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.