More Orphanage Child Selling in India UPDATED

“Jaswanti Narwal, owner of the shelter home in Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s hometown,   gave a boy to a family in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) two years ago for R60,000. A year later, another boy was given to a family in Delhi for Rs. 31,000.”

“Rohtak superintendent of police Vivek Sharma on Sunday said Narwal violated adoption norms and took the “donations” illegally. Police teams have been sent to rescue the boys.

On Wednesday, during a raid by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on her shelter home, Narwal claimed one of the boys had died due to illness.

Inmates accused Narwal of torture and sexual abuse before the NCPCR team. Police are investigating the inmates’ complaint that Narwal would invite people to the shelter home to sexually exploit girls.

Narwal, who was produced in court and remanded in police custody till May 18, said she had evidence to prove her innocence.

Narwal, honoured by the state for welfare services, came under the scanner after three girls ran away from her shelter home on May 7 and contacted Child Line after reaching Delhi.

State social justice and empowerment minister Geeta Bhukkal said the government would take back all awards given to Narwal if she was found guilty.” [Ick! Even India gives out awards like Angels in Adoption!]

Rohtak sex racket suspect ‘sold’ two boys for Rs. 91,000

[Hindstan Times 5/14/12 by Jatinder Kohli]

 

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: Four more girls have come forward to say that they were sexually abused in Apna Ghar.

“Medical examination of a girl, which was conducted soon after the arrest of Jaswanti and her kin, had confirmed that she was subjected to sexual abuse.

Meanwhile, with a view to confirm motherhood, police have initiated proceedings for DNA examination of six women, whose children were allegedly given for adoption by Jaswanti, owner of Apna Ghar, to issueless couples over the last two years. The court on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to police in this regard.

However, contrary to police claims, investigating officers were yet to reach out or recover the six mentally challenged girls, who were believed to have been abandoned by members and representatives of the NGO, a day ahead of raids conducted by NCPCR team, sources said.

The incident took place on May 9 when, acting on leads by the NCPCR team, police started investigations into the functioning and murky deals of NGO and its head Jaswanti.

Even as there was delay in getting the victim girls medically examined, investigations into the wealth and properties acquired by Jaswanti are also yet to conclude, sources said.

Rohtak DSP, Dharna Yadav, who is associated with the probe, reiterated that investigations were heading in the right direction. “I cannot disclose the details right now. The girls who alleged sexual abuse have been medically examined at PGIMS on Wednesday and the report is likely to arrive soon. While the probe into trading of children is in progress, we have got the accounts of the NGO sealed through the district administration”, Yadav said.”

Sexual abuse in Apna Ghar: 4 more girls medically examined

[The Times of India 5/24/12]

Update 2: Another case of adoptive parents’ possession of the children is given more weight than the crimes allowing them to have the children in the first place.

 

“As per rule, in case of biological mothers refuse to take custody, children are sent to Shishu Greha in Panchkula or any NGO identified by the district child welfare council (DCWC) headed by deputy commissioner. The children can be given for temporary adoption, but the procedure has to be initiated through child welfare council.

On May 9 , a team from NCPCR swooped down on Apna Ghar, followed by the police after the raiding team suspected involvement of human trafficking, illegal adoption and sexual abuse of inmates by the Bharat Vikas Sangh (BVS), the NGO run by Jaswanti.

It was on Wednesday when after getting a go ahead from the area magistrate, five such kids, who are in the age group of 2 and 4 and their mothers had undergone DNA tests for the purpose of ascertaining the biological motherhood.

The police informed that these five children were out of the 12 such kids which are alleged to have been given for adoption by Jaswanti, in violation of adoption laws.

The police officials admit that they are in touch with couples who have taken the adoption. But, they however, express inability in taking back the custody of kids due to their emotional bonds with new parents.

Those couples who have taken an adoption are so attached with children, as one can hardly think about separating them. Finally, you also have to consider this on humanitarian grounds,” Tula Ram, the deputy superintendent of police (DSP), who is investigating the issue of illegal adoptions given by Jaswanti from Apna Ghar.

Tula Ram confirmed that in their statements to the police, the couples confirmed to have got the kids from Jaswanti.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Rohtak deputy commissioner Vikas Gupta, informed that that the administration was waiting for the completion of police probe. As of now, we are waiting for their recovery made by the police or any formal information in this regard. Once we get a report, an appropriate action shall follow. So far as custody is concerned, we are waiting for what best can be done with kids,” Vikas Gupta said.”

Police, administration in a fix over custody of Apna Ghar kids

[Times of India 5/27/12 by Manveer Saini]

Update 3: “Seven people were arrested on allegations of abusing women and selling newborn babies at a destitute shelter they ran in northern India.

The arrests were made after a raid last month by India’s child rights watchdog at the Apna Ghar (Our Home) shelter, said Dharna Yadav, a deputy superintendent of police in Haryana state.

The arrests were made after residents complained, Yadav told CNN.

Police found evidence that the owner of the protection house sold newborns mostly to childless couples, said Yadav.

More than 100 residents were taken from Apna Ghar after a raid on May 9.

Most of them were female residents, ranging in age from newborns to 55 years, Yadav said.

Some of them complained to a separate investigation team appointed by a court, that police too were involved in their sexual exploitation at the shelter.

“We are not ruling out anything, but what we need is strong evidence before we make a further headway in these allegations in the case. There will be no laxity on our part, but these allegations have to be supported by evidence,” Yadav said.

But court-appointed investigators expressed their shock after interviewing the people taken from the shelter.

“I have been doing work related to child welfare for seven to eight years now. But I haven’t seen this kind of torture or sexual exploitation anywhere in my life,” said Utsav Bains, member of the probe team.”

Women in shelter allege abuse and baby selling

[CNN 6/8/12 by Harmeet Shah Singh]