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Community college initiative by the Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education

June 08, 2004

Community college initiative by the Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education

Mylapore Times (dated May 29 - June 04, 2004), a local neighbourhood newspaper in Chennai, interviewed Dr. Xavier Alphonse, a Jesuit priest who set up the Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (MCRDCE) in 1999 to facilitate the growth of community colleges in India. For the last five years, the centre has been actively involved in this process and has, till date, helped to set up 111 colleges.

Dr. Xavier Alphonse, director of MCRDCE, has served as the Principal of Loyola College, Chennai, for three years and currently works in the English Department of this college. He set up the Madras Community College in San Thome in 1996, worked here for three years and visited 18 community colleges abroad, before he decided to set up the centre.

Here's the text of the interview.

How would you define a community college? It is a place that makes people fit for a job. It is an alternative system of education to empower the socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged. Here, we concentrate more on skill development based on each individual. Anyone can join - school dropouts, degree holders who want to learn a particular skill - we even have students from the rural areas. Anyone from the age group of 16 to 47 years can enroll.

What is this 'alternative' system of education?
First, we concentrate on teaching life-coping skills. This covers self-esteem, motivation, time management, dealing with loneliness and failure - a complete attitudinal formation of the individual. Second, we have a dynamic relationship with employers. So far, formal education and industries have been like a railway track, they never met. But with community colleges, they are very much a part of the process. Internship is a must for everyone, because we believe that hands-on experience is invaluable. Here, we follow a reverse process as compared to formal education. We conduct a complete analysis of the employment scene and see where people are required. We have assured job placement.

Why were community colleges started ?
The movement began in order to give equal opportunities to all. In my experience as a teacher, I have seen that the poor always get eliminated. They needed a space of their own. According to a UNDP survey, there are 550 million people in India without skills, though we are ranked seventh when it concerns information technology skills. Obviously, skills of the day are not reaching the poor.

What is the role of the centre you run?
We are the facilitators. Before we help to set up a community college, we conduct meticulous and extensive research on the community. We approach industries or organisations for help and sponsorship. I design textbooks and the centre also helps in teacher training. We have trained more than 650 teachers so far. Now we are trying to make the projects financially viable, as no fees are charged. In the sense, if they cannot pay, we don't throw them out. Some of the students have been known to pay the institution after they get jobs and they even sponsor the education of some of their juniors.

How is the movement progressing ?
It is a positive growth. For our centre, I believe that we have crossed the first stage of conceptualising and implementation. Now we need to concentrate on consolidation and quality sustenance. Personally, I want the community colleges to go to rural areas as well. We need to set them up there, hone skills in integrated farming, horticulture and tapping native medicines so that they can give back to the community. Another thing we need to concentrate on is the vertical growth of the students - how to induct them into other universities for higher studies. I am trying to link up with open universities for this purpose.

 

The MCRDCE web site provides some more information.

The Community College movement started in India in 1995. As the Community Colleges were emerging, there was a need felt by the Community Colleges to have a Co-ordinating Agency. To respond to this need, The Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (MCRDCE) was started in January 1999. It is an undertaking of the Jesuits of Tamilnadu Province to help, facilitate and consolidate the Community College Movement. The Centre is the unit of the Loyola Technical Institute Society, Madurai.

MCRDCE is a service agency that helps the various Community Colleges in different aspects of the Community College system. It is not a body of accreditation that gives recognition and approval for the Community Colleges. It performs the functions of helping the agencies to establish Community Colleges, monitor them continuously and evaluate them periodically. It has succeeded in bringing all the Community Colleges for five Consultations during the last two years. It has also conducted two national workshops involving the NGOs in India and existing Community Colleges in collaboration with the HRD Ministry. It has fulfilled the function of net working among the Colleges and sharing of information. It has provided a direction and a focus to the Community College Movement.

