JAIPUR: Our country gets shamed by many incidents when a newborn girl child is left to die either in a dumpster outside AIIMS Delhi or left on the railway tracks of Barmer, Rajasthan.
On 14 August 2017, such an incident came to light when the lineman found a newborn abandoned on the railway tracks. The railway police got the infant admitted to a hospital, where she was bought in a dismal condition. Later the girl child was sent to Nav Jeevan Sansthan in Jodhpur where she was named Kajri. Nav Jeevan Sansthan is a home for 50 children and 21 children are below the age of 5 years.
Kajri, abandoned at birth by her biological mother, perhaps had a different fate for herself. After being taken in by the Nav Jeevan Sansthan, Elin Chirstian, a nurse from Sweden had come forward and expressed her willingness to adopt Kajri legally.
Elin found Kajri on the internet and immediately contacted the adoption agency in Sweden to initiate the adoption formalities. The adoption procedure began in October last year and it was on 23 January 2018 after having followed the international adoption guidelines that an application was admitted on her behalf.
The government of India under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development has formulated a statutory body CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority), which looks into the adoption procedure and policy.
When Kajri was bought to the Sansthan she merely weighed 1.5 kg due to which she had to be put in the special need child category. This category only allowed foreigners to adopt a child.
After completing the formalities, approval was taken from the family court in Jodhpur on 14 June. Elin having visited India last month was emotional after meeting Kajri for the first time.
Rajendra Parihaar, Organisation Head, Nav Jeevan Sansthaan, has personally been monitoring Kajri's development.
"We asked that lady why did you choose to adopt the child from India. She told that she works in a prestigious hospital there in the nursing department for children, and while working there she developed love and affection for children, she wanted to adopt an Indian child because she was very much influenced by the culture of India. And when she saw Kajri on internet she decided to adopt her instantly."
He went on to add, "on 22 July, after Elin's statement in front of the Jodhpur family court, Kajri would be handed over to her."
Kajri's passport is likely to be handed over to Elin in 5 days upon her arrival in India following which the mother and daughter would fly to Sweden. Elin would have to keep CARA and us informed about Kajri's upbringing.
In the last 6 months, Kajri is showing steady growth and she has gained weight and now she is a healthy child.
"When she came here she was underweight. We took care of her now she is fully fit and has gained weight, we are hopeful that she will grow well now," said Anita Physiotherapist and Warden at Nav Jeewan Sansthan.
There are mixed emotions being experienced at Nav Jeevan Sansthaan. Vinita, a caretaker at the Sansthaan has created a special bond with Kajri. She expressed her emotions by saying that she was sad that her daughter would be going away but, on the other hand, was happy for her to have found a mother who would love her unconditionally.
"My feelings and emotions are attached with the child I have taken care of her like a mother when she will leave us it will be a difficult moment for me but we are happy that she will get a loving mother and a good atmosphere for growth in future," she said.