A Jain delegation met German ambassador Philipp Ackermann on Tuesday and apprised him of the ‘heartbreaking’ scenario of Baby Ariha who has been in German foster care since 2021. The delegation requested Ackerman to work in direction of handing over the kid’s custody to the Indian authorities.

The delegation highlighted the difficulty and instability confronted by Ariha because of the frequent change of foster care moms over a interval of two and a half years. “Ariha’s situation is heartbreaking. Ariha’s foster carer in Germany is going to be changed in May 2024 for the third time in just two and a half years, causing significant instability in her life. Every time Ariha is taught to call the foster carer as ‘mother’ and in few months Ariha is shifted to the new foster carer and again calling new person as ‘mother’,” the Jain delegation stated in a press launch.

READ | Who is Ariha Shah, Indian baby taken from her parents by German foster care?

They stated that the constant rotation of foster moms for Ariha isn’t solely deeply psychologically impactful for her but additionally highlights the inadequacies of the German youngster providers when it comes to useful resource allocation and their deficiency in offering nurturing care and affection for younger kids.

“Ariha is a blameless child caught in an agonizing situation… We implore the German government to prioritize her well-being. A stable and culturally sensitive environment is paramount for her development. A Jain foster family in India can offer the love, support, and stability she craves while nurturing her connection to her Indian and Jain heritage – all while awaiting the resolution of her German custody case,” the spokesperson of the Jain delegation stated.

Although ambassador Ackermann acknowledged their issues, he emphasised the need for extra “trust building” and collaboration with German youngster providers.

After the assembly concluded, Ackermann took to X and posted particulars in regards to the assembly. “Real pleasure to meet with senior representatives of the Indian Jain community today. Discussed issues of common concern. Encouraged by the goodwill and dedication amongst the community,” the German envoy posted on X.

In September 2021, Ariha Shah, the kid, was by accident injured by her grandmother, resulting in the German authorities eradicating the child from her care. Ariha is presently within the custody of German foster providers. Upon the household’s request for intervention, the Indian authorities has constantly mentioned the matter with German authorities.

(With inputs from ANI)