Kerala: 140 children to get foster family' vacation this summer

KOZHIKODE: This vacation, more than a hundred children will leave Children's Homes across the state to the company of a loving family. With the four-year-old vacation foster care project 'Sanatha Balyam' taking roots, close to 140 children are either sent or are ready to leave to foster families. Thiruvananthapuram tops the list with 39, followed by Kottayam (24). In many districts, applications are under process and the total number of children sent to foster care is likely to touch 150.

Reflecting the good rapport developed between the children and the foster family, the short-term vacation is gradually extending to long term. "In many short-term foster care programmes, we try it to extend it upon the request of both the children and the parent. Institutionalisation is the last resort of a child. A child who lies in the four wall of the home experience life when he attends a marriage with his foster parent or visits a bereaved house," notes Subair K.K, district child protection officer (DCPO) in Thiruvananthapuram.

Last year, a former World Bank staff took six girls to her home under the foster-care programme and they all were returned back after the period. "The children were given counseling that they were going to a family for two-month only," says Mr Subair.  State commission for protection of child rights member C.J. Antony says that about 10-20 per cent of the short-term foster cares get extended. " The short-term is only a first step and the bond developed in that period propel parents to reach out to the particular child during all festive occasions.”