Karnataka: Rise in kids surrendered, adopted post pandemic in Haveri

HAVERI: The number of children surrendered to a

government-recognised adoption centre in has

increased in the past 18 months.

The facility has taken in 28 such kids since Covid-19 broke

out. Loss of livelihood during the pandemic and parents not

being able to care for the third child are among reasons for

them giving up their kids.

While all 28 children have been adopted, 13 are still in the

Spandana Adoption Center and will be handed over to their

adoptive parents once the legal process is over. A total of 42

children have been adopted from the centre since 2008 —

14 between 2008 and 2019

The centre houses many kids who are victims in Protection

of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) cases and those

born out of wedlock. Authorities from the department of

women and child development, district child protection

centre and Spandana confirmed that the number was

higher as compared to the pre-pandemic era. This can be

attributed to many people struggling to eke out a livelihood

and unable to provide food or care to their children due to

Covid, sources said.

Of the 28 kids, 25 have been surrendered by people from

Shivamogga district. Other adoption centres in the state

have also witnessed an increase in the number of

surrendered children.

A private medical practitioner in Haveri pointed out that

normally those into extramarital relationships opt for illegal

abortion. “But due to the pandemic, they were unable to do

so, hence they surrendered their child to the adoption centre

after delivery,” he added.

Srinivas Aladarthi, deputy director, department of women

and child development, said premarital or extramarital

relationships are major reasons for parents surrendering or

abandoning kids.

Mallikarjun Mathad, district child protection officer, said

most children taken in by the centre were not breastfed.

“Some parents surrendered kids and some left them on the

roadside. We are taking care of them and will hand them

over to adoptive parents after the process is over,” he said.

“We have received children who were surrendered,

abandoned or orphaned. A total 101 children have joined

Spandana Adoption Center, recognised by the state

government, since 2008. A 15-day-old girl was surrendered

by her parents from Shivamogga recently,” said Sangeeta

GH, a coordinator at Spandana.

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