Govt revokes registration of Dmr-based adoption agency

The registration of a Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) in Dimapur was revoked for allegedly not complying with central government guidelines with respect to Child Care Institutions (CCI) in India.

According to a press statement from Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, the license for Mother’s Hope (SAA), 7th mile, Model Village, Dimapur Nagaland was revoked and shut down for repeated default, failure to comply to the instruction and direction of State Government and Child Protection Services and failure to adhere to the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

It also stated that Mother’s Hope was given enough time and consideration since the year 2015 to rectify their shortcomings and adhere to the rules and regulations, however, the home failed repeatedly to respond and comply with the notices issued.

An official from the social welfare department informed that on September 19 a Joint Action Committee took custody of 13 children under the care of the SAA while informing that its registration stands revoked.

“It was part of a country-wide exercise to examine Child Care Institutions taken up in the backdrop of the Muzaffarpur (Bihar) child abuse case in 2018,” the official said.

In August 2018, a shelter home in Muzaffarpur was exposed of alleged sexual abuse of minor girls prompting the Central government to issue directives to scrutinize all existing CCIs in India and the Supreme Court taking suo moto cognizance of the case.

It had a ripple effect with various state governments forming committees to look into the workings of CCIs.

In Nagaland, as per the official, around 68 CCIs were scrutinized. The charge against the SAA in Dimapur was more to do with disregard for laid down procedures- not fulfilling the required documentations as required by law and obstructing government officials from doing their job rather than actual abuse of children under its care, the official maintained.

Queried on the whereabouts of the children, the official said that a combined team of officials from the Special Juvenile Police Unit, Childline, Dimapur district administration, District Child Protection Unit, Child Welfare Committee took possession of the minors and placed in a child care institution.

The director of the SAA Mother’s Hope when contacted by The Morung Express today said that she was charged of not complying with the rules and regulations of the Central government vis-a-vis shelter homes for children.

“Government officials came in the afternoon yesterday. We were told by the officials we have repeatedly ignored directives to implement the guidelines. As a result of which the government license to run the home stands revoked. They claimed that I was issued notice in this regard two weeks back,” said Moamenla, Director, Mother’s Hope.

She though maintained she did not get any such notice. “I was asked to cooperate and they took the children away (13 children, including a 3-month infant).”

She added that she was arrested in 2018 for no particular reason. “I was arrested last year. The trial for that is on and now they do this.”

Defending her stand, she further said that the government agencies have no legal basis to accuse her and take the children away.

“It’s a home for unwed mothers and the babies born. We work for women and children, we are not working for the government. Mother’s Hope is a ministry. In God’s miraculous providence we are functioning. Not on any other,” she maintained.

“I told the officials that the children be returned safe and sound at the earliest. I am waiting for that.”

The social welfare department on the other hand in its press statement said any adoption carried out from Mother’s Hope would be “treated as illegal with immediate effect.”

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