• February 25, 2023

A Voice for the Voiceless: A Crusade for Alienated Children

Ayushman Initiative for Child Rights (AIFCR) is a registered public charitable trust working for ensuring and protecting the rights of alienated children who are separated from either of the parents due to marital discord and resultant custodial fights in courts. The main purpose of the AIFCR is to sensitise the society that each child has the fundamental right of access to both parents and to their love and affection as enunciated in the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Child (UNCRC ) to which India is a signatory and as also commented by the Supreme Court of India in a number of cases over the years.

We find that in custody battles and divorce cases which are on the rise in India, the ultimate loser is the child. In this battle most often the de facto custodial parent tries to prevent access and communication of the child with the other parent through poisoning of the mind of the child and through false criminal cases, leading to, what researchers term it as parental alienation syndrome, greatly affecting the tender mental health of the child.

AIFCR is working for the elimination and eradication of this malaise in society which is depriving the country of its human capital estimated at 75,000 cases per year and is appealing to the different stakeholders in society like the judiciary, lawmakers, custodian of law and the government administration to recognise this social issue and to be sensitive to such cases and approach the problem with sympathy towards these alienated children.

AIFCR is also working to make shared parenting a law in the country that can help to mitigate this malaise. To further its objectives, AIFCR recently organised a peace walk from Dharamtala to Press Club, Maidan on 14th Nov 2021 to commemorate children’s day and to make the public aware of the rights of alienated children which was attended by several celebrities. AIFCR conveys its sincere gratitude to the Kolkata Police for extending their help and cooperation for the same.