By Mr. Sunil Kumar Arora

  

An adoption agency like Bal Asha Trust has not only helped in successful adoption but also has helped some children find their biological parents. Here are two success stories on how children were returned to their biological parents.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you will get – This saying cannot be truer as in case of Lakhan.

One day, a boy of about 8 to 9 years was found roaming around the streets unaccompanied.  The child was wearing soiled clothes, and was visibly tired and hungry.  He soon found himself with the police of Agripada Police Station.  When the officers spoke to him, the only thing he said was that his name is Lakhan and he was from Madhopur. The officers brought him to Bal Asha Trust after presenting him before Child Welfare Committee, Mumbai, on the same day.

Lakhan was a little insecure in the beginning, but after a few days at the residential home of Bal Asha Trust, he overcame his insecurity and began to communicate with other children, staff, social workers and psychologists.

In the mean time, the police were on the look-out for any complaints being lodged for a missing child with the above description or any clue pertaining to his family.  This information was circulated to other States as well. The Trust had also initiated the process of photo publication in news papers and telecasting his photo on Doordarshan.  Even after a considerable period, there was no response or any hope of finding his family.

Lakhan on the other hand, had become very communicable about his past.  He told the social worker that he used to live near the railway  station called Madhaopur with his parents in a small hut , and that his parents were rag-pickers   They had barely any money to support their daily expenses.  He said that once when he had a fight with his father, he became so upset that he decided to run away from home.  Lakhan soon took a train not knowing where this journey will end.   Lakhan, when found, did not even know that he was in the City of Dreams – Mumbai.

During regular meetings which Bal Asha Trust had with its social worker, the social worker told the members about Lakhan.  In those days the late Dr Ashok Arora, Ph D, a retired railway motorman helped Bal Asha Trust in various activities.  Obviously Dr. Arora had a vast knowledge on railways, as one came to know that he was interviewed by National Geographic for a television documentary on Indian Railways.

Dr. Arora decided to talk to Lakhan and after speaking to him, informed the members that this boy is a Rajasthani tribal boy and there is a station known as “Sawai Madhopur” in Rajasthan from where there was a direct train to Mumbai, so maybe he took one of those trains and came to Mumbai. 

Dr. Arora then immediately wrote to the Superintendant of Police at Sawai Madhopur.  He informed him about the details of the child, possible landmarks which his parents knew, as narrated to him by Lakhan and also sent them   his photograph.  

Days passed by and then weeks, there was constant follow up, but   no response.

Finally the    memorable day dawned and Lakhan got his box of chocolates.  We were surprised to find a group of five   people, all attired in traditional Rajashthani clothes, the women in typical Rajashthani ghaghras as most of us see on television. They had registered a lost complaint in the police station so the police would locate them.

They came and looked at our surprised faces, “We have come to take Lakhan” 

They introduced themselves as Lakhan’s parents and relatives.  When we asked why so many people have come, only the parents were required.  They innocently said,” we did not want to get lost in Mumbai and as we were anyway coming, we decided to do a little sightseeing.”

They had brought with them a photograph of Lakhan, clicked in one of the Melas.  They had also got a letter from the SP’s office.  Soon Lakhan was called and as soon as he saw his parents, the look of joy was there for everyone to see! There was no further proof needed about the families” authentication.  They hugged each other, cried and thank God!  On the same day Lakhan was restored to his biological parents with the order of Child Welfare Committee.

Many children are lost and found on the big bad streets of cities. Only some are as lucky as Lakhan.

The success of Lakhan’s story besides being a lost and found case primarily lays stress on the timely action taken by the staff, social workers and counselors who worked in tandem with the police where united action brought forth positive results! 

Another success story of Bal Asha Trust is of Mohmad Guddu. He ran away from a village near Patna and came to Mumbai. He was sent to Bal Asha Trust insafe custody. He told the name of his parents and siblings to the social worker in Dongri where he stayed for a few days. All this was well documented. Sunil Arora, Administrator Bal Asha Trust searched on the Bihar Police website and called SP of that district. He spoke to the Writer in his office and told him about Mohmad Guddu. The Writer confirmed that there was a missing complaint of such a boy and gave the phone number of the Chowki of the village he lived in. Sunil then spoke to the constable on duty who called his parents and within half an hour Mohmad Guddu spoke to his parents. Both were crying at two ends.

Now with the orders of CWC Mumbai, Mohmad Guddu was sent home as his parents were too poor to travel to Mumbai.

All this was possible because of access to internet and quick telecommunication but more so because of the will and determination of the Administrator. Bal Asha Trust has started a new project called PROJECT HOPE to locate families of lost children. Mohmad Guddu is the first success story. As this is being printed two more children found their families as close as Dombivali and as far is in Uttar Pradesh.