Thats the first page of Reader's Digest India March issue. The article at page 56 "A Parent's Worst Nightmare" is a must read. The caption below the title made me read it as soon as i saw it. I wont tell the complete story here; one needs to read it firsthand to understand what a real nightmare this couple went through. In short, this couple's baby was taken away from them because the authorities thought the father was abusing her; without listening to their side of the story completely and without doing necessary tests. The baby is put in foster care where her health deteriorates considerably. Thankfully, in the end she is restored to her parents.
I kept thinking about this after reading. The US has supposedly a very good foster care / support system for children who don't have families or are better off away from their families. But this story shows a very ugly side of it.
I agree, no doubts, that a child must be removed from his family if its dangerous for him there; but the question is who determines it and how. Thinking in the Indian context; it is still very far fetched that there will be a law and a system in place for this. The proposed "paalna" system by the union government might be a first step towards that; but it itself is ages from being enacted and put in practice.
Nevertheless, I still have belief in the Indian family and social values that they are strong enough to prevent such a nightmare.
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