Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater' [ 9 May, 2001 1602hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
BANGALORE: The adoption episode in Andhra Pradesh has had far reaching effects on adopted children in Bangalore. It has raised questions in the minds of children who were adopted years ago, and who were living a happy and normal life with their adopted parents. It has shaken their sense of security and thus making this a period of distress for both, say parents. It has also hampered the work done by genuine adoption agencies in the city, say such agencies. Says Neena Nayak, president, Karnataka State Council for Child Welfare (KSCCW), "I know of an adopted child who asked her adopted mother, "Was I also`bought' by you? Did you `pay' for me? Did my birth mother `sell' me to you?" Other adopted children have asked the question, "If the police take the child back from the adopted mother, what will happen to her or him?" They ask, "Why are they using words like `buy' and `sell' and "racket"? Adoption agencies say that children who have been adopted through the formal structure with all formalities taken care of are hurt by the episode. They say these children's sensibilities have been overlooked. Says Mary Paul, director, Vatsalya Charitable Trust, "It certainly has had an adverse effect on some adopted children, who are anxious to know how they were adopted." According to an adopted parent, it takes time for the child to accept the fact that he or she has been adopted; however happy they are, they are always wondering about their birth mother and father. A situation like this shatters their stability once again. As for adoption agencies, Aloma Lobo, chairperson, Voluntary Coordinating Agency, (VCA), says "The episode has had a spillover effect on such work in the city. Yes, it is important to plug the loopholes wherever necessary, but why throw the baby out with the bathwater?" In other words, take those who have used adoption as a "business" opportunity to task, ensure that there are checks and balances in place so that the system is not exploited by greedy opportunists, but do not undo the good work that some genuine agencies have been doing over the years. "Why target all of us?" She says even good agencies are now viewed with suspicion. This is seen as being unfair specially because it has taken a long long time for adoption to be accepted socially. Says Neena Nayak, "Adoptive parents had lobbied so hard to give adoption a sense of respectability. It has taken years of hard work, and when it is viewed with suspicion, the whole system goes back by so many years." According to some agencies, "Adoption sometimes goes on illegally and directly at the hospital where the child is born, and adoptive parents pick up the child from there. But adoption agencies cannot be held responsible for this, it is the government that is responsible. Why is the government not looking into this?" Aloma Lobo says, "No one should be allowed to get into adoption activities without a licence. The government has not yet started giving licences. There have to be certain guidelines in place." Mary Paul now plans to go to schools, speak to children and tell them about adoption. "Adoption is pro-life, it is beautiful, we want to tell children it is aboveboard." A total of 236 children have been adopted from Karnataka in the last year; 195 of these were adopted incountry, 11 children by NRIs, 18 with special needs were adopted by parents abroad and 12 normal children went for intercountry adoption.
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