Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) member Undavalli Gandhibabu on Wednesday called for a uniform, child-sensitive mechanism to ensure that children are not denied education, identity documents, welfare benefits or other essential services because their father’s name is unavailable or cannot be disclosed.

Speaking at a national-level meeting organised jointly by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and Children of India Foundation in Bengaluru, he said administrative procedures must be aligned with children’s rights, dignity and privacy rather than conventional notions of family identity.

Children should not be made to bear the consequences of circumstances surrounding their birth, particularly when the father is unknown, unavailable or cannot be identified, he said and pointed out that children of women in prostitution, unmarried mothers and those facing other difficult social circumstances often encounter repeated questions about their father’s identity while securing birth certificates, school records and other documents.

Such questioning can expose children to stigma, humiliation and discrimination, especially during their formative years, he said., adding that entering a fictitious or incorrect father’s name merely to complete official documentation could also lead to identity-related complications later.

Mr. Gandhibabu called for a clear and uniform procedure across government departments, educational institutions and welfare delivery systems to enable children to access essential services without being compelled to provide inaccurate information about their parentage.

Sharing his field experience, he referred to cases involving tribal women in the erstwhile Khammam district, where men who entered tribal areas for business reportedly established relationships with tribal women and subsequently disappeared. He said about 270 young women became pregnant in such circumstances and their children later faced difficulties due to the absence or uncertainty of their fathers’ identities.

After witnessing their plight, he said, he provided legal support through the Agriculture and Social Development NGO. Such experiences underline the need for a systemic solution rather than case-by-case intervention, he added.

“The future of a child cannot be allowed to depend upon whether the child can provide the name of the father. Children should not be made to carry the social consequences of circumstances surrounding their birth,” Mr. Gandhibabu reiterated. He urged governments and institutions to safeguard children’s confidentiality, dignity and rights and ensure uninterrupted access to education, documentation and welfare entitlements.