Compassionate parents interested in adopting the orphans of the Wayanad landslide may face challenges in realizing their aspirations. After registering with the relevant government agencies, hopeful adoptive parents will enter a queue and may not have the option to select a child specifically from Wayanad. They will need to wait until their turn arrives and adopt a child as designated at that time.
Currently, there are 1,904 registered parents and 116 children legally free for adoption, according to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in Kerala. Last year, the state facilitated the adoption of 114 children, comprising 99 domestic and 15 international adoptions.
Inquiries have been made by several parents to various agencies regarding the adoption of children from Wayanad. The recent landslide is estimated to have left five children orphaned.
B.C. Sameer, a resident of Padanna, Kasaragod, expressed interest in adopting a girl child. “We have two boys and would like to adopt a girl aged five or six years,” said Mr. Sameer, who is currently working in Kuwait. He has registered with CARA to follow the necessary legal protocols.
Officials from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Wayanad and the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) have received several similar requests. Jose Kandathil, chairperson of the CWC, noted that the children affected by the landslide are currently in the care of their immediate relatives within government relief camps. One girl injured in the incident is receiving treatment at a hospital, and the committee is monitoring the children’s well-being.
Karthika Anna Thomas, the District Child Protection Officer, mentioned that two individuals have offered to sponsor the orphaned children. The children, remaining under the care of their relatives, may be placed in kinship foster care, with the state government providing ₹2,000 monthly until they reach adulthood. These processes will require adherence to legal protocols.
The relatives of the orphaned children can also pursue adoption, but the state will conduct home studies to evaluate the parents’ eligibility, ensuring a safe environment for the children. Additionally, play areas, or kaliyidam, have been established across 12 camps in Wayanad, where toys and activities are provided to keep the children engaged. Their physical and mental health is being regularly monitored.
The article was published on August 04, 2024, at 05:06 PM IST.
