Foster Parents Now In Udaipur

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Who would be a foster parent in India? More people than you would think. An Indian family’s amazing story to change a child’s life, and in the process, their own.

After a long hot day in India, a small family sits outside enjoying some breeze and nimbu pani (lemon water); they talk about the events of the day and complain about the weather. One comments, “Have you heard about foster care? I just met a chef in Udaipur who is fostering a girl. Her mother is not fit to care for her and he and his wife are providing the girl a home.” Another comments, “Foster Care, yes, I heard about it but didn’t think Indian families would be willing to foster. I’d love to meet this couple.”

The couple, brought up in West Bengal and surrounding areas have migrated to Udaipur for work. They became established in the community for many years and felt the need to expand their family.

Though they tried for adoption, they had difficulty navigating the process and began to feel like they would never have a child to welcome into their family.

Then one day the chef received a forwarded SMS from a friend about a new concept in India, “Foster Care”. He quickly learned that foster care is a form of child protection where a single person or family welcomes a child into their home for a temporary basis until that child can be safely reunified with biological family or adopted. The best interest of that child is always the most important factor.

Dr. Shilpa Mehta at Foster Care Society in Udaipur manages supports and advocates for this foster family of three. FCS supports 6 children living in foster homes with two matches of foster child and family pending and 11 children in Udaipur district eligible and waiting for a foster family.

Foster Care is facilitated by the government through the District Child Protection Unit, Child Welfare Committee and the sponsorship and Foster Care Approval Committee. In Rajasthan the Specialized Adoption Agency plays a vital role in the process as well.

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