The Hindu : Hope rekindles for abandoned infants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Hope rekindles for abandoned infants

By C. Maya

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Sept. 9. At 18 months, Ajay is just like any other toddler, lively and inquisitive. Though his world was limited within the four walls of the adoption centre of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare (KSCCW) here, he was a happy child.

Festivals like Vishu or Onam had been just one of those days in this child's life but this year, Ajay celebrated Onam with his parents in his new home.

His friends in the nursery, all abandoned children like him, watched quietly through the window when on the eve of Onam, Ajay left for a new world provided by a childless couple, who had adopted him.

The adoption process in the district, which had been delayed for nearly two years due to procedural complexities and red tape, is slowly regaining momentum.

The KSCCW, the recognised adoption agency in the district, could in the past two months manage to find new homes for eight of their abandoned babies.

``It is nice to know that this Onam would've been special for all of them. Ammu, a ten-month-old we received from the `Amma' electronic cradle, would have been with her adoptive parents this Onam, but for the delay in the completion of formalities,'' J. E. Hephzibah, the Superintendent at the adoption centre, said. There are 25 more abandoned babies and toddlers housed in the nursery here and about 120 prospective parents on the registration list, waiting for the legal formalities to be completed before they can take home a baby.

For Gopinath and Meena (names changed), who have been awaiting the patter of little feet in their home for the past 15 years, this is one Onam that they will forever cherish.

``Even when we were going from doctor to doctor, adoption was something that we had never considered. Now when I hold him in my arms, I regret having wasted all those precious years swinging between hope and despair,'' said Meena, hugging Ajay to her.

The staff at the adoption centre are quite used to such emotional scenes. It is a happy occasion every time new parents walk off proudly with their bundle of joy. However, for every baby who gets a new home there are several more being abandoned at the Council's doorstep.

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Hope rekindles for abandoned infants