For a better future – Adoption to be easier
Centre Will Review Norms To Make Process Less Tedious
New Delhi: With the number of adopted children declining because of a long
and tedious process, the government has decided to review the adoption
procedure and revamp the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA).
While 2,533 children were placed for adoption within India in 2001, the
number came down to 2,140 in 2006. The number of children who have been
successfully adopted by foreign or NRI families has come down from 1,298 in
2001 to 853 last year. These figures do not include state agency adoption
numbers.
Admitting that the numbers have declined, minister of state for women
and child development (WCD) Renuka Chowdhury said, “We might have been
scattered in our approach so far but with the revised rules we hope to cut
down on time taken (to complete the formalities) and increase the number of
children who are adopted.”
The ministry has also asked states to involve panchayats and other local
bodies to identify orphaned and destitute children so that they could be
provided proper care and placed for adoption.
At present, it takes three to six months to complete the adoption
process and this acts as a major deterrent for inter-country adoptions. NRIs
who want to adopt children will benefit from the easier adoption norms,
Chowdhury said while speaking at the launch of the updated version of the
CARA website.
Chowdhury said the government would also crack down on illegal centres
that sell children in the name of adoption.
Laying special emphasis on care for children with special needs, the
minister said, “The ministry will launch a campaign to encourage parents to
adopt children with special needs.”
The improved version of CARA’s website-www.adoptionindia.nic.in-carries
an updated list of recognised placement agencies for children in India and
abroad. It contains information on existing adoption guidelines and provides
a link to the list of procedures to be followed in case of in-country and
inter-country adoptions.