British Sikh couple are told they cannot adopt a white child because of their 'cultural heritage' as officials advise them to go to India instead

Sandeep and Reena Mander said they were advised to adopt a child from India
The advice was given despite the fact they are a British couple from Berkshire
The couple told an adoption agency they were very happy to adopt a child from any ethnic background
The couple, both business professionals in their 30s, told an adoption agency they were very happy to adopt a child from any ethnic background.

Despite being found to be suitable adoptive parents after a home visit, the couple claim the agency said they shouldnt apply because only white children were available.

Adopt Berkshire, the county-wide agency run by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said white British or European parents would be given preference.
They have now begun legal action to overturn the decision, claiming discrimination in the provision of services.

The Manders have been trying to conceive for seven years, and have had 16 sessions of IVF treatment.

Mr Mander, 35, said: Having attended introductory workshops organised by RBWM and Adopt Berkshire, giving an adopted child no matter what race the security of a loving home was all we wanted to do.
What we didnt expect was a refusal for us to even apply for adoption, not because of our incapability to adopt, but because our cultural heritage was defined as Indian/Pakistani.

It is legal for agencies to give preference to parents from the same ethnic group, but government guidelines stipulate different racial backgrounds should not prevent a couple from adopting.

Falling adoption numbers have been blamed on the misguided belief that children should only be adopted by families of the same ethnic background.


Personally i think the rule is pathetic as are those who enforce it on our Sikh community