By Nick Cox | Honorary Director
Happy new year!
No sooner had we welcomed in 2020, another adoption was taking place at Snehankur. The adoptive parents who had met their infant a few weeks previously could barely contain their excitement. Our Snehankur Adoption Center is the largest in India and with almost 1,000 adoptions since it was established in 2004, each official handover ceremony remains unique.
Many people ask how the babies come to be here? Each have their own individual story. Common reasons for a baby being abandoned is often because they were born to people from low economic backgrounds, or they have a defect in some way or just simply because they are a girl - over 90% of our babaies are girls! Before the adoption there are many papers to be signed and Balu, a former lawyer who is now our project manager, is a regular in the Ahmednagar courts, as there are many legal requirements to meet. If a baby is found there is a two month window period until the baby is eligible for adoption. They are then registered on the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA: the government agency) website where proseepctive adoptive parents can find their future son or daughter. Most of our adoptions are with Indian parents, however, if a child is passed over three times by an Indian couple hey become free for international adoption.
Snehalaya's official handover ceremonies, where the child is formally handed to its new parents, are attended by local officials, dignitaries and in some cases the person who brought the rejected child to us. All who are present can’t help feeling overwhelmed and privileged to witness the important event that is taking place. Needless to say the couples who are finally united with their toddler express their deep gratitude and love for the new life that is in their lives, tears are shed and it can be an emotional occasion for all concerned. Like any proud new parents the baby is cradled in arms and shown to all who come to congratulate them, then there's the collective sound of clicks as hundreds of photos are taken for the family album.
Witnessing Snehankur in action can be a breathtaking experience, although many of the babies arrive in poor shape, our center boasts a 100% mortality rate.
Thank you for choosing Snehankur and the part you have played in transforming the lives of nearly 1,000 children and their adoptive parents.
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