Care Leavers in India: The Invisible Struggle for Identity and Support

The world expects us to stand alone, but who teaches us how?We don’t just want to exist—we want to live with dignity.

By Hajra Bano 

Hajrabano1910@gmail.com

Thousands of young adults from child care institutions like orphanages and foster care systems in India exit when they reach the age of 18. The world wants us to be independent, to stand on our own two feet, but nobody knows about the invisible struggle we endure. Without a family to turn back to, without a place to call home, our path into adulthood is one of uncertainty, isolation, and struggle. Our struggles are not merely financial or material—they are struggles of identity, belonging, and survival in a world that frequently ignores us.

The Identity Crisis: Who Are We?

Living in an institution means growing up with a gap—a name without a past, a life without heritage.

Legal Identity: A Struggle for Documents

In India, all things—education, employment, even as simple as the purchase of a SIM card—are made possible through legal documents. But many of us care leavers enter the world minus them. We recall the hardship of attempting to procure our Aadhar cards, birth certificates, and caste certificates. Every office we went to requested a "guardian's" signature. But who could we write about? Who would defend us and sign those forms? Without these documents, we disappear from the system, shut out of chances taken for granted by others.

Personal Identity: Lost in the Past

There is no childhood album, no stories at bedtime about our forebears, no family traditions shared for many care leavers. We were taken to an orphanage when we were children, not being able to communicate or understand the language of the place. We were alone, frightened, and confused. As time passed, we adjusted, but a part of us continued to search—search for roots, for belonging. Even now, when asked about our family background, we find it difficult to respond. Who are we, apart from the identity that the world assigned to us?

Social Identity: Combating Stigma

The title of being a "care leaver" is one that follows whispers and judgment. We are looked at differently, as though we are broken, as though we can never be good enough. We have had times where we were questioned about our value, where opportunities were lost just because we did not have any family history to stand up for us. The world tends to label us based on what we do not have, not on what we have endured.

The Lack of Support: A Sudden Push Into Adulthood

When children in families turn 18, they have parents to guide them. When care leavers turn 18, we are simply told, “You are on your own now.”

Housing: Nowhere to Go

The most difficult aspect of living in care is the acceptance of the fact that we don't have a home. Others turn out homeless, others reside under unsafe circumstances, and others struggle to fit into an area where they belong. We have struggled for years finding stability, for a place we could breathe free from fear of being abandoned yet again.

Education and Employment: Pursuing Goals with Bare Hands

We always felt that education would transform our lives, but the financial situation made it a challenge. No one was there to fund our university fees, no family to purchase our textbooks, no backup if we failed. We worked part-time, took on tutoring, and did anything we could do to get by. Most care leavers have to leave, grabbing whatever they can get so they can just eat. Without education or the right advice, the majority are trapped in poorly paid job opportunities and cannot escape the vicious circle of poverty.

Mental Health: The Invisible Wound

Picture being abandoned into the world without anyone to call on when things get difficult. The isolation is overwhelming. Trauma, depression, and anxiety trail behind many care leavers like dark shadows. But therapy is costly, and emotional support doesn't exist. We learn to conceal our hurt, to act like we are OK when we feel like we are holding ourselves together with safety pins.

The Way Forward: What We Need

Legal Identity for All Care Leavers – No child should be sent out of an institution without their vital documents.

A Home for All Care Leavers – Affordable and safe housing must be a right, not a privilege.

Educational and Employment Support – Scholarships, vocational training, and employment placement programs need to be increased.

Mental Health Treatment – Free or low-cost therapy and counseling services must be provided.

Policy Reform – The Juvenile Justice Act needs to be made more robust to ensure long-term, structured care, as in other nations.

Conclusion: Turning Pain into Strength

India's care leavers are not merely survivors—we are warriors. We bear our past as a wound, but we also bear dreams, aspirations, and strength. Our silent battle must be heard, and our needs acknowledged.

We have navigated this journey alone, but we are not going to let others navigate it too. Change is within our reach, and it starts with awareness, support, and action. India cannot turn its back on care leavers. It needs to stand alongside us, making sure each young adult who leaves care does so with dignity, opportunity, and hope.