Members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Krishna district, have alleged that there is no follow-up being done on children who are being placed in foster care.
“Many children are being placed in the custody of some families but their whereabouts and welfare is not known,” said CWC Chairman B.V.S. Kumar.
A 15-year-old boy was placed in foster care with a family at Reddygudem in Krishna district in 2014. The parents subsequently approached CWC for an extension.
Another boy, aged 12 years, was placed in the care of a family in Vijayawada a few years ago under the foster care system; his renewal is still pending.
Officials of the Women Development and Child Welfare Department (WD&CWD) had initially stated that Andhra Pradesh did not have a foster care system and reiterated that not even a single child was placed in foster care with any family in the last few years.
However, officials of the District Child Protection Unit subsequently identified 14 cases of children, including girls, being placed in foster care in Krishna district.
“We have identified 14 children who were placed in the care of foster parents at different places in the district. Instructions have been given to the staff to contact the foster parents and the children immediately,” District Child Protection Officer Ch. Vijay Kumar said.
How it works
Foster care is a system under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act under which a minor would be placed in a home or private home of a State-certified caregiver for a limited period.
Children staying in child care institutions and NGO homes should be given to the family after conducting socio-economic and home study reports by the officials concerned.
Designated child protection officers of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) should visit the homes, meet the foster parents and children and report back to the government on the well-being of the children placed in foster care.
On a request from the foster parents, the CWCs can extend the stay of the child based on the reports submitted by the protection officers on the child’s welfare.
Many missing?
Mr. Kumar said a few foster parents approached the CWC seeking renewal of orders for keeping the children with them for some more time, but no records on foster care were available with the officials.
“We are worried about the welfare of orphans and semi-orphan children staying in foster homes. The whereabouts of many minors who were placed in foster care are not known. There is no data on foster care children either with the former CWC or with WD&CWD. We suspect that many children are missing,” Mr. Kumar said.
Inquiry possible
Speaking to The Hindu, Krishna Collector A.Md. Imtiyaz said the allegations on foster care and the missing of children, if any, would be enquired.
“There was some gap in communication with CWC and the line departments. We will soon conduct a meeting on welfare of children in private and government homes and those who are with foster parents, if any,” Mr. Imtiyaz said.