170 children died in UP adoption homes in five years: Govt data

Publication date: 20 February 2019

Over the past five years, UP witnessed death of 170 children in the state-run adoption centres. This figure, revealed as part of data furnished by the union ministry of women and child development in the ongoing Parliament session, is only marginally lower than Maharashtra’s 172 over the same period.

LUCKNOW Updated: Feb 20, 2019 12:27 IST

Saurabh Chauhan

Hindustan Times, Lucknow

Children died,Unhygienic condition,Adoption homes

UP government authorities said that poor health of children lodged in state adoption homes was responsible for this figure.(Representative image)

UP government authorities said that poor health of children lodged in state adoption homes was responsible for this figure. Commissioner for protection of child rights, Uttar Pradesh, Vishesh Gupta, said, “Sometimes, children lodged in adoption centres have been rescued by stake holding agencies in peculiar situations. Sometime, children are rescued from the roadside and are already suffering from infections. In such a situation, it becomes difficult to save their life despite earnest attempts.”

He also admitted that the state lacked trained manpower in its adoption homes. “Lack of manpower is also an issue. We don’t have the training mechanism and the infrastructure that is needed. It has been observed that the staff is not adequately trained to take care of such children,” said Gupta.

According to data shared by the union ministry of women and child development, in 2014-15, as many as 30 children lodged in adoption homes in UP died; in 2015-16, there were 27 such deaths; in 2016-17, the number of deaths was 34; in 2017-18, the number was as high as 56; and in 2018-19, there were 23 child deaths.

ALREADY UNDER SCANNER

UP’s adoption homes, run by state adoption agencies (SAAs), are already under scanner.

In Mirzapur district, two homes run by the district SAA were inspected and subsequently closed because of unhygienic conditions and inadequate facilities for small children there.

“Nine centres have been shut down so far due to different kinds of complaints. However, none of these was found to be at fault for death of children,” said a state official, requesting anonymity.

Officials said that there were 18 SAAs in UP and 393 children were registered with the Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) for adoption till January 31, in 2018-19. “Overall, in the past five years, 1,772 children were enrolled with CARINGS,” said an officer.

Sources said that the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) had earlier raised concern over the death of children in adoption homes.

Experts said the responsibility for checking any oversight by the SAAs in proper discharge of their duties was vested in the child welfare committees (CWC) and the district child protection units (DCPUs), under the overall supervision of district magistrates, the state adoption resource agency and the state government.

First Published: Feb 20, 2019 12:27 IST

Countries: India