Preamble
Committed to enhancing the number of adoptions in India, and aware of the anamoly where city-parents wait endlessly for a child to become available, while children languish in smaller towns, we began exploring the possibility of getting some of the city parents to adopt from neighboring agencies in smaller towns. Our pilot initiative in Marathawada, Maharashtra (The Latur Pilot), where 121 children were awaiting placement, was very successful. Also, the model was easily replicable.
Encouraged by our earlier success (in Marathawada), we initiated replication of the model in Vidharbha and Orissa
Objectives
1. To find a family for each waiting child.
2. To improve the childcare standards.
3. To coordinate with the Government and ensure implementation of policies
Project start
Participating agencies
| Vidharbha |
Orissa |
| 1. Mamta Shishu Greh |
1. Pallishri |
| 2. Takshashila |
2. Nehru Seva Sangh, Kalahandi |
| 3. The Love Trust |
3. Maharshi Dayanand |
| 4. Akansha |
4. SIS |
| |
5. Adoption Coordinating Agency |
Methodology
1. Need-identification- situational analysis (factual information)
2. Understanding with the agency (‘You-do-some/ we-do-some approach’)
3. Co-ordination with the WCD, Orissa State Government.
4. Local promotion
5. Workshops for Prospective parents and Adoptive parents
6. External promotion
7. Micro site on CSA Website
8. Outdoor Hoardings in Kolkatta
9. Coordination with the local CWC and District authorities to deal with process-bottlenecks
10. Capability building
11. Training programmes for Social and Child care workers
12. Support
a. Improving infrastructure-civil work, furniture, drainage
b. Improving Health and care- hygiene, medicines, clothes, toys, music system, linen, baby warmer, refrigerator
c. Provision of a nursery teacher
Achievements
1. Several placements have been facilitated- most of them girls and older children.
2. Each participating agency doubled its numbers during the year.
3. All adoptions routed through CSA are by parents from Mumbai and Kolkatta.
4. Speedier processing
5. Better child care standards
6. Inter-agency coordination
