SIKH COUPLE TOLD THEY CAN’T ADOPT WHITE CHILD
A Sikh couple in the UK have alleged that they were refused permission to adopt a white child because of their “cultural heritage” and told to adopt a child from India instead.
Sandeep and Reena Mander, British-born business professionals from Berkshire, were quoted by
The Times as saying that they were told not to apply to become adoptive parents on the basis that white British or European applicants would be given preference.
The couple, who are of Sikh-Indian heritage, had told Adopt Berkshire adoption agency that they would be delighted to adopt a child of any ethnic background but were rejected as potential parents on the grounds that only white children were available.
The Manders, both in their 30s, claimed they were told to adopt a child from India instead.
Adoption agencies are allowed to prioritise on the basis of race in order to match children to prospective parents of the same ethnic background. But the government has also said that a child’s ethnicity should not be a barrier to adoption.
Adopt Berkshire has not commented on the allegations but its website says that it welcomes applicants from different cultural, religious and sexual backgrounds.
The Manders, whose cause has been taken up by Prime Minister Theresa May as their local MP, will take their case to court.
Mander, vice-president of sales at Continuum Commerce Solutions, a payments technology company, said that the couple had been trying to conceive for seven years, including 16 sessions of IVF treatment, and decided to adopt. —