The Hindu : Indian couple not `suitable' to adopt Haseena

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Indian couple not `suitable' to adopt Haseena

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD June 12. The Department of Woman Development and Child Welfare has clarified that baby Haseena has not been given to the Indian couple, B.V. Subramanyam and Sandhya, since in "its own independent assessment about the suitability of an adoptive parent... the department has come to the conclusion that it is not in the best interest of Haseena'' to be given to Mr. Subramanyam.

In a statement here on Thursday in response to media reports on the issue, the department came down heavily on the prospective Indian adoptive parents stating that their "attitude has been one of ambivalence and uncertainty'' and that there was "ample reason to believe that he is acting under external pressure'' in insisting on the baby.

The statement said Mr. Subramanyam had earlier stated that he was "not particular to adopt Haseena only'' and added that he was now insisting on Haseena due to animosity towards the initial adoption agency, Tender Loving Care Home, where he was "subjected to great humiliation and inconvenience."

The department said that in accordance with the directions of the High Court action had been initiated to place the child with an Indian adoptive parent.

Child right organisations and activists earlier expressed `shock' at the Government's decision not to allow the couple to adopt the girl.

In a statement here on Thursday, they said: ``There seems to be no other construction on this particular issue except that the Director (Woman and Child Welfare) is paving the way for sending Haseena abroad when there are so many willing Indian parents.''

The statement added: "We are confident that the Government of Andhra Pradesh will realise the gravity of the situation, the threat to India's sovereignty and will reverse the decision."

The signatories to the statement are M. Venkat Reddy of MV Foundation, Mazhar Husain of COVA, Isadore Phillips of Divya Disha, Murali Mohan of Sadhana, Durgesh Prasad of Sravanthi, Ram Mohan of Help, P. Ramesh Sekhar Reddy of Andhra Pradesh Alliance for Child Rights, and child right activists, Gita Ramaswamy and J. Kameshwari.

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