Even SIM card a distant dream for orphans

​Hyderabad: Orphans have creativity but no identity. They can get a degree or PG certificate, but not birth certificate or income certificate or nativity certificate. They have big dreams, loads of talent, they believe that they can go any distance but acquiring even a SIM card is a distant dream for them for want of identity. What all they demand is recognition as citizens of the country and a piece of legislation exclusively for orphans like them.

According to a conservative estimate by the UNICEF, the population of orphans in India is estimated to be around four crore. They are not lucky to grow up in the laps of their mothers as some of them are found abandoned near dustbins or bushes. Supported by either an NGO or philanthropic public, they receive education. But, subsequently their existence is questioned for want of identity.

According to social worker Gade Innaiah, even 70 years after the country became independent there are laws for trees, hills, but there is no legislation protecting orphans. The authorities are not in a position to give statistics concerning the orphans. It reflects their commitment towards the orphans.

According to M SC gold medalist Rajita, an orphan, orphans have been facing severe difficulties as there are no specific laws to help them. In the absence of parents, birth certificate does not exist for them. This renders them difficult to acquire residence or caste or income certificates. Though they go up the ladder of education taking support from civil society organisations like Maa Illu, climbing the ladder further is hampered for want of identity.

In the case of Rajita, she applied for a passport to go overseas to pursue higher education. To acquire the passport, documents like birth certificate and residence certificate are required. As Rajita does not have them, she is not able to get the passport for the past three years. Her ambition of higher education has hit road blocks though she has talent.

“We are not in a position to get even a SIM card for want of identity,” she said referring to the pathetic conditions faced by orphans.

Another orphan Priyanka, who has been pursuing bachelor’s degree from Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, applied for scholarship. Her friends have been sanctioned the scholarship, but not she. The reason is not far to seek: she did not have income certificate.

When she approached the Tahsildar’s office, the office sought information about her parents’ income. Priyanka was aghast at how can she get an income certificate sans parents. When the officials refused to give her an income certificate, she wondered how she could pursue higher education.

The fate of another bright student Srilata is no different. When she aspired to join a nursing course, the admission officials sought information whether she is a local or non-local and asked her to produce residence certificate. She noted with concern that officials turned a deaf ear to her pleas that she is an orphan and has no parents or home.

The admission officials made it clear that she will get seat in nursing course only if she is able to produce a residence certificate. They have been appealing to the government to treat them as Indians. They have been agitating for passing specific laws for them.

A private member bill that was piloted in the Lok Sabha 11 times since 1954 failed to go through. The bill seeks to give identity and citizenship to the orphans. Currently, another private member bill is pending. Sociologists have been appealing to the government to pass the bill.

The orphans have also approached the Supreme Court seeking identity for them as Indians. The apex court on August 7, 2015 ordered the States to report to the court what they have been doing for the benefit of the orphans.

This lends thrust to the governments but they are yet to submit a report to the apex court. G Rashmi, secretary of Vasavya Mahila Mandali of Vijayawada says that they had solved the problem of identity for orphans by providing them with Aadhaar cards. The Krishna district administration has issued instructions to the officials to issue Aadhaar cards to orphans.

However, the rules would not allow the orphan houses to retain the girls after they completed eighth class. Rashmi says that it was really unjust to throw them out to study at social welfare hostels or at other places at that crucial period. They might become victims of trafficking or sexual abuse, she adds. The rules should be changed to retain them until them completed at least Intermediate to lead their own independent life, she said.