IE : Adoption: Demand high, agencies short of kids : Oct 11, 2007
Adoption: Demand high, agencies short of kids
Amitabh Sinha
Posted online: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 at 0000 hrs
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 9: The demand for children for adoption in India is much
more than what legal orphanages and adoption agencies in the country are
able to supply. About 5,000 Indian children are adopted by families both
within and outside the country through recognised adoption centres, while
the number of orphans and abandoned children is estimat
“The number of parents wanting to adopt children is far more than the number
of children at our agencies,” said Jagannth Pati, Deputy Director of the
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which is organising an
international conference on child adoption here.
“This is mainly because a large number of children do not fall into the
adoption loop. We are trying to take correct that,” he told The Indian
Express.
Adoption is a tedious procedure in India and it requires elaborate
paperwork. Families often prefer to adopt children from hospitals and
nursing homes although it does not have the sanction of law. However, the
Government is now trying to cut down on red tapeism and simplify the process
by introducing some important legislations.
The Integrated Child Protection Scheme of the Ministry of Women and Child
Development and the Juvenile Justice Act, both due for implementation in the
near future, seek to establish an elaborate system of adoption by going down
to the district level.
Under the proposed arrangement, a State Adoption Resource Authority (SARA)
will be established in every state. This will function on the lines of CARA.
Also, a Child Protection Unit and a recognised adoption agency is planned
for each district.
“This arrangement will not just help in bringing a lot more destitute
children into the adoption loop, but also create a professional database of
children and families willing to adopt them. At present, there is lack of
reliable data on all fronts,” said Parvesh Kumar, consultant to the Ministry
of Women and Child Development. CARA Chairman J K Mittal said there was a
marked change in attitude among Indian families regarding adoption, and now
there is also a healthy demand for girl child.
He said active participation of state governments was required to make the
adoption programmea success.
Publication : IE; Section : National; Pg : 8; Date : 11/10/07
URL : http://www.indianexpress.com/story/226696.html