Preet Mandir initiates proposal for older orphans

Preet Mandir initiates proposal for older orphans

Most adoptive parents may prefer toddlers, but there are many older children between six and 18 years of age waiting to find a home.

To deal with this issue, the Balwant Kartar Anand Foundation's Preet Mandir childcare, adoption and family rehabilitation centre at Coyaji Road, Camp, has proposed to introduce the 'Godfather system'. Under this, a family can look after an orphan till he or she is adopted. The centre is planning to send its proposal to the government for approval.

Speaking to DNA, Preet Mandir's managing trustee JS Bhasin said following his visit to some government and private remand homes, he found that they do not have any plans for older orphans after 18 years of age.

?"They are left on their own. Such young adults with no formal education fall prey to unscrupulous elements. Without education or vocational training, they take to begging or join criminal gangs. Therefore, we have focused our attention on rehabilitation of older children," Bhasin said.

"Without adopting the child, the family will treat him/her like a child under the system. Everything will be done within the legal framework. It can open ways for a decent living for the orphans and underprivileged children in remand homes and other

institutes," Bhasin said.

Preet Mandir's proposal also emphasises on the involvement of institutes doing social work and legal experts to help such rehabilitation.

A panel, including an educationist, a psychologist, a doctor, a social worker and a religious head will monitor the system. A special wing will be set up by Preet Mandir to take this forward. Bhasin said they have written to voluntary co-ordinating agencies across the country to send them the list of prospective adoptive parents above 50 years of age. Families who wish to adopt a child can register with these agencies. "We have contacted agencies in Maharashtra and other states so that we can motivate older couples to adopt older children. We have also written to state governments and government agencies to provide us with data of such couples who wish to adopt a child," he said.

The organisation is also trying to rope in gynaecologists and other medicos to motivate childless couples to adopt older children. A total of 13 children between six and 12 years have been adopted from Preet Mandir in the last three months, he added.

Playing godfather

The Godfather system which will deal with rehabilitation of older children can apply to younger children too, he added.

Preet Mandir has proposed that under this system, a family will take up the responsibility of a child without actually adopting him/her. It will educate the child till s/he is able to support himself independently or till s/he gets married. The family can keep the child with them or send him/her to a boarding, whatever is suitable and convenient for the family.

Registration open

Preet Mandir has opened a registration centre for childless couples who would like to adopt children from the centre. Couples can contact: 18, Coyaji Road, Anand Corner, Camp from 10 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Those interested can call 26361027, 26330602 and 26333522. Domestic adoption registration is open at Unit II at Kalyaninagar, Unit III, Preet Shishu Sadan, Aurangabad, Unit IV, 1255, Preet Austriya House, Khursawaddo Carona Aldona, Mapusa, Bardez, Goa.

Kulthe, Bhagyashree "Preet Mandir initiates proposal for older orphans". DNA : Daily News & Analysis; Mumbai. FindArticles.com. 01 Apr, 2010.