 

For more details, contact
Madras Centre for Research and Development of Community Education
Gokul Villa, 'A' Block, Flat No. S5&S6, 2nd Floor,
No. 250, R.K. Mutt Road, R.A. Puram, Chennai - 600 028. E-mail : mcrdce@vsnl.com

 

 


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Comments

Yolanda Chatelier

Hi,
My father lives in Chennai. He is 53 years old. He was taken out of school at a very early age and has never had the opportunity to return to complete his education. He is self-taught and has worked abroad in the technical and fields. But I know that he has a desire to finish his high school education and then move on to college education. Is this possible in India? If so, where would I find the information to enroll him to fulfill his lifelong dream? Please help!
Sincerely,
Yolanda.

Posted by: Yolanda Chatelier | December 08, 2005 at 12:59 AM

MOHAMMED RIZWAN

ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATION FEES

Posted by: MOHAMMED RIZWAN | September 16, 2006 at 05:32 PM

jaspal singh

i want admission in B.tech chemical streem,am diploma holder from punjab technical board.
please give me proper feedback and contect number.
with respect,
responsible administration

Posted by: jaspal singh | June 25, 2007 at 02:54 PM

ramvilas

I WANT TO DO WORK AS COMMUNICATION OFFICER

Posted by: ramvilas | January 28, 2008 at 11:54 PM

Mary Nietlling

To Whom It May Concern:
I am an associate professor of English at a community college in Tennessee (USA) and I am looking for a college or university that would accept me as a teacher, free of charge, from July through December 2009 (sponsored by Rotary International).

Posted by: Mary Nietlling | February 25, 2008 at 11:07 PM

G Venkatesan

Shanthimalai Research & Development Trust a charitable trust working for needy peoples in south india. We setup new community college with in a month, we expecting volunteers and other support from world wide please conduct email: ctlc@shanthimalai.org those who interested.

Posted by: G Venkatesan | December 01, 2008 at 03:20 PM

Mr. Dilip G. Rajurkar

Dear Sir,
I want to open a community college in Triable area in Maharashtra. How much Grant are provided by govt.of India. Please give me the right guidence about this.And also I want to contact with you by tele-communication so please give me your contact number.
Regards
Mr.Dilip G.Rajurkar
Mb.No.-09422159902.

Posted by: Mr. Dilip G. Rajurkar | August 24, 2009 at 04:32 PM

Asish Ariel Lepcha

Rev. Father,
I belong from catholic family in sikkim. From the childwood days i had a burning desire to serve the poor. i completed my graduation from st.joseph's college ,darjeeling (2005). so, in 2006 i got a chance to join visva bharati university,bholpur(W.B) for M.S.W ( master's Degree) but all went wrong as my admission was cancelled as i did not opt for any special subject in my degree level. I was disheartned and came back home but again i got admission in Rabindra Bharati University (distance Learning) in 2007 since the admission i could not appear my examination due to certain financial issues. Right now im working as a teacher in small school in my locality and thinking of establishing my own NGO to help the needy and the poor students. father i just want some guidelines that how to start it........ though i have many childrens who are seeking help. ???????? I do not have any financial references.
father do your institution provide any community service cources if then can you please refer to me
Thankyou

Posted by: Asish Ariel Lepcha | February 20, 2010 at 01:18 PM

R.Indhumathi

Rev. Father,
And Hi Mr.Johnson

This is Indhumathi, who worked as the project coordinator in siruganur(Voice Trust). Since i have a deep concern and inspiration of community college, i have registered an NGO on my own and seeking a good support from my funders to start a community college. im planning to go ahead by end of the year and before that i missed ur contact number and pls do send an email about ur present location of mcrdce and mr.johnson your phone no.pls.
Father,i catched u up once in kalaingar tv and then and there in magazines. long live you and your work.

My Mobile no: 9865457731

Alphonse Xavier

Priests - Kingpins of ‘KID’nappers

Priests - Kingpins of ‘KID’nappers
27/05/2010 13:38:08  Aron

PEDOPHILE PRIESTS - IS OLD HAT- WHAT NOW?

The Dinamalar Sunday issue dated 23-5-2010, has repotyed -Special branch Cops have arrested the ring leader of a group of kidnappers of children, and guess what- 'a Christian Priest, and the hunt is on for another Priest” 

It seems the Christian Church will not let us any respite to laugh up one’s sleeves watching their world wide slide splitting Scandal Gospel Comedy Show-

We pagan souls are as pleased as Punch but too much of laughing can kill, you see.
In Krishnagiri, last 18th one Rammaka’s 4 months old infant had been kidnapped by a gang of four who had earlier been arrested.

