3 adoption agencies lose licence in 5 yrs, all from Pune….Nisha Nambiar
Of the 68 adoption agencies in the state, checks on which are supposed to have been carried out by the Women and Child Development department 780 times as per rules in the last five years, only three have been de-recognised by the department and all of them are from Pune district.
This was brought out through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Indian Express regarding number of checks conducted and agencies de-recognised by the department in the last five years.
Of the 68 adoption agencies in the state 9 are in Pune. There has to be a total of 156 checks in a year according to the department rules and regulations, with 13 checks a month.The agencies de-recognised were found not working on the mandatory Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) guidelines. Licence of Punes Mata Vaishnavidevi Charitable Trust, Aayeshabi and Haji Abdul Latif Charitable Trust, Maval and Preet Mandir were cancelled for not following CARA rules.
According to the RTI reply, at least 13 checks a month have to be conducted by the department by the district women and child development officer.
Besides a visit to check details, the inspections include four surprise visits and eight individual visits to each adoption agencies. Officers of the department maintain that checks are conducted on whether the agency is following CARA guidelines and whether records are maintained properly.
The de-recognition or suspension is according to CARA guidelines, say officials.
The RTI query also dealt with action taken on institutions that were found to be not functioning satisfactorily or where irregularities were detected. Showcause notices are issued in these cases.
The reply revealed that six adoption agencies were issued showcause notices in the last five years of which two were from Pune, SOFOSH issued a notice in February 2010 and KM Mahila Sewagram in July 2010. Others included Mahila Vikas Mandal, Chandrapur in March 2011, Janakibai Tendulkar Mahilashram, Lanje, Ratnagiri in August 2010, National Shishugrih, Kondhali, Nagpur in April 2010 and Savitribai Phule Shishugrih, Loha, Nanded.
Among the de-recognised agencies, Mata Vaishnadevi Trust and Aayeshabi Trust had to face action for not maintaining any records. In the case of Preet Mandir, the agency later got permission to rehabilitate 86 children.
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/3-adoption-agencies-lose-licence-in-5-yrs-all-from-pune/835704/0