Adoption norms set to get tough…….Himanshi Dhawan
New Delhi: The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has proposed to tighten adoption norms in the country,including stringent monitoring of international and domestic adoptions.The new guidelines are aimed at streamlining the adoption process,facilitating speedy adoption and ensuring that the source of each child placed for adoption is verified.
Long plagued by problems like illegal,irregular and premature adoptions,the government is making an attempt to bring in a comprehensive system.Among the immediate initiatives is the establishment of a centralized dossier system for all kids placed for adoption along with their details.The website,Carings,is to be launched in mid-January and can be accessed by prospective parents and authorized officials.
Women and child development minister Krishna Tirath said the proposed norms were under consideration of the government.
Govt plans curbs on intl adoption
Women and child development minister Krishna Tirath said the government was working on making the process of adoption transparent and reducing the waiting period for prospective parents.The other proposed guidelines include discontinuing international adoptions to countries that are not signatories to the Hague convention on child protection with the exception of Indian nationals living in non-Hague-ratified countries.The government is looking at cutting down the number of children placed for international adoptions from 50% to 20% of the total number of children.Agencies can place equal number of kids for domestic and international adoptions.
The guidelines also propose norms for children with special needs to ensure more efficient placements,and will make it mandatory that orphan,abandoned and surrendered children be allowed to be adopted internationally under the Juvenile Justice Act.Sources said a majority of children are adopted under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act and Guardianship and Wards Act.This means that an adopted child is only a ward and does not have legal rights until specifically granted these by the guardian or adopted parent.