parent/s are common. These factors in the child’s growing years
seriously hamper his/her normal personality development. Thus to
have a family which is as close as possible to the child’s
ethnic, socio-cultural and economic background is essential.
This facilitates the process of adjustment and transition from
the natural home to the foster home and vice-versa. In India,
The Central Social Welfare Board initiated the foster-care
programme in the year 1964 as a pilot-project in the Third Five
Year Plan for the welfare of the family and child. Family
Service Centre was also one of the pioneers who initiated the
Foster Care Scheme. In 1994, Government of Maharashtra took over
the scheme from the Centre and renamed it Bal Sangopan Yojana
(BSY). BSY recognizes that the best rehabilitation for children
is not possible in an institution rather in a family. Presently,
Maharashtra is the only state implementing BSY in the country. A
unit of 50 children is covered under the scheme By FSC. The
Government has allocated a