides of roads. The life of the abandoned infant is secure as the council looks after it for up to five years.

As many as 100 applications for adoption are pending in the council. In many cases, clearance from the District Collectors or the Social Welfare Directorate is yet to be obtained.

In the case of four children, the council has obtained necessary clearance from the collectors, but legal hitches remain.

The formation of Child Welfare Committees under the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act 2000 would speed up the adoption process, it is pointed out. A Social Welfare Directorate official said the matter was under the consideration of the Law Department.

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