Easier adoption of children for NRIs through 7-day adoption effort

Breaking down the adoption figures, Irani stated that in-country adoptions for 2020-2021 stood at 3,142, with 417 inter-country adoptions

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

In a recent parliamentary response, Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani, disclosed that the adoption landscape in India has witnessed significant changes in the past three years, with 11,391 in-country adoptions and 1,486 inter-country adoptions taking place. The revelation comes in response to MP Dr. Kanimozhi Somu’s query on adoption trends and whether there has been an increase in child adoptions during this period.

Breaking down the adoption figures, Irani stated that in-country adoptions for 2020-2021 stood at 3,142, with 417 inter-country adoptions. The subsequent years saw 2,991 in-country adoptions and 414 inter-country adoptions in 2021-2022, while the figures for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 (as of 10.12.2023) are 3,010 and 2,248 in-country adoptions, and 431 and 224 inter-country adoptions, respectively.

Addressing concerns about the perceived complexities in the adoption process, the Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to simplify procedures. The Adoption Regulations, 2022, aligned with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (amended in 2021), were introduced on 23rd September 2022. Noteworthy features include empowering District Magistrates to issue adoption orders instead of the court, reducing the upper age limit for prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) to 85 years for couples and 40 years for single PAPs adopting children below 2 years.

The comprehensive overhaul aims to make adoption more accessible and efficient for both domestic and international adoptive parents, reflecting a commitment to ensuring the well-being of children in need of a loving home

In a bid to further streamline the process, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) initiated a 7-day adoption effort tailored for Resident Indian (RI), Non-Resident Indian (NRI), and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) PAPs. The effort involves the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) assessing the child’s health status based on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. PAPs with more than two children are ineligible for a normal child referral, and mandatory counseling is mandated for all stakeholders at various adoption stages.

The CARA-driven adoption initiative also focuses on timelines for crucial stages, such as uploading legally free for adoption (LFA) status within ten days, examining special needs children within fifteen days, and verifying adoption applications. Moreover, the platform CARINGS, an online adoption portal, has been developed to enhance transparency and minimize delays in the adoption system.

Despite these reforms, Minister Irani informed the Parliament that there have been no formal complaints regarding complicated formalities in the adoption procedure, according to CARA records. The comprehensive overhaul aims to make adoption more accessible and efficient for both domestic and international adoptive parents, reflecting a commitment to ensuring the well-being of children in need of a loving home.

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