Grilling with due respects, had them capitulate further information- regarding the modus operandi and the actual linchpin behind this Ring of ‘Kidnappers’.

It seems in Krishnagiri, the 3 year old boy of a resident of Lakshmipuram, which was playing in the street, had been nabbed away by one Dhanalakshmi , who had handed over the child to another Girija of Chennai.

The trail then lead the Special Branch police, according to the report- to a Perambur- Irumbuliyur Christian Priest – Alphonse Xavier, whom the Police have revealed to the newsmen, as the Leader of this ‘Kid’napping Ring.

 Kidnapper Linchpin Priest- also the Leader of a Political party

True to Kollywood style villainy, this Christian Priest, Alphonse has also launched his own Political Party recently- the Raja Reega Peoples Party.

We are not able to comment on this, however- because whatever these Rajareega or people must mean, whether such Royal Pursuits of such Christian Priests, or the Rule by such People or their supporters or ...it escapes understanding, so we give up. Suffice; we know that he was the leader of such Rajareega People.

This Girija who had sung like a bird, and exposed our Rajareega neta of kidnappers, had earlier been appointed as the leader of RRP party’s Perambur women’s wing.

Last December 4th the Paper says- she had kidnapped another boy Deva and handed him to Alphonse Xavier for which she was paid Rs.10,000/-

This boy had been sold through the RRP party’s Senchi taluk secretary one Selvam who is also a Christian Priest.

The Priest had gone absconding, after the cops rescued the boy from the Milkman to whom it had been sold at Devanampettai.

The whole Ring had been running a Christian Charity organisation in Perambur- the report says.

Christian kingpins of ‘Kid’nappers-No laughing matter

The above news was initially droll to read, but it seems it is no laughing matter- till we could connect this with the Global Sex Scandal of the Christian Church- where the revelations are not at all charming- but hair raising, involving the kids of the unsuspecting Laity.

It seems like, this Class of sacrosanct and pompous religiosity- had been so shielded from any public scrutiny and allowed free to go wearing frocks to do their nefarious activities, here in India, unlike the West where they have come under the heat of increasing query, investigations and merciless exposures- that this news might be the foretaste of a much larger and ghastly goings on.

This might just be the tip of an iceberg of a soon to come- devastating exposes of the Criminality of Christian Clergymen in India- something we had already been warning in our forums.

Our daftly cultivated aura of the pious Christian Clergymen, has made easy- the entrenchment of their dark and perverse influence- That Indian bogus secularism has thoughtlessly allowed to grow, among our culturally sensitive and refined Indian Society-in the name of Respect for Faith and Minority rights- An abominable travesty of religiosity-which is sad not just because the victims might be Christians themselves- but also most are our own uncared for sections converted by lure.
Alphonse Xavier

Exposed:Child smuggling racket in the South

Exposed:Child smuggling racket in the South 8 Jun 2010, 0836 hrs IST
The recent recovery of eight stolen children from Chennai has exposed one of the biggest child trafficking rackets in the south of India, with its tentacles spread across the country and the globe. As TIMES NOW investigates, the culprits in the racket pose as human rights activists in Tamil Nadu, steal children from unsuspecting parents and sell them to the highest bidder. 

According to the Krishnagiri police (Karnataka), this particular child trafficking racket was being run by two priests and a self-styled 'human rights activist'. The police have since the end of May rescued eight children who were reported missing from the district over an 18-month period, from various cities in the south. 

The police on Friday (June 4) booked five people including priest Alphonse Xavier and three women under the Goondas Act. They have also picked up a woman who claims to be the head of a self-styled human rights outfit. The probe indicates that the racketeers could have connections with a larger network. The invesigators believee that they may have been involved in the abduction and sale of at least a dozen more children. 

TIMES NOW discovered two of the eight children recently rescued, who are barely toddlers. One of them, Ajay, is now two years old and was found in Chennai. His parents have not been traced. Another child, Kalai Priya, is just a year old and was discovered in Puducherry. Her biological parents too, have yet to be traced. 

