MP Anubhav Mohanty | Parental Alienation A Silent Epidemic: Children Raised By Single Parents Likely To Be Drug Addicts

Winter Session 2021 is ongoing in the Parliament and various bills have been tabled and passed subsequently. While we do not see any intent from the current government to amend the archaic matrimonial and child custody laws in India, MP Anubhav Mohanty raised a very pertinent point about the impact on children who have been alienated from one parent, post a separation/divorce.

Speaking about some serious repercussions on children who grow up with ‘Single Parent’, Mohanty said,

World Health Organisation has classified drug addiction or substance use disorder as a chronic brain disease. Since it has a cause, it can be treated and prevented as well. Amongst children, one of the most preventable cause is, emotional child abuse, due to parental alienation. In fact, data from other countries state that these emotionally abused or alienated children, are 7-10 times more likely to be addicts. 

Parental Alienation has become a silent epidemic with 1.5 crore children impacted in India as on date. Therefore, my question to honourable minister through you sir is, whether the ministry is collecting data about what percentage of children suffering from substance use disorder, come from single parent families, wherein, they have been alienated from one parent, and what steps is the ministry taking in preventing substance abuse by raising awareness about parental alienation amongst general population, rehabilitation centres and judiciary? 

However, the response from Pratima Bhoumik, MoS , Social Justice and Empowerment, seemed totally misplaced and did not answer to what Mohanty had questioned. She spoke generically on the actions taken by her ministry with regards to curbing drug addiction amongst children, completely ignoring and overlooking that the point here in question, particularly pertained to children who were kept away from one parent and could slip into such horrendous habits due to depression and anxiety. 

Recently, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulations) Bill, 2020 was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. The Bill aims to regulate assisted reproductive technology (ART) services such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) centres, sperm or egg banks etc that have mushroomed across the country. Once again, the bill is not gender neutral and excludes Single Men and the LGBTQ community from exercising this option. 

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MP Anubhav Mohanty | Children Raised By Single Parents Likely To Be Drug Addicts

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