Baby Sale Scandal: Maneka Gandhi Orders Immediate Inspection Of All Missionaries Of Charity Shelter Homes

Union Minister for Women and Child Development (WCD) Maneka Gandhi has ordered ‘immediate inspection’ of all shelter homes run by Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by controversial Nobel laureate Mother Teresa, Deccan Herald has reported.

Missionaries of Charity has recently been in news, accused of allegedly selling off infants given birth by shelters’ inmates. Jharkhand police had arrested Anima Indwar and sister Kocilia, staff members of Missionaries of Charities regarding the same. The police have stated that Kocilia has confessed of the crime.

The minister has directed all states to inspect shelter homes which come under their respective jurisdictions.

The minister has also directed the state governments to ensure all childcare institutions are linked and registered to Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 makes it mandatory for child-care institutions (CCI) to register with CARA.

The report also stated that around 2,300 CCIs are registered with CARA and nearly 4,000 CCIs are yet to register.