Balabhaskar', 'Bala' to get new homes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Balabhaskar and Bala, who were received at Ammathottil, named after late violinist Balabhasker and his daughter will get new homes soon. Kerala State Council for Child Welfare has found new homes for two infants sheltered at the Ammathottil in Thiruvananthapuram. Ironically, both infants were received at the Ammathottil on days Balabhaskar and daughter passed away.

According to Council, the number of child abandonment is on the rise in the state. Since 2017, the Council has received 32 children through Ammathottil in the state till day.

In Kollam, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram district the Council had given a total of 85 children for adoption since 2017.

"We named them after Balabhaskar and his daughter as we received them on the respective days they passed away. Once we receive a child within six to eight months we put them up for adoption. Even the juvenile justice act mandates us to act in the best interest of the child. Rehabilitating in an institution is only a last resort as the family is the best thing for a child," said Mr Deepak S P, General Secretary of the Council.

Since 2017, the Council has successfully rehabilitated 64 children in Thiruvananthapuram alone. "Bala and Balabhaskar will join their families on Friday. Both of them are hardly 6 months old and they are going to well off families. Currently, there are six children who are ready for adoption in Thiruvananthapuram, of which two of them are on for inter-country adoption," said Mr Deepak.

He said that the Council is more focused on ensuring a better life for the children. "We have made follow-ups mandatory post-adoption. Earlier, there was no such custom. Now every six months we will be checking on the child," he added.

He said that the majority of the abandoned children belong to middle-class families. The Council had recently upgraded the ammathotil facility at Thiruvananthapuram. Upgradation of Ammathottils are underway at Ernakulam, Palakkad and Kannur.