Catalysts for Social Actions petition to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, meets with success
Mumbai, 16th November 2009: Catalysts for Social Action (CSA), a social welfare organization dedicated to the cause of adoption and child welfare, announced the success of the petition signature campaign to the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. Mrs. Bharati Dasgupta, Managing Trustee, and Mr. Brajesh Misra, Member, CSA, got an audience with the Prime Minister on the basis of nearly 10,000 petition signatures garnered by CSA from across the nation.
The petition led by CSA, focused on the state of adoption in the country. Highlighting the various issues like lack of inter-agency coordination, restrictive processes, red tapism, poor social acceptance, illegal practices and misconceptions about the process itself, the petition placed the following requests:
ä To set up a task force headed by a Member of the Planning Commission to study the entire issue around adoption and foster care and come up with a holistic revamp of policy and laws.
ä Allocate adequate funds and resources to promote and facilitate adoption and foster parenting.
ä Deliver on the promise of your government “Every child has the right to a family”.
After her meeting with the Prime Minister, Mrs. Bharati Dasgupta, Managing Trustee, CSA said, It was really heartening for us to get this audience with the Honorable Prime Minister. He listened attentively, and has promised to look into the matter. We believe that this is just the initial step for us, and it would take many more such initiatives to have a real impact on the adoption scenario. Organisations like CARA, some State WCDs and child welfare committees are doing a great job, but it needs to be reinforced with further support and initiative by the government. I would like to thank each and every person who contributed their signatures, and would request your continued support in this endeavour.
Adoption focuses around providing a child with a loving and caring family- a form of rehabilitation that is permanent and complete. It automatically takes care of a home, food, shelter, education and inheritance. Most importantly, it does so with love and care; the child grows up to become an effective and contributing member of society instead of the less positive outcomes that institutional care can often lead to. Also, the cost of this outcome is the lowest possible in economic and social terms. Adoption is an option to many people who are unable to have a child due to medical/infertility/other problems as well as those who may not want to have biological child out of choice.
CSA has also recently launched a book to promote child adoption in India. The organization released a book titled A Family for Every Child, which includes inspirational articles from celebrities like Sushmita Sen, Raveena Tandon and Sandip Soparrkar who are themselves adoptive parents. The book offers answers to many interested but unsure couples/aspiring parents who want a child, but are not aware of the process/implications/issues involved. The book presents stories from the heart- of couples who have adopted, single parents, adopted children and even the relinquishing mother. The book also covers the adoption scenario in India and what can be done to improve the same. The objective of this book is to make many more people aware about adoption and motivate them to contribute in some way towards this very fulfilling cause.
About CSA: Catalysts for Social Action (CSA), is an NGO, working for the cause of Adoption and Child Rehabilitation. It is with the mission of A Family for every Child that CSA started work to increase adoptions in India. CSA works with parents wishing to adopt, hand-holding and facilitating the process. At the same time it works with Adoption agencies, particularly those based in smaller towns and rural areas, improving their child care facilities and connecting them with parents. CSA also carries out awareness about adoption among medical practitioners, police, judiciary and of course the general public.
* Source: CARA website
* CARA: Central Adoption Resource Authority
* WCD: Women & Child Development Centres