Distraught parents of two Indian-origin children held in Norway under protective care today had an emotional re-union with their kids and hoped that the family’s suffering will end soon, months after the issue triggered a diplomatic row.
NRI couple, Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, met their children Abhigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1) for two hours after a gap of three months at the foster home in Stavanger under close observation of child welfare authorities.
The meeting took place in the presence of the kids’ uncle Arunabhash, a social services representative and a member of the foster family temporarily caring for the children.
“Our children were very happy to see us. The meet was really good. Abhigyan hugged me tight. The hug I was missing for the last three months,” a visibly happy Anurup said.
He said the family had made some Indian food for their children which they liked.
“We also played a lot with them,” he said.
An emotional Sagarika said they wanted their children back as soon as possible and get them back to India.
“I just want that Abhigyan and Aishwarya should be in the custody of their family now and they will be back soon in India. We are praying to God that we get our children back as soon as possible,” she said.
The children were taken under protective care in May last year by Barnevarne, the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, on the ground of “emotional disconnect” with the parents, and placed them in foster parental care according to a local Norwegian court’s directive.
Earlier in the day, Barnevarne said that they will take a decision by early March on whether the custody of the two children can be awarded to their uncle after which an arrangement will be put in place to take care of their needs back home.
The Child Welfare Service in Stavanger said the two children from West Bengal are developing well and that their parents “have the opportunity” to spend time in accordance with the decision of the county board for child and social welfare.
“The Child Welfare Service aims to evaluate whether care of the two Indian children who have been placed in a Norwegian foster home can be awarded to the brother of the children’s father,” Gunnar Toresen, Head of the Child Welfare Service, said in a statement.
As India stepped up pressure on Norway to find an “amicable and urgent” solution to the case, an agreement was given to Barnevarne by the parents and their lawyer saying that the kids’ uncle Arunabhash has agreed to be the prime caregiver to the children.
External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna had spoken to his Norwegian counterpart regarding the case last month.
Keywords: Indian children issue, NRI parents, Norwegian Childcare Services, emotional disconnect, child rights laws
The first and foremost thing why CWS is not disclosing the real reason for taking the children away.Its an ultimate responsibility of parents to take care of their children in India atleast till they get onto their feet.It is no question of holding the children with baseless reasons.So in my opinion the children must be handed over to Bhatacharya family as soon as possible.
It's a pity that Indian parents and their children are suffering there in Norway due to laws which are based on totally different cultural backgrounds. However, the authorities which have taken the two children into their care are also not making baseless claims. If the children, living with NRI family were not taken good care according to their norms, this is why they have been taken away from parents.
We should never forget that the government and civil agencies in Norway or any other Scandinavian country are much more socially responsible. Seeing that even the Norwegian government has also echoed the same complain which the child care authorities claimed, we need to look deeper into the matter before making it a political drama. In any case, the children are Indian so our request to Norway is to send them back to India, in case they do not feel the parents of these children were not fulfilling their responsibilities.
Norway is facing a huge shortage of skilled workers. It is insecurity
about it`s future that is the root cause of agencies trying to `kidnap`
immigrant`s children and `norwegianise` them so that they could be used
in future as skilled workers. Bengalis are genetically intelligent, hard
workers and gentle people so they are some of the first victims of this
obnoxous and outrageous scheme. The Indian govt, must take a very strong
stand against this oppression to Indian citizens and prevent it at all
costs.
Pathetic! India must call the Norwegian ambassador and tell in strongest terms that we would not tolerate this atrocity against Indians. Diplomatic channels should work overtime to press for this issue resolved quickly. Social service organizations in India must coordinate with their world counterparts, especially in Norway and other European countries, to put pressure on Norwegian authorities. No more soft pedaling on this matter, please.
My sympathies to the parents and these children. Norway has been the generous host to thousands of Sri Lankan refugees in recent years and are familiar and sensitive to cultural differences, with no reports of children being taken away from their parents. Surely, the Bhattacharya family is not the first NRI parents to raise their children in Norway. Why, then, have we not heard of other previous incidents of Norwegian insensitivity towards Indian residents? Perhaps there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.
I never thought I would write this after living almost forty years in the Western World. European liberal philosophy has gone completely berserk and a strong blowback is overdue. It won't be long before Norway's governmental authorities who blindly and foolishly frustrate the most elemental of human instincts - that of motherhood - will pay the price. This is not so different from the Nazzi officials who "merely followed orders" and separated families.
There is no redeeming grace at all in the abrupt,unnatural and totally un-Chritian manner in which the Norwegian Child Welfare Society took away two young children who are citizens of India,from the natural ties of parental love and embrace, implanted by God in human beings,and even in animals.
The commandment given by Moses,"Honour thy father and mother," is a two sided coin, the other side being the right and duty of parents to care for their children.If the Norwegians want to get rid of this commandment, misguided by pseudo-social theories, to start a post-Christian era ,and hurt their helpless children, it is up to them to so "talibanize" themselves.But this should never have been done to childrem who are Indian citizens.We know of "witch hunting",and the Inquisition with courts to punish victims, on confession got by torture. Milton wrote "Avenge O Lord"..on the burning of "heretics." The children must be sent to India soon with the parents,with a due apology.
If you have to live in Norway for a short period,do not take your children there.If you have to stay for a long period,think twice about going there.Our family system is unique and they have no idea of a real family.Best thing donot go to Norway for a job.there are better places on earth than the land of Vikings,who were barbarians.
It is unbelievable that the GoI has so little influence on the Norwegian authorities to make even the smallest dent on this atrocity. My heartfelt sympathies with the parents.
Norway should immediately hand over the kids to the Indian couple; They should understand that kids are brought up differently in different cultures and they don't have any right to take away someone's kids.
“The Child Welfare Service aims to evaluate whether care of the two
Indian children who have been placed in a Norwegian foster home can
be awarded to the brother of the children’s father,” . To do this
Norwegian Child Welfare Service should be familiar with the Indian
way of life and child upbringing. This is possible only if persons
are nuanced of Indian cultural background. It is hoped that Norway
realizes the sensitivity involved and restore the children to the
Indian family without complicating the issue further.
I can't believe this problem isn't solved as yet. My sympathies for the suffering and best wishes for the parents to get custody of their children at the earliest.
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