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Catalysts For Social Action - Aparents Association |
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ADOPTIVE FAMILIES - NAAF
Address :
Room No. 17, 1st Floor, Sanyas Ashram
Municipal Road
Vithalbhai Road, Vile Parle (W),
Mumbai - 400056, INDIA
Contact Person :
Mr. Gaurang Mehta
Contact Numbers :
+91-22-2670 3838
Email :
naaf@rediffmail.com
Website :
http://www.naaf-india.org
Registration
As a public trust society under section 80G of the Income Tax Act and under Foreign Contribution (Regulations) Act, to receive funding / donations from NRIs and / or other individual / institutional sources.
- NAAF - is a non-profit, voluntary service organization (VSO) founded by a committed group of parents who have
adopted children. The basic objective(s) of such adoptive parents in coming together and forming NAAF, are two fold.
- As adoptive parents themselves, to be effective motivators and catalysts in the process of dispelling baseless
prejudices, fears and misguided beliefs prevailing in the society regarding child adoption.
- To create conditions for bringing more and more destitute children into the stream of adoption or at the very least,
under more humane institutional and/or foster care.
NAAF was formed with the exclusive objective(s) of promoting the concept of child adoption and to create positive social climate for adoption in a vigorous and sustained manner.
- Based on the findings and recommendations of a very comprehensive research commissioned to Tata Institute of
Social Sciences by NAAF regarding the "Prevailing Social Attitudes Towards Child Adoption in Mumbai", the following
steps are formulated and implemented to achieve NAAF’s objectives.
At the Direct Level
- Seminars, meetings with the public informing them about the option of adoption, legal aspects thereof and the
procedure involved. These are free public seminars held every two months in different areas of Mumbai in order
to reach out to people directly.
- Consultations, seminars with professional groups such as Doctors to impress upon them the need to suggest legal
adoption to their clients. NAAF has tied up with medical groups such as Mumbai Obstetricians & Gynecologists’
Society, Indian Academy of Pediatricians and Indian Medical Association to focused adoption awareness programs
for
their members.
- Programs with members of service groups like Municipal Corporation of Mumbai, employees of public and private
sector hospitals and nursing homes.
- Sensitization of high school and college students to adoption.
- Free distribution of relevant resource material, like "Adoption Guidance Book." This 20-page booklet which is for
mass circulation, contains all the relevant and authentic information that any aspiring adoptive parents may require.
At the Indirect Level
- Use of print media – Newspapers and other magazines. Through periodic press briefings/releases, publication of
adoption related articles etc.
- Outdoor media – hoarding, banners, posters, in public places and in consulting rooms of medical professionals.
- Use of electronic media – In 2002 for the first time in India, in an attempt to promote adoption right in the homes
of people, NAAF made two TV spots of 30 seconds each which was funded by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. These two
spots were extensively telecast free of charge by Sony TV, Zee TV etc. Other prominent TV channels are also
likely to telecast the same in due course of time.
- Initiative taken to form a national level federation of adoptive families’ associations spread out in different cities
of India, to deal with government and other concerned authorities for necessary policy and legal reforms related
to adoption.
Outcome of NAAF's Promotional Efforts
- Steady increase in the number of children adopted by Indian couples in Mumbai. Up from about 285 in the year 2000
to about 425 in the year 2003, average annual increase of about 16%.
- Correspondingly, the number of children adopted by foreigners from Mumbai has decreased from about 305 in the
year 2000 to about 240 in the year 2003, average annual decline of about 8%. (NAAF is ideologically not at all
opposed to adoption of Indian children by foreigners), but its promotional thrust is to motivate more and more Indian
couples for adoption in line with the principles and priorities laid down in UN Convention on Rights of Children).
- Setting up of an "Adoption Help line" since August 2001, to provide full-fledged information, guidance and pre or post
adoptive counseling to parents.
- Representation on the State Governments’ Adoption Advisory Committee. Significant increase in the "visibility" and
"credibility" of the cause of child adoption in general.
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