Extra-Familial Care: Perspectives from India

This paper aims to give an overview of out-of-home care in India. It looks at the history and culture of extra-familial care in the country, the urgent need for organised out-of-home care, and tries to understand the role of the state, including legislation and policies. The belief that individual families should solve their children's problems is deeply ingrained. There are different support systems that cater to the children's needs and right to healthy living in home and with family. While the government and community choose and decide for the children of the country, the government drags its feet in drafting policies which recognise that large number of children are growing up without families. More research is needed to look at the need and quality parameters for out-of-home care. Action from both government and non-government organisations (NGOs) will require a large number of institutions that, in turn, will require sufficient budgets and trained staff to ensure an environment of protection, support and appropriate development for an estimated 20 million children in need of good quality out-of-home care in India.