Father's name not mandatory for children's services in Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) has stated that no child should be denied education, identification documents, welfare schemes, or other essential services due to the absence of a father's name. Chairman Vetukuri Raju urged both central and state governments to implement comprehensive administrative reforms to remove the requirement of a father's name in official records. During a state-level workshop in Vijayawada, Raju emphasized that every child has rights independent of their parents' marital status or family circumstances. He highlighted the challenges faced by children of single mothers, unmarried women, widows, and victims of human trafficking when forced to disclose their father's name in applications. Chairperson of the State Women's Commission, Rayapati Shailaja, expressed concern that repeatedly questioning children's family situations can lead to mental distress and feelings of humiliation.