Both children were reportedly sold to childless couples. 

One of the players allegedly involved in the abduction of the eight children is a woman named Dhanalaxmi, who kidnapped the children from bus stands or hospitals after gaining the confidence of the parents. 

Dhanalakshmi handed over the kids - all between three months and three years of age - to Girija and Rani in Perambur in Chennai for a few thousand rupees. Girija then sold the kids, fi-ve boys and three girls, to childless parents in different locations in Tamil Nadu through the priest named Xavier in Padappai near Chennai - or self-proclaimed human rights activist Lalitha of Puducherry. 

According to the police, some kids were sold for as much as Rs 1 lakh each. The priest and Lalitha told the adoptive parents that the children were orphans, and even arranged for their birth certificates. 

"We have booked Alph-onse Xavier, Dhanalakshmi, Girija, her husband Siva and Rani under the Goondas Act," SP Babu said. "We plan further interrogation of Lalitha and the other priest, Selvam, who has also been arrested." 

The trafficking ring was exposed after Ramakka, a woman from Hosur, lodged a complaint with the police about the abduction of her 3-month-old son on May 18. She said a woman who had befriended her had kidnapped the child from the Krishnagiri bus stand. "I lost my child...she took him away from in front of my eyes," she tells TIMES NOW. 

The cops zeroed in on the suspect, Dhanalaxmi, the next morning but she had already handed over the child to two women from Perambur. "We then traced the child in Perambur and arrested three people there," a senior Krishnagiri police officer said. 

Dhanalakshmi confessed to have stolen a 3-year-old boy who was reported missing in December 2009 and said that the child had been handed over to a Alphonse Xavier for Rs 5000. Xavier and Selvam had sold the child to a family in Ginjee. "We arrested the priests and traced the boy, who was reunited with his parents last week," the Krishnagiri officer said. 

Another parent, Selvaraj has been reunited with his lost son. 

The child racketeers' network, allegedly masterminded by the priest Alphonse Xavier and Lalitha of Puducherry, has been found spread across Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Villipuram, Chennai, Puducherry and Krishnagiri, but police say this is only the top of the iceberg. 

The arms of this network may be long indeed, reaching other parts of the world. For now however the priority for authorities is to trace the biological parents of all of these stolen children, a task that is blowing the lid off the ugly face of adoption in India.
 
Alphonse Xavier, Dhanalaxmi
India

Onus on state to rehabilitate Preet Mandir inmates: CARA

Onus on state to rehabilitate Preet Mandir inmates: CARA
Express News Service Posted: Jul 01, 2010 at 0338 hrs
Pune The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has informed the Bombay High Court that it is the responsibility of the state government to rehabilitate children lodged in the Preet Mandir adoption home in Pune now.
Earlier this month, the court had expressed concern about 450 children lodged in the adoption home and directed additional solicitor general DJ Khambata to seek instructions from CARA about what it proposes to do about those children.
The affidavit, filed by CARA deputy director Jagannath Pati, said the recognition of Preet Mandir was revoked in May 2010 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against the Pune-based institution and that CARA had decided not to issue a no-objection certificate in cases of inter-country adoptions effective from February 15, 2010. “It is for the state government now to take necessary action for the rehabilitation of the children... CARA shall, however, continue rendering assistance to the government in its efforts to de-institutionalise such children who are deprived of parental care and also can be placed with loving and caring family.” Pati said the authority was giving full cooperation to the CBI, which is probing the affairs at the adoption centre. The bureau had sought six months to complete the probe.
NGOs Advait Foundation and Sakhee had moved the court against Preet Mandir. Their advocates Pradeep Havnur and Abhay Nevgi had earlier told the court that a number of children lodged at the adoption home were found to be malnourished. A division bench, headed by Justice BH Marlapalle, has asked the secretary of Child Welfare Committee to remain present in court on Thursday. Petitioner’s lawyer Jamshed Mistry said the bench had also called for documents to prove that Preet Mandir had secured a stay on the de-recognition decision from another bench of the high court. The first information report filed against Preet Mandir states that “Enquiry has revealed during 2005 to 2010 in as many as 70 instances, Preet Mandir has received excess money in the form of donations by extortion from Indian parents, amounting to more than Rs 50,000.”
India
ACT CASE Preet Mandir

