Abandoned child now off to Malta

Ahmedabad: In November 2019, city police found a child abandoned on the streets. Two-and-a-half years later, he got the love of parents with a couple from Malta adopting him. The adoption ceremony of Sagar, christened ‘Jack’ by his parents, was held at the Shishu Gruh in Paldi on Saturday.

Some of those at the event were Pradip Parmar, state social justice and empowerment minister, Jagruti Pandya, chairperson of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and R S Patel, secretary of Sardar Patel Memorial.

Speaking to TOI, the emotional parents said this was a dream come true for them. The couple – Canmelo and Chanlene Abdilla, a businessman and teacher, respectively – were waiting for the adoption process to end for nearly two years. “It was the experience of some of our relatives that motivated us to adopt a child from India. We were in touch with the authorities and were talking to Jack regularly through video calls,” said Chanlene. “We have prepared a special room for him and have also started preparations for his admission in the September intake.”

Ritesh Dave, superintendent of Shishu Gruh, said the child had hearing issues, which were treated during his stay at the facility. “This is our fourth international adoption this year. We get 35-odd children every year of whom the majority get adopted,” he said.

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