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Fatherless children and census dilemma

3 January 2009

The census fate of children without a legitimate father hangs in balance. Where do they belong? Gyembo Namgyal reports.

Children born out of wedlock find it difficult to get themselves registered in the census if their father’s identity is not known. Therefore, more mothers are now moving from the traditional out-of-court settlements to court settlements and DNA tests to determine or confirm their child’s biological father.

If the DNA tests prove positive, the guilty men are not only required to bear the expenses for DNA tests but also had to settle for other compensations. Such outcomes enable mothers to get their children registered in the census without much fuss.

But not all DNA tests are positive. Recently, DNA tests for two cases in the Pemagatshel Dzongkhag court proved negative. One mother each from Nanong Gewog and Zobel Gewog had made claims on the biological father of their children but scientific fact flew in their face. Now, what is the census fate of their children? The two mothers will have difficulty registering their children in the census which mandatorily requires the parents’ identity in the form of the citizenship identity cards.

Both the Nanong and Zobel Gups said they had no idea what could be done regarding the census status of the two children whose fathers could not be determined through DNA tests. “I will not be in a position to endorse any other names which the mother might come up with during the annual census that has begun in the dzongkhag,” said the Nanong Gup Putur.

“The only thing that I would be able to do is to report the case to higher authorities for their advice. There is no way I would be able to endorse any name as the child’s father contradicting the court’s verdict,” said Zobel Gup Dorji Wangdi. Interestingly, the woman from Zobel accused two members of the same family, a man and his son, as her child’s father but both proved negative by DNA test. The woman has yet again given birth to another fatherless child, further adding to her woes.

The emerging scenario has worried other Gups in the dzongkhag. Shumar Gup Lepo said that the present registration procedures have no clear guidelines on how such children can be registered in the census. “We believe that, although the mothers could not determine their children’s fathers, the innocent children had been born to bonafide Bhutanese citizens,” he said. “Therefore, these children deserve to be protected. But the lack of clear guidelines on how children without their father’s identity could be registered is cause of worry.” Drangpon Wangchuk Dukpa also said that there was a need to have a legislation to protect children who are the innocent victims of fate. “Their mothers could have erred but why should the children suffer? he asked.

Another court official said that, should the mother seek a new DNA test on a different person, the court could entertain the request, but with the experience of both mental and financial trauma, such a prospect looks unlikely.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Fatherless children and census dilemma”

  1. Dechen on January 3rd, 2009 4:32 pm

    The census regristration of the children has always been a great concern for me becasue i have seen in my village how the women are balmed and shamed for bearing a child without a father.
    My first question is why do we need to blame the women? for what? For having the baby for nine months then brinining them up with her mere income.

    Secondly why do we need a fathers name who has not even given a second glance to see wether the women he slept has been pregnent or not! Does our religion teach us to blame and shame a brave women for rearing a child on her own!

    What is in a fathers name? just because a man is not coming as a father why do we need to make the child and mother suffere.

    lastly according to the Child Rightis Conventions; every child has the right to survival, development , growth and health.

    Remmeber- Bhutan has been one of the countires who has signed such conventions without any reservation.

    I would like to remind all of the people that children should be allowed to be registerd in the name their mothers like in other developed countries.

    The bottom line being- why do we need a man’s name when from child birth, to raising them throught their life are done by the women?

    reminder to the people who are concerend with census- please dont mock with the poor women and blame them infornt of the whole community, they also have their own reputation and it effects their self esteem. There are more gentle and proper way to put things forward if you considered you self educated!

  2. Jim on January 6th, 2009 2:11 pm

    well! you are right and not only you every one must support this. i dont have anything to say but I support you…

  3. far away on January 8th, 2009 8:39 am

    We always talk of no gender discrimination but here comes the truth in this article. Why do we need father in census registration? Why not we accept single parent? This is an issue of human right!!!!! Everyone need to be treated equally. Moreover, we need to look into the convention of rights of the children and women’s rights.

    Wake up National Women Association. You need to do something to give rights for those women and children.

  4. far away on January 8th, 2009 8:43 am

    Media, please do look for pleasant word rather than fatherless children. it is humiliating for those children.

  5. Sangay Dradul on January 15th, 2009 2:36 pm

    Well, from my understanding, census department must be the right department to work hard for the country’s security. They must have the rules and regulations for registering the child in the census. There can not be a child without a father. A child can not be born from the middle of the lotus flower. The concerned women must be sure of her child’s father.

    In this regard, I would suggest the census department to give awareness to the Bhutanese women/men, so that this type of incidents will not occur in our country. The officials working in the census department have to learn to deal with the innocent people like in other countries. The MoHCA have to send these officials abroad to look/learn the ways of working with the public.

    Just my views.

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