HC summons govt official in adoption house case

HC summons govt official in adoption house case
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, July 01, 2010
First Published: 00:12 IST(1/7/2010)
Last Updated: 00:13 IST(1/7/2010)
The secretary of Women and Child Welfare Department has been summoned by the Bombay High Court to find out what the government proposes to do to rehabilitate the 452 children staying at the Pune adoption house, Preet Mandir.
The adoption house is facing allegations of selling babies to foreigners. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, told the high court on Wednesday that it has revoked the licence of Preet Mandir after an FIR by the CBI.
Additional solicitor general Darius Khambata, representing the Centre, submitted an affidavit filed by Jagannath Pati, deputy director with the CARA.
Pati’s affidavit states that they had decided to put inter-country adoptions by Preet Mandir on hold till the adoption house was cleared of all allegations.
On May 20, the CARA revoked recognition of Preet Mandir.  The affidavit adds: “Now (after revocation of recognition) state government ofMaharashtra has primary responsibility to work for the rehabilitation of children.”
As the state did not come up with a solution, the court has asked the secretary to be present.
ACT CASE Preet Mandir
India

Bhavi Gaurang Vaishnav vs Govt. Of Gujarat on 28 April, 2000

Bhavi Gaurang Vaishnav vs Govt. Of Gujarat on 28 April, 2000
Cites 3 docs
 
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Gujarat High Court
Equivalent citations: (2001) 4 GLR 3326
Bench: M Calla
JUDGMENT
M.R. Calla, J.
1. This Special Civil Application has been filed on behalf of a minor girl named Bhavi Gaurang Vaishnav, aged 3 years residing at 195, Kribhconagar, Surat through her adoptive parents Gaurang Kirtirai Vaishnav and Ms. Darshana Gaurang Vaishnav. While the girl Bhavi has been named as petitioner No.1 her adoptive parents are petitioners Nos.2 and 3.
2. The case with which the petitioners have come before this court is that petitioner No.1 was born to a woman who was a widow. The said widow handed over the custody of the petitioner No.1 to a social organisation named Shri Kasturba Stree Vikas Gruh, Jamnagar and it is this Vikas Gruh which gave her the name of 'Foram'. This female child named 'Foram' by the Vikas Gruh was kept in custody of Kokilaben Amratlal Dangi, Social Administrator of said Vikas Gruh and said Social Administrator was the guardian of the said child named 'Foram'.
3. While the said child named 'Foram' (petitioner No.1) was being brought up at the said Vikas Gruh, a couple -Gaurang Kirtirai Vaishnav and Ms.Darshana Gaurang Vaishnav approached the aforesaid organisation - Vikas Gruh to adopt the child. The said couple had married on 4.8.83 and even after number of years of their marriage they could not beget a child and after medical check up it was found that they may not get child even in future. On such approach being made by the aforesaid couple to the organisation - Vikas Gruh, as aforesaid, the Social Administrator of the said Vikas Gruh visited and inspected the house of the said couple and after inspection it was found that they were capable to adopt the child. It was decided to give the said girl, namely, Foram in adoption to the said couple and said couple agreed to take the female child 'Foram' (petitioner No.1) in adoption. The Social Administrator of the aforesaid Vikas Gruh,namely, Kokilaben Amratlal Dangi therefore moved a Civil Misc. Application No.3/98 in the Court of Extra Assistant Judge at Jamanagar seeking necessary permission for adoption of the aforesaid girl to the aforesaid couple and sought a declaration that the aforesaid organisation - Vikas Gruh was the guardian of the said girl 'Foram' and permission that she may be permitted to give said female child 'Foram' in adoption to the said couple. This Civil Misc. Application No.3/98 was allowed by the Extra Assistant Judge, Jamangar by his order dt.10.9.98 declaring that Shri Kasturba Stree Vikas Gruh, Jamangar the applicant Organisation was the guardian of the said minor female child 'Foram' (petitioner No.1) and the said organisation was also permitted to give this female child 'Foram' in adoption to Gaurang Kirtirai Vaishnav and Ms.Darshana Gaurang Vaishnav under the provisions of Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act. After the aforesaid order dt.10.9.98 passed by the Extra Assistant Judge, Jamangar, the adoption deed dt.28.10.98 was executed by the guardian (as declared by the Court) of the aforesaid child and the adoptive parents duly witnessed by Shri N.V. Vyas, Advocate. It is also the case of the petitioners that the said female child, namely, 'Foram' was born on 2.7.96 at Irvin Group of Hospitals, Jamanagar and the adoptive parents renamed this girl 'Foram' as 'Bhavi' and the change of her name from 'Foram' to 'Bhavi' was also published through a notice in the Government Gazette Part-II dt. 26.11.98. In this notice of change of name, name 'Foram Gaurang Vaishnav' appears at Sr.No.84 and the changed name against the said name is "Bhavi Gaurang Vaishnav" with the address Gaurang Kirtirai Vaishnav, 195/Kribhco Nagar, Surat 394515. Thus, the petitioner No.1 had acquired a new name of 'Bhavi' instead of 'Foram'.
