Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha for the first time saw a foreign couple adopting a girl from its town. But it was possible with the help of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the formalities took place on Saturday. Seven-year-old girl, Sukumati was staying at Sisu Ashram who bid her adieu as she left for her house in Italy where her parents belong, TNIE reported.
CWC along with Lutheran Mahila Samiti and District Child Protection Committee (DCPC) could give way to the girl’s adoption abroad.
The Tirtol Police from Odisha found the girl wandering alone at Jhankad Railway Station one day and they rescued her and gave her away to CWC for rehabilitation. Later CWC shifted her to the local childcare home—Sisu Ashram. She started going to Tapoban Primary School at Chatra.
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This adoption process will continue for another two years in which CARA will monitor the condition of the girl and observe her adjustment with her new parents. If she wishes to come back, then it will take steps to fulfil her desire
During this time the CWC and DCPC connected with Lutheran Mahila Samiti (LMS), which is a renowned adoption agency and works with Union Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Through LMS, CWC was able to upload her photograph, name and address on CARA’s website.
The Italian couple found the girl on the website while going through several profiles for adoption purposes. “The formalities for the adoption started last year and we completed the process on Saturday. This adoption process will continue for another two years in which CARA will monitor the condition of the girl and observe her adjustment with her new parents. If she wishes to come back, then it will take steps to fulfil her desire,” programme manager, LMS, Rabindra Kumar Mahalik said.
Earlier, people from the US and Italy have adopted four children through LMS since 2015 when it originated as an adoption agency.
“CARA has given No Objection Certificate to the Italy-based couple to adopt the girl. The CWC staff is expecting that the girl will have better access to health, education and care in Rome. The process of obtaining local court’s consent and handing over the orphan girl to the couple has been completed,” chairperson CWC Raghunath Jena said.
Picture credit- Trip Central