Why Kerala’s Most Famous Tribal Activist Decided to Adopt a Girl

“Giving birth and taking care of our own children is common, but greatness is in looking after an orphaned child.”

CK Janu, the tribal activist says, “give life to the poor kids; they deserve your love, care and protection”. (Photo: The News Minute)

In a country where people go to great lengths to have babies, tribal activist CK Janu has adopted a little girl from Chhattisgarh, with the firm belief that all the world’s children are our own and that people should give orphaned children love and care.

Janu says she always wanted to adopt a girl and applied for child adoption in Kerala around a year ago. However, she realised that the waitlist was long.

<p> I am not bothered about where the child is from. All children born in this world are our own.</p>

<b> CK Janu, Tribal Activist, Kerala</b>

She then decided to apply with adoption agencies elsewhere in India and Matruchaya, an adoption centre in Bilaspur, Chattisgarh run by Seva Bharti.

Once inspections and verifications were over, on January 8, Janu’s wait for her daughter finally ended, with every procedural detail completed. The pair finally reached Kalpetta village, where Janu lives. Janu named the girl CK Janaki.

<p>Giving birth to a child and taking care of our own children is common, but greatness is in looking after an orphaned child, adopting them and giving a new life to them.</p>

<b>Sarah Joseph, Prominent Writer &amp; Activist </b>

Janu added that people seek fertility treatment and go on pilgrimages to temples all over India to have a baby of their own because of the notion of lineage.

<p> What is the point of going through so much when there are thousands of children waiting for love and protection?</p>

<b>CK Janu, Tribal Activist, Kerala</b>

People want children in their own bloodline, because they do not want to give away their assets to an individual born to some others, Janu said, adding that this continues to make adoption a source of stigma.

Janu wished more people would adopt children. (Photo: The News Minute)

Once Janaki is older, Janu says she will adopt another girl. Let them live like a family, and let them know the love of siblings.

Janaki meanwhile has adapted well to her new environment. The little girl has a gang of friends in her neighbourhood.

<p>She calls me Amma now, what else do I need? I will give her the best I can.</p>

Often, Indian couples who are unable to have children go to great lengths to have biological children – scientific or religious or both.

According to some estimates, India’s In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) clinic market is worth more than $400 million.

Either simultaneously, or as a last resort, people also approach their religious gods. There is no estimate of how much money goes into the collection boxes of deities, shrines and churches, which offer ‘fertility blessings’.

(The writer Haritha John works with The News Minute.)