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QUESTION NO.6208 CHILD WELFARE NORMS ABROAD

April 04, 2018

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.6208
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2018


CHILD WELFARE NORMS ABROAD

6208. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of cases in which the children of Indians living abroad have been separated from their parents by Child Welfare Departments of those countries during the last three years and the reasons therefor;

(b) whether there was any case involving PIOs/NRIs from Karnataka and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to reunite such children with their parents; and

(d) whether the Government has taken any initiative to sensitize Indians going abroad with regard to child welfare norms followed in such countries and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]


(a) The local authorities abroad generally do not notify the Missions/Posts of such cases wherein the children of the Indians living abroad have been separated from their parents, as they carry out their own investigations. As per the records available in Ministry and Missions/Posts abroad, during the last three years, eleven (11) such cases have come to the notice of the Ministry. These cases pertain to the United States, Canada, Denmark, Kenya, Norway and Australia. Abuse of child/not raising the child as per the local rules and regulations/beating of the child by the parents/adults/marital dispute are cited the reasons for taking the children away from their parents.

(b) No. There was no such case involving PIOs/NRIs from Karnataka, which has come to or brought to the notice of the Ministry.

(c) & (d) Whenever such cases are brought to the notice, the Ministry and our Missions/Posts abroad have strongly taken up the matter with the concerned foreign governments, including at the Ministerial level urging them to resolve such cases quickly, and return the child to the natural parents so that they can be brought up in familiar surroundings under the love and care of their extended family as this would be in their best long term interest.

Ministry has urged the foreign governments to take a humane approach and to send the children back to India so that they can be brought up in their own ethnic, religious, cultural, spiritual and linguistic milieu and social environment. In some cases, the affected parents have also initiated legal proceedings against the Child Welfare authorities. The Indian Missions are in regular contact with such parents and are supporting them in pursuing the matter as per their wishes.

As a large number of developed countries have strict child custody laws and the children being citizens of that country, Ministry through its Missions and Posts have guided and sensitised the Indian community about the provisions and implications of Child Welfare regulations including providing information on NGOs who help such families in distress.

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