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Taking serious cognisance of MiD DAY's sting operation, state to convene a high-level meeting to discuss existing measures, speeds up formation of state adoption authority
The expos © of the child-selling racket conducted by this newspaper has rattled the state government. A high-level meeting will soon be called to discuss the issue of child adoption and existing measures pertaining to it, Minister for Women and Child Development Varsha Gaikwad told MiD DAY yesterday.
Trade-off: MiD DAY managed to 'buy' a child for Rs 2.3 lakh from
Vijaya Sonawne, who works as a cook at an orphanage in Ulhasnagar,
without any formalities that legal adoption entails. The exposure has
blown the lid off the human trade, taking place despite strict laws
In a startling revelation, two undercover MiD DAY reporters managed to 'buy' a child for Rs 2.3 lakh from Vijaya Sonawne, who works as a cook at an orphanage in Ulhasnagar, in seven days, without any paperwork or legal formalities otherwise attendant on adoption processes. The exposure has blown the lid off the human trade, taking place despite stringent regulations.
MiD DAY's exclusive on Monday
"There are rules and precautionary measures to prevent unauthorised adoption. In this case, it has been revealed that the woman cook at the government-run children's home sold a child secretly. The child was not from the children's home," said Gaikwad.
"But we are going to review all the existing measures in the proposed meeting. Meanwhile, we have initiated action against the woman. An FIR has been filed against her," Gaikwad said, adding, "She has been sacked and asked to vacate the accommodation provided to her."
"We have also sped up the registration of the State Adoption and Resources Authority (SARA) that will work as the monitoring and supervisory body for child adoptions," the Minister said. "We have formed a study group headed by Nilima Mehta to suggest norms for the appointment of members on the proposed body. We would welcome their suggestions on how the members should be selected and representation given to NGOs," she said.
"We have asked all the NGOs and institutions working for children to get registered. In future, all NGOs and other such organisations will be monitored by SARA. Our efforts are to streamline all the processes involved in adoption, protection and development of children, the working of child homes, orphanages run by the government as well as the NGOs and private bodies," Gaikwad said.
Asked whether it was the failure of the state government that led to the child tracfficking, adoption of children, the Minister said it was expected that the Child Welfare Committee, a judicial body, to keep a check on the child homes and the adoption process. The body is expected to conduct periodic visits to such institutions, added Gaikwad.
CWC submits evidence to cops
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) officials have submitted the evidence furnished by MiD DAY to the Ulhasnagar police, seeking police action in the baby-selling racket exposed by our reporters. It consisted of a video that CD contained all the clippings recorded during the course of the investigation by our reporters.
On Tuesday night, social worker Sharad Barse of Aasra Childline approached Senior Inspector NV Jadhav of Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar. Meanwhile, the cook, Vijaya Sonawne, who was involved in the racket, has been suspended by the orphanage. | 
