MEA assures assistance for early return of 3-year-old in German foster care

The Ministry of External Affairs is making every effort to assist the homecoming of a three-and-a-half-year-old child from Thane district who is currently in foster care in Germany.

The Shiv Sena Member of Parliament (MP), Naresh Mhaske, said that the situation began as a result of minor physical assault charges. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the government is expediting legal procedures to ensure the child's return.

In September 2021, when Ariha Shah was seven months old, she was placed into foster care in Germany.

Her parents, Bhavesh and Dhara Shah, who live in Thane's Mira Bhayander, can meet her twice every month.

Mhaske had already highlighted the issue in Parliament, forcing the Foreign Minister to provide an update on the ministry's actions.

Jaishankar's letter of Aug 16 showed that the German Youth Welfare Authorities chose not to appeal court judgments allowing the Shahs visiting rights as a result of Indian government influence.

Jaishankar said he personally discussed the issue with his German counterpart, emphasizing that returning Ariha to her socio-cultural environment in India would be the best way to secure her long-term welfare.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and embassy officials in Berlin are trying to incorporate Indian cultural elements into Ariha's current situation. They are providing her foster parents with resources about Jainism, Indian festivals, and cultural traditions to use as needed.

Additionally, embassy officials have taken Ariha to Indian temples twice, and plans are underway to arrange for her to learn Gujarati or Hindi. This program intends to help Ariha keep a connection to her cultural heritage while her return is being planned.

"Pursuant to court orders, the parents have been granted visitation rights twice a month with the child (the time for which has also been increased recently by the courts). In addition, the German side has also been granting regular consular access for our Embassy officials to visit the child," the Foreign Minister said.

He assured Mhaske that the government will continue to make every effort to bring the Ariha to India.

"It is important to note that this case centers around a minor girl child, and the aforementioned diplomatic efforts are all being undertaken in a consistent and continuous manner by the Ministry of External Affairs. I also hope that you will appreciate the sensitivities surrounding this case and handle the matter with appropriate discretion," added the letter.