4. Adoptive couple then moved an application dt.20.1.99 before the Municipal Corporation of Jamnagar (Birth and Death Registration Office) enclosing a copy of the birth certificate, a copy of Gujarat Government Gazette dt.26.11.98 and news item relating to the judgment of this court published in Gujarat Samachar on 5.11.98 and requested the Corporation that in the birth certificate of petitioner No.1 the change mentioned in her name as 'Bhavi Gaurang Vaishnav" and the name of her parents as Gaurang Kirtirai Vaishnav and Ms.Darshana Gaurang Vaishnav be shown. The petitioner also sent a letter dt.20.1.99 to the Social Administrator of Shri Kasturba Stree Vikas Gruh appraising all the developments with regard to the change of the name of the girl from 'Foram' to 'Bhavi', that she was required to be admitted in School and the steps taken by him for change of relevant entries in the birth certificate and sought co-operation of the said Vikas Gruh. The adoptive parents i.e. petitioners Nos.2 and 3 also sent a letter dt.17.5.99 to the concerned Secretary to the Government of Gujarat and the Registrar of Office of Death and Birth of Municipal Corporation, Jamnagar. Despite this the Corporation did not agree to the request of the petitioners and, therefore, the petitioners preferred this Special Civil Application before this Court on 17.8.99 seeking a direction against respondent Nos.1 and 2 to issue fresh birth registration certificate in respect of petitioner No.1 i.e. 'Bhavi' reflecting the names of petitioners Nos.2 and 3 therein as her parents, changing her name as 'Bhavi' from 'Foram'. On 18.8.99 Rule was issued by this court. The same was made returnable on 1.9.99 and the parties were directed to come ready for final disposal. In response to the rule, an affidavit-in-reply dt.5.11.99 has been filed on behalf of respondent No.1.
5. On behalf of respondents Mr. P.K. Shukla, learned A.G.P. and Mr. J.R. Nanavati have submitted that for the purpose of effecting change in the date of birth or for issuing fresh certificate with the entries, as asked for, the procedure as mentioned in Circular dt.23.8.99 sent by the Commissionerate of Health, M.S. & M.E. (H.S.) issued by Government of Gujarat is required to be followed.
6. I have heard learned counsel for both the sides and have gone through the aforesaid circular dt.23.8.99. It appears from the reading of the entire circular dt.23.8.99 that this circular is essentially required to be followed in cases where the exact date of birth of such a child is not known and only in such cases, the procedure, as is mentioned in this circular, is required to be followed so as to take an order from the Magistrate and the opinion of the Medical Officer etc. Here is a case in which there is no dispute that the petitioner No.1 was born in Irvin Group of Hospitals on 2.7.96 and she had been named as 'Foram' by the Vikas Gruh where she was brought up. She was then taken in adoption as given by the Social Administrator of the Vikas Gruh to the adoptive couple i.e. petitioners Nos.2 and 3 on the basis of the Extra Assistant Judge, Jamnagar's order dt.10.9.98 passed in Civil Misc. Application No.3/98 under the provisions of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and the adoption deed was executed between the guardian of the said girl as declared by Extra Assistant Judge, Jamangar and the present adoptive parents i.e. petitioners Nos.2 and 3. The Gujarat Government Gazette is also there to show the change of her name from 'Foram' to 'Bhavi' and when there is a birth certificate on record to show that she was born on 2.7.96, in the opinion of this court no useful purpose can be served by now requiring the petitioners to follow the aforesaid procedure as per the Circular dt.23.8.99. It would be an exercise in futility as the date of birth is already ascertained and none of the facts are in dispute. Even in such cases when the exact date of birth is known and the adoption deed has been executed by the Guardian declared by the Court of Extra Assistant Judge, Jamanagar under the provisions of Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act after regular proceedings thereunder, if the adoptive parents are thrown to follow such procedure for the purpose of seeking fresh birth certificate with the change of the relevant entries therein, it would certainly militate against the spirit of taking such deserted or given up child in adoption and would discourage the socially spirited couples with righteous approach to go in for such adoption. Such virtuous ventures of couples with helping hands must be welcomed and they should be put to least trouble and botheration and they should not be thrown to the requirements and rigours of such procedures, which are not necessary.
What should be the Court's approach in such cases has been sufficiently indicated in a Division Bench decision of this Court in the case of Sudha Bhatt v. Secretary, Social Welfare Deptt. reported in 1998(3) G.L.R. 2430 based on a Supreme Court decision in the case of Laxmikant Pandey v. Union of India, reported in AIR 1984 SC 469. Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of this case, I do not find that the objection taken by the respondents before the Court that the petitioners herein must follow the procedure detailed out in the Circular dt.23.8.99 is sustainable and I hold that this Circular is not applicable in cases where the exact birth date is already known as per proper birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Office of Death and Birth and when not a single fact is in dispute.
7. Accordingly this Special Civil Application succeeds. Respondent Municipal Corporation of Jamangar and the Registrar of Death and Birth Section of the said Municipal Corporation are directed to issue a fresh birth certificate for petitioner No.1 in the name of 'Bhavi' instead of 'Foram' (in Column No.1) mentioning the names of her adoptive parents (petitioners Nos.2 and 3) in Columns Nos.7 and 8 and effecting the change of address in Column No.9 as 195, Kribhconagar, Surat. The aforesaid direction shall be carried out by the concerned officers of the Municipal Corporation, Jamangar at the earliest possible opportunity and preferably on or before 4.5.2000 as the concerned School, where petitioner No.1 'Bhavi' is studying requires the production of her birth Certificate by 5.5.2000. This Special Civil Application is allowed. Rule is made absolute accordingly. No order as to costs. Direct service is permitted.
India

