While working as a business analyst in USA on a Child Support Enforcement project for the state government of Arkansas, I realized that Indian political leaders and the Indian law and enforcement system have overlooked for years an important aspect of Child Support and Child Rights.
Children are nation's future. They deserve love, care, education and medical facilities. The financial and emotional responsibility of raising a child must be shared by both biological parents, regardless of the gender of child, circumstances of family, marital status of the biological mother, and living conditions or relationship of parents. This notion is well understood by US government.
The Federal Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program was established in USA in 1975 as Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The CSE program provides assistance to custodial parents, the one who lives with the child and has the primary day-to-day responsibility. The other is the non-custodial parent. Children living in foster care are also entitled for receiving assistance from Non custodial parents. The State Child support agencies reach out to the people through their state offices or their websites. These agencies locate the non-custodial parent, establish paternity if required, get the support order established and enforces the non-custodial parent to make regular child support payments, which may include Medicaid, until the child emancipates or becomes an adult which ever happens earlier. Moreover, all the services are provided to the custodial parent by merely filling an application form online or in a child support state/regional office. This sure involves less effort and money than hiring a personal lawyer and following the court proceedings.
By contrast, in India the only way to get Child Support from non-custodial parent is to hire a personal lawyer who is likely to charge more than what a middle class working professional can afford. In addition to the cost, the entire judicial process is expected to drag for years and is driven by corrupt individuals looking for personal gains rather than serving in the best interest of the child. Furthermore, middle class and below middle class sections of the Indian society are likely to panic at the very thought of court and lawyers. Whatever may be the reason, it is the child who suffers emotionally and fails to grow into a responsible, successful Indian citizen. He is denied the right to a good education and looses the opportunity to learn, and eventually our nation looses a citizen, who if were given a chance, could have made a difference. India's economy may be growing at a second fastest rate but it is far behind in implementing Child Support Enforcement systems.
Some might cite CRY- Child Rights and You, Spandana, IDRF-India Development and relief fund, and other NGOs providing assistance to children and needy single parents. No doubt that these organizations have been successful in bringing a ray of hope in life of underprivileged but they sure have their own limitations and restrictions on reaching out to each and every needy child. As a responsible citizen, I do my part by making monthly donations but sometimes I ask myself - Is it really enough?
In my view, the government should step up and ensure and secure the rights to which each precious child is entitled. The Indian leaders must consider earmarking funds for setting up Child Support Enforcement Agencies that assist needy families in getting their due child support money rather than leaving innocent children, who are nations tomorrow, at the mercy and uncertainty of donations and charities.
For instance, Half of India's children are deprived of their fundamental right to education every day. Millions of India's children go to bed each night hungry. Likewise, imagine being an Indian divorced middle class mother and withdrawing your child's name from school because you were fired from your recent job!!! Well, that is a day no one ever wants to think in the wildest of imaginations.
I hope to pass the idea, benefits and importance of US model of government enforced child support system across the globe to all the aspiring leaders and politicians in India. I long for a day when establishing the government Office of Child Support Enforcement will be placed on the ruling government’s agenda.
Children are nation's future. They deserve love, care, education and medical facilities. The financial and emotional responsibility of raising a child must be shared by both biological parents, regardless of the gender of child, circumstances of family, marital status of the biological mother, and living conditions or relationship of parents. This notion is well understood by US government.
The Federal Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program was established in USA in 1975 as Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. The CSE program provides assistance to custodial parents, the one who lives with the child and has the primary day-to-day responsibility. The other is the non-custodial parent. Children living in foster care are also entitled for receiving assistance from Non custodial parents. The State Child support agencies reach out to the people through their state offices or their websites. These agencies locate the non-custodial parent, establish paternity if required, get the support order established and enforces the non-custodial parent to make regular child support payments, which may include Medicaid, until the child emancipates or becomes an adult which ever happens earlier. Moreover, all the services are provided to the custodial parent by merely filling an application form online or in a child support state/regional office. This sure involves less effort and money than hiring a personal lawyer and following the court proceedings.
By contrast, in India the only way to get Child Support from non-custodial parent is to hire a personal lawyer who is likely to charge more than what a middle class working professional can afford. In addition to the cost, the entire judicial process is expected to drag for years and is driven by corrupt individuals looking for personal gains rather than serving in the best interest of the child. Furthermore, middle class and below middle class sections of the Indian society are likely to panic at the very thought of court and lawyers. Whatever may be the reason, it is the child who suffers emotionally and fails to grow into a responsible, successful Indian citizen. He is denied the right to a good education and looses the opportunity to learn, and eventually our nation looses a citizen, who if were given a chance, could have made a difference. India's economy may be growing at a second fastest rate but it is far behind in implementing Child Support Enforcement systems.
Some might cite CRY- Child Rights and You, Spandana, IDRF-India Development and relief fund, and other NGOs providing assistance to children and needy single parents. No doubt that these organizations have been successful in bringing a ray of hope in life of underprivileged but they sure have their own limitations and restrictions on reaching out to each and every needy child. As a responsible citizen, I do my part by making monthly donations but sometimes I ask myself - Is it really enough?
In my view, the government should step up and ensure and secure the rights to which each precious child is entitled. The Indian leaders must consider earmarking funds for setting up Child Support Enforcement Agencies that assist needy families in getting their due child support money rather than leaving innocent children, who are nations tomorrow, at the mercy and uncertainty of donations and charities.
For instance, Half of India's children are deprived of their fundamental right to education every day. Millions of India's children go to bed each night hungry. Likewise, imagine being an Indian divorced middle class mother and withdrawing your child's name from school because you were fired from your recent job!!! Well, that is a day no one ever wants to think in the wildest of imaginations.
I hope to pass the idea, benefits and importance of US model of government enforced child support system across the globe to all the aspiring leaders and politicians in India. I long for a day when establishing the government Office of Child Support Enforcement will be placed on the ruling government’s agenda.
I really like your blog. --nice illustration.
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