With Children’s Day just around the corner, seven-year-old Utpal could not have received a better gift. A mentally challenged child, Utpal was legally adopted by the Nelge family from the Bhartiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK), an adoption centre in the city.

This is indeed a rare case where a family has voluntarily adopted a child with special needs, a practice which adoption centers across the country have been trying to promote with little success.

“He’s lit up our lives and we cannot even think of staying without him,” says Mangala Nelge (49), a widow and Utpal’s adopted mother.

Mangala’s association with Utpal dates back to when he was six months old and placed in her foster care. “When he came to our centre in September 2002, he weighed just 1700 grams and had severe respiratory distress. He was placed in neonatal care, but was just not progressing well. Even at 5 months, his weight was just 3.7 kg. Hence we placed him in foster care,” recalls Asha Avdhani in charge of foster care at BSSK.

The move almost miraculously turned around as Utpal gained weight gradually. His growth continued to be delayed though and doctors diagnosed him as a spastic.

Utpal continued to stay with his foster family where Mangala’s three children-Mrinalini (31), Makrand (29) and Milind (25)- rallied around him, showering him with love and attention. He was sent to Intervedia, a school for special children where he presently studies. He can recite songs and poems and knows the alphabet. However, the centre’s attempt to find him a family initially drew a blank.

“We had to start considering the option of sending him to an institution for special needs,” says Maina Shetty, assistant director of BSSK. When this was communicated to the Nelges, the family decided to adopt Utpal. “Uptal may be challenged for others, for us he is more than normal. He is full of potential-an institute would never have been able to recognize that,” says Mrinalini who along with her brothers and mother asked BSSK to let them adopt Utpal legally.

“We gave them the time to be sure of themselves and also for us to be sure that we were doing the right thing in supporting them. In June, they filed the application in court and last week the legal orders came through,” says Shetty.

Madhuri Abhyankar, executive director of the Society of Friends of Sassoon Hospital (SOFOSH) added that in the last 25 years of her work she has not heard of any Indian family voluntarily adopt a mentally challenged child.