Shreevatsa is a care centre for the family deprived children which is located in Pune, a city in Maharashtra a western Indian state. The centre offers its orphans for adoption. It is operated by "Society of Friends of Sassoon Hospitals", a charitable organisation associated with Sassoon Hospital, Pune.[1][2] The centre was established on 6 October 1973, the day of Vijayadashami. 2574 of its orphans were legally adopted into families between 1974 and 2009.[3]
On 5 July 2011, Women and Child Welfare Department of the government of Maharashtra inspected its premises. Four unwed pregnant women were found illegally housed in the centre.[4] It is considered that unwed mothers would be prone to abandon babies, therefore centres that offer its residents for adoption are not allowed to provide lodging for unwed pregnant women.[5] The centre had its licence to work as an adoption agency temporarily suspended by the Central Adoption Resource Authority in June 2012, in response to complaints regarding overcharging of fees.[6]
In 1982, documentary and feature film director Prakash Jha created a documentary film Shree Vats about the centre. The film has interviews of adoptive families in it.[7]
Notable former orphans
- Former Australian international female cricketer Lisa Sthalekar.[8][9]
References
- ↑ "About us". Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Mascarenhas, Anuradha (9 November 2007). "New home for abandoned toddlers at Sassoon". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Mascarenhas, Anuradha (19 November 2010). "Pune youth grapple with live-in relationships' googlies". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Nambiar, Nisha (13 July 2011). "Showcause notice to adoption agency unit". The Indian Express. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ Gurjar, Kaumudi (14 July 2011). "More than 20 orphanages checked for irregularities". Mid Day. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ "CARA officials conduct checks at SOFOSH". The Indian Express. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ "Filmography - Shree Vats". Prakash Jha. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ↑ Lele, Sunandan (24 February 2013). "लिसाची अद्भुत कहाणी". सकाळ सप्तरंग (in Marathi). Pune: Sakal. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
- ↑ "Visit by Lisa Sthalekar" (PDF). Newsletter. SOFOSH. January 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
External links
- 30 yrs later, Pune orphanage inmate returns to adopt her daughter with a similar story, by Anuradha Mascarenhas, Pune, Publisher: Indian Express, Date: 3 September 2010, Retrieved: 25 February 2013
- Adopted Linda Bery revisits Shreevatsa to give home to two children Publisher: DNA, Date: 12 April 2012, Retrieved: 25 February 2013