N. Nagarajan
Despite growing awareness and an increasing number of adoptions in India, serious gaps remain, especially when orphanages are linked to certain religious sects or self-styled spiritual gurus. These grey areas often go unexamined, even as vulnerable families and children face lasting consequences.
Take the case of a family influenced by a spiritual leader associated with Krishna devotees in Tamil Nadu, near the Kerala border. They adopted a five-year-old girl from an orphanage run by followers of this spiritual group. The adoptive mother, a devout Krishna devotee, saw the adoption as a sacred duty. Tragically, she passed away in 2014 when the child was just eight or nine.
The father, a senior professional who travelled frequently, was left to manage alone. He reportedly approached the orphanage for support, only to find it had disappeared—vanished without a trace. No one to contact, no records available.
Today, nearly 11 years later, the girl, now in her 20s, is emotionally unstable. The father’s health and financial stability have suffered. Despite spending heavily on her education, she faced repeated discrimination, perhaps due to her complexion or social bias, and struggled to remain in mainstream schooling. She eventually completed her CBSE Class 12 through the open school system. But now, Tamil Nadu government colleges with hostels do not prioritise CBSE graduates for undergraduate admissions. Private colleges, meanwhile, are prohibitively expensive.
This is not an isolated story. Many adoptive families, especially where one parent passes away, are left to navigate post-adoption challenges alone. There is an urgent need for structured, well-publicised post-adoption support systems, particularly for single adoptive parents. Such organisations must be made accessible and accountable, offering both emotional and practical assistance.
Equally important is a comprehensive audit by both central and state governments of all orphanages: active, defunct, and those linked to religious or spiritual organisations. Public notices should be issued so that citizens know which institutions are genuine and which have vanished or function outside regulatory oversight.
Respect for all faiths is essential. But families must never fall victim to unscrupulous orphanages masquerading as spiritual missions. Such setups do more harm than good, not just to vulnerable children and families, but also to the reputation of genuine Hindu spiritual institutions. It is time for transparency, regulation, and compassion-driven governance in adoption services.
