Beggar mafia thriving on abandoned kids?

Officials attribute recent drop in number of deserted toddlers to organised groups who force them into begging trade According to a recent survey, there's a sudden dip in the number of infants abandoned in the city. However, before you start celebrating the news, here's a scary thought: the child welfare committee (CWC) believes that the drop is because the begging mafia are misusing these infants. The CWC sent a letter to the Women and Child Development department of the state government when they recorded a 40 per cent drop in the number of abandoned infants, who would normally end up at adoption centres. The officials have requested the government to quickly intervene in the issue and initiate an enquiry. "In all probability, these abandoned infants are being used by the multi-crore begging mafia as props," said a senior member of the CWC. "An infant tied on the back of an urchin is heart-rendering and there are higher chances that the urchin would get alms," he added. According to CWC figures there were only 40 cases of abandoned infants in 2010, while in the year of 2009, 65 babies were abandoned. In 2008, 77 cases of abandonment were registered and 2006 saw the highest number with 96 babies being deserted. Adoption woes Another reason for the dip in the number of toddlers being deserted is the deals being struck outside of adoption centres owing to lengthy procedures and the long-waiting period of adoption. According to figures available with the Indian Council of Social Welfare, (ICSW) which assists courts in granting final adopting rights there were 146 adoptions in Mumbai and 20 in Thane in 2010. A couple has to wait anywhere between 15 months to two years to adopt a child. And the wait is even longer for foreigners, who have to wait for at least five years to adopt an Indian child. Commenting on the gravity of illegal adoptions, a member of the CWC said, "Once an out of adoption centre deal is struck, the couple can even make fake papers from any nursing home to give credibility to their fraudulent claim." Did you know? Under Section 317 of the IPC, abandonment of a child less than 12 years by either of his parents or his guardian or caretaker, is a criminal offence attracting a maximum jail-term of seven years. 70 Number of inter-country  adoptions recorded in 2009 compared to 140 in 2008 40% The drop in the number of abandoned infants being reported since last year 44,000 Number of children disappearing in India each year, according to police statistics Rs 180 cr Annual turnover of the begging industry in the city Abandoned infants 2010: 40 2009: 65 2008: 77 2006: 96