Dharmendra Jore: Don't make them feel orphaned

As Maharashtra clashed over caste and religion recently, Amrita Karvande, a young orphan, reached the chief minister's office with a query as to what caste she should choose to get social welfare benefits such as reservation in jobs. Fighting against all odds, she has cracked the state public service examination, but didn't make it to the merit list because she was treated as a candidate in the privileged, economically-stronger 'open' category. But given the benefit of quota and marks scored, she could have easily secured a much-needed job if there was a special category for orphans. A lack of policy for orphans, who do not have any documentary proof to establish their caste, religion and economic status denied her the opportunity to reintegrate with the mainstream. This may change soon as the Maharashtra government has sensed that something is amiss or needs to corrected.

Lack of caste quota
Amruta's concerns reached CM Devendra Fadnavis when she was allowed an audience with him. Fadnavis faced stark reality when the distressed youngster posed him many uncomfortable questions. She represented, albeit unknowingly, hundreds of thousands of inmates of orphanages (children's homes), who are left to fend for themselves once they attain the age of 18. Not all survive the hardships that life after orphanage offers. They just join those who live on streets without foster families. Studies say only 3.2% of India's adoptable orphans are likely find parents because of many reasons.

Amruta did not find parents, but it did not deter her from swimming against the tide once she was asked by her Goa orphanage to take care of herself after attaining 18 years of age. Studious and smart, she found support in Pune and Ahmednagar where she worked while learning. She attempted the government recruitment examination last year, but was crestfallen because she didn't get into the merit list despite scoring more than some others who qualified because of caste quota. Amruta chose to petition the CM even as she started preparing for yet another round of public service commission exams.

The girl's plight moved Fadnavis, and he immediately asked officials to prepare legal framework for ensuring the welfare of orphans like Amruta. He said there will be a law where orphans appearing for competitive exams will be in a separate category. People working in child welfare sector say the orphans need much more than a job quota - a comprehensive policy that raises an orphan to take such recruitment exams. And for that, she/he should be given all support to seek higher education after leaving children's homes, given the benefit of basic government facilities not only of education, service, self-employment, marriage but also public participation.

Ease some laws for orphans
Amruta's case establishes that orphans who move out once they are 18 are not treated as our own. She was relatively lucky to have some good people who supported her in Pune and Ahmednagar while the unfortunate lot seek right to citizenship, identity, rehabilitation, social re-integration. A flicker of hope is seen when a reform such as orphans getting adopted abroad are exempted from submitting a birth certificate for passport requirement. The state will do a great service if the procurement of documents like caste certificate, voting cards, domicile certificate, below poverty line certificate, Aadhaar card and ration card is eased for them. This should help orphans to make some space for themselves in a competitive society.

The children at residential childcare institutes (not certified orphanages), who get there when sent by the police, are another major concern. Their rehabilitation is as important as orphans, who are raised in relatively better manner and have better chances of being accepted in the society. The children, who are made to live in a jail-like care institutes, most likely end up faceless and insecure once they are 18, ready to be moved out. Maharashtra has some outstanding and dedicated people working for orphans' uplift without much help from the government. They rely more on charity by patrons and families who find their work worth supporting. They know better than anyone what is really needed for orphans. Their experience should augur well for scaling up a proposed policy.

Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com

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