India to Norway: Separating kids from parents unjustified

India has made it clear to Norway that the decision of the Norwegian Childcare Services to separate two children from their NRI parents was an extreme step and unjustified.

Strong demarches were made to the Norwegian embassy in New Delhi and to the Norwegian foreign ministry and the ministry of children, equality and social inclusion in Oslo to reiterate the government’s serious concern, the external affairs ministry said in a statement here.

Three-year-old Abhigyan and one-year-old Aishwarya, infant children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Stavanger, Norway, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) in May on grounds that they were not looked after properly by their parents.

Barnevarne has placed them in foster parental care as per the directive of the local Norwegian court, mandated under Norwegian laws.

The Indian government is concerned that the circumstances prevailing in this case may not justify an extreme step like long-term separation of the children from their natural parents, the ministry said.

This was the second demarche to Norway over this sensitive issue in the last eight days.

Stressing respect for cultural values, the Indian government said it “is concerned that there may have been insufficient regard paid to the undoubted benefits of bringing up the children in their own ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic milieu while putting them in foster care".

The government underlined that the children be allowed to return to India so that they can be brought up in familiar surroundings under the loving care of their extended family. This would be in their best long-term interests, the ministry said.

The Norwegian authorities have expressed understanding for the government’s concerns.
“The matter will continue to be pursued with them actively,” the ministry said.

Bhattacharya and his wife have been appealing to the Indian government for help in getting their children back. As the matter is sub-judice, the external affairs ministry has also advised Bhattacharya to take suitable legal recourse.

Speaking to Indian dailies, the couple from Kolkata have said that the Norwegian authorities came up with “bizarre explanations” for taking away their children and it appeared to them like “child kidnapping in a civilised society”.