Two parents from Maharashtra who ‘lost’ their children to inter-country adoption and are fighting battles in court are all set to go to the capital Tuesday.
There they will join several such parents from across India to conduct a press conference. The parents are holding the meet to make their voices heard before the international community. Between February 19 and 20, Indian Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is holding a meeting on adoption where Indian and international delegates will be present.
The objective of CARA’s meet is to promote India in adoptions and enhance mutual co-operation on inter-country adoptions besides discussing issues and challenges on the subject.
Pune-based NGOs Against Child Trafficking (ACT), Sakhee and HAQ along with the victimised parents have threatened to protest at the venue of the meet if their voices are not heard.
The protesting parents from Maharashtra are Kisabai Lokhande and Ramesh Kulkarni.
Lokhande (66), a Satara resident, said she placed her two granddaughters Ashwini (8) and Komal (4) for temporary care, education and protection at an observation home in Satara in 2004. From there, the girls were transferred to Pune-based orphanage Preet Mandir. She claims that the girls were given to adoptive parents from Spain without her consent.
While she is fighting the case challenging the adoption of her two granddaughters in the Supreme Court, the vegetable vendor is on her way to New Delhi.
“I want CARA officials to hear my story and even though the damage has been done, I want them to frame such policies that others like me shouldn’t suffer. In the past too, many times I tried to make my plea heard, but this time, foreign delegates are also coming. I am hoping to make an appeal so that I can see my granddaughters before my death,” said Lokhande.
Karad resident Ramesh Kulkarni (44), a farmer by profession, said that after his wife’s death, he placed his two children — a daughter and a son — at a Pandarpur-based observation home in 2002 and 2003. “I was informed that they have been shifted to Pune. When I went there, they threatened me if I try to meet my children, I will be in legal trouble,” said Kulkarni.
Anjali Pawar, director of NGO Sakhee, said, “The damage is irreparable for such parents who are made to run from pillar to post. Voices of these parents must not go unheard as they point to a serious problem that has remained unaddressed. Such parents want to address themselves in the international seminar at New Delhi and if they are not allowed, we will agitate before the seminar venue. We will also handover an application to the president in this regard.”