Adoptive

Adoptive mother wins fight for kid
June 26th, 2010
Chennai, June 25: The Madras high court on Friday came to the rescue of woman who wished to be an adoptive parent but was about to have the joy of her life snatched from her.
The court stayed the order of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), directing the Guild of Service (central) Adoption Unit, Chennai, to immediately send to a Bala Mandir adoption centre a five-year-old girl who is in the custody of her pre-adoptive parent.
Justice T. Sudanthiram granted a stay for four weeks on a petition filed by Gemma Bridget D'Silva, a spinster, who had taken the child in pre-adoptive foster care.
Advocate Abudu Kumar submitted that the petitioner had approached the Guild of Service to adopt a child legally as she had been longing for a child.
The guild, after an interview with Ms D’Silva, obtained a pre-adoptive foster care undertaking from her and handed over the child to her.
Ms D’Silva, the advocate said, had been rearing the child with love and care since February 2010. All of a sudden and without any valid reason, the guild demanded that she hand over the child based on a letter issued by the CWC, dated June 21, 2010, directing that the child be sent to the Bala Mandir adoption centre.
“Ms D’Silva is entitled to take a child in adoption from the guild after having fully satisfied it about her social status, financial condition and her earnestness to have a child,” advocate Kumar argued. “An order to separate her from the child without any valid reason and opportunity of hearing is liable to be set aside,” he added.
Justice Sudanthiram also stayed the order of the CWC directing the guild to transfer another child in the custody of an adoptive parent, Thirunavukarasu, to a Bala Mandir centre.
India
Guild of Service - Central (Sevasamajam), Bal Mandir, Nepal

