More trouble for Preet Mandir

By: Kaumudi Gurjar/mid-day.com

December 24, 2009

Preet Mandir, an adoption centre in Pune operational for the last 30 years, has been involved in a fresh controversy yet again.

This time for admitting 45 children from three different Child Welfare Committees Solapur, Aurangabad, and Thane without even consulting Child Welfare Committee in Pune.

Incidentally, under the Juvenile Justice Act (2005), it is mandatory for CWC to inform adoption centres in case there is a vacancy for children and everything is routed via them.

According to Child Welfare Committie Chairman V S Sankpal, "We have issued letters to CWCs in Solapur, Aurangabad and Thane seeking explanation on sending children directly to Preet Mandir without informing us."

According to Sankpal, around 27 children from Solapur, 10 from Aurangabad and nine from Thane were directly sent to Preet Mandir in the last six months.

Alka Kakde, chairman of Solapur CWC, said, "We have not violated any legal procedure. No adoption centre can directly approach CWCs in other districts but that is only one rule"

An Aurangabad CWC Committee member, on condition of anonymity, said, "Ten children in the age group of 6-12 years were taken by Preet Mandir after signing the relevant papers. The sanction was undertaken by two committee members while others were kept in the dark."

CWC Chairman in Aurangabad had sent a letter to Central Adoption Resources Agency and Women and Child Welfare Commissioner drawing their attention on this alleged mistake.

The member added, "The CWC Aurangabad had ordered Preet Mandir to send the children back as it was sheer violation of the J J Act but nothing has happened till date."