Foster Care in India

Foster care is defined as a situation where certified adults serve as substitute parents to children who need them for whatever reason. The state, in theory becomes responsible for the quality of care of the child until such time that the parent or parents can resume normal care of their own child. In these cases, the state serves in a custodial capacity and is responsible for “hiring” decent, reliable stand in parents. A minor child cannot function on his own.

The foster family looks after such a child providing food and clothing and other necessary material things. Oddly enough, there is a credo against the child becoming too attached to the foster parents. The theory is that the “natural” parents have a right to be rehabilitated and when deemed capable, have their child returned. Often, this leaves the child in limbo for year after year rather than having a chance to be adopted. The conditions faced by little Maresh in India and all the other children like her makes the American system look like paradise by comparison. In both countries a campaign for birth control to be acceptable as a partial solution would greatly improve the next generation’s chances at a decent life. However, it is considered objectionable for religious reasons in some cases and in others the teen mothers see early childbearing as a normal event. The children suffer the sins of the parents. I used to consider that a religious statement but there is much truth to it in a purely secular way. Solutions anyone? A great outpouring of money would be a good start to save these helpless little ones.

At the very least, they deserve food… a foster family who try to provide a decent upbringing. The state provides aid to foster families for looking after the child. In India where great numbers of children are born into poverty, the nation is already marred with many problems. There are countless numbers of children who do not have anything to eat let alone shelter. The recent spurt in activities by one organization, NGO has improved the scenario and foster homes are emerging in certain cities. Initially the NGO advocated the institutionalization of orphaned and other deprived children but now they are realizing that the care and individual attention that can be provided in the family like set up of a foster care home cannot be substituted. Subsequently the concept of foster care is now becoming more popular. To quote an example Community Health and Education Society (CHES) in Chennai runs a Foster Home that provides shelter and care to the HIV/AIDS infected people. Supported by USAID this started as an individual endeavor by Mary a local mother from a modest community. The Society gained popularity among the locals. Now local women and NGO are all rushing to CHES to support the noble cause.

But still it continues without aid from the state government. Recently the Government of Maharashtra under a Foster care project plan has launched a project called “Bal Sangopal Yojana” which provides care to children ages of 7 to 18. The eligible children for this foster care project are the destitute and the orphaned. It also accepts children of unwed mothers, infected with leprosy or those with parents who are imprisoned for life. In Delhi and Pune other similar programs are being launched .The training is being provided to foster families to cope up with the challenges of rearing up a small child. Gradually providing quality of life to the children is gaining importance in India. The Government has realized that children left orphaned enter a breeding ground for criminal behavior. There are far worse repercussions to the government when they are presented with a large population of criminals to deal with. Wisely, the government in India is taking notice of the neglected children. Firm action is sorely needed and they are starting to implement improvements for the lost children.

At the very least, these little ones deserve to have somebody provide food…