Centre’s scheme to rehabilitate children

Centre’s scheme to rehabilitate children
Mumbai, July 02, 2010
First Published: 01:10 IST(2/7/2010)
Last Updated: 01:12 IST(2/7/2010)
The Centre is in the process of formulating Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) for rehabilitating of children who are in need of child and care as defined under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Jagannath Pati, deputy director with the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) informed the Bombay high court on Thursday that the ICPS will be having a corpus fund which could be used
for rehabilitation of children who are repatriated after a failed international adoption.
Justice D.Y. Chandrachud is in the process of framing guidelines for better monitoring mechanism of international adoption and ensuring rehabilitation of children in case of failed adoption.
The court took up the matter after 14-year-old Anita (name changed) was repatriated to India after she could not adjust with her adoptive parents in the United States.
The Massachusetts-based couple had sent an application seeking revocation of their guardianship of Anita as she developed behavioural problems.
“You [CARA] also need to have guidelines for time-bound disbursement of the funds, especially in case where child is being repatriated,” Justice Chandrachud said.
Pati said that about 22 states have signed the memorandum for the ICPS and Maharashtra is in the process of signing it.
 
India
ACT CASE Intervention returned adoptees

Centre scheme comes to aid of failed adoptees

Centre scheme comes to aid of failed adoptees
Mayura Janwalkar / DNA
Friday, July 2, 2010 0:55 IST
Mumbai: The integrated child protection scheme (ICPS) floated by the central government may come to the aid of children repatriated from failed adoptions.
The Bombay high court, which is in the process of framing guidelines to make foreign adoptions safer for children, said on Thursday that if the Central Adoption Resources Authority (Cara) had already appointed an expert committee to attend to the matter, they should have also constituted a fund for the welfare of children returning from failed adoptions.
After hearing the case of 14-year-old Mita who was repatriated to India after her adoptive parents — both US nationals — failed to look after her, on February 5, the court revoked the order granting Mita’s custody to them, five years after her adoption.
Jagannath Pati of the Cara told the court that 22 states had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the union government to constitute ICPS under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Pati told the court that Maharashtra too is in the process signing the MoU. He said this fund could be utilised to cater to children whose adoptions, both domestic and international, have failed.
“So long as they have an earmarked fund, it would serve the purpose,” justice DY Chandrachud said.
ACT CASE Intervention returned adoptees
India

We hope adoption homes won’t be breeding farms: HC

We hope adoption homes won’t be breeding farms: HC

 

 

Expressing concern over the 450 children at Preet Mandir, the Bombay High Court on Thursday observed that we should not talk about rich culture and heritage of our country if we treat children in adoption homes as “commodities”.

 

 

The division bench of Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice Anoop Mohta were hearing petitions filed by NGOs Advait Foundation and Sakhee seeking action against Preet Mandir, alleging various irregularities by the adoption centre. Preet Mandir lawyer said closing down the adoption centre would not serve any purpose. The lawyer argued that the children are young and attached to the staff of the adoption centre and should not be treated as vegetables or cattle to shift them from one place to another.

 

 

Justice Marlapalle said the state government should look into the matter. “On the one hand, we must go by the reality — number of unwed mothers, number of families selling children owing to poverty. We only hope that these adoption centres will not be breeding farms. Let us not treat children as pets.” The court observed that even the government-run centres are full of malpractices. “It is the state’s responsibility. The number of such children is bound to go up while there is poverty in this country.” The court was of the view the government is duty-bound to rehabilitate the children in adoption centres, however, he said these are slowly turning into “corporate ventures”. The judges asked the government to formulate guidelines on how it plans to control private adoption homes. “We want the government to apply their mind independently, constitute a committee keeping in mind SC guidelines with respect to adoption,” the court said. The court has adjourned the hearing for four weeks.

Fri Jul 02 2010, 02:58 hrs
India
ACT CASE Preet Mandir
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