(a) whether it is a fact that Government does not provide any financial assistance to orphanages;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether Government propose to review their policy towards orphanages;
(d) the number of orphans/destitute children in the country as on date; and
(e) the number of adoptions approved by the Government both for Indian and foreign couples up to 2000-2001?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SMT. MANEKA GANDHI)
(a) & (b) The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment had been giving Grant-in-Aid to NGOs for providing services to orphaned, destitute and neglected children through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely the `Scheme for the Welfare of Children in Need of Care and Protection` since 1974-75. In this scheme, voluntary organizations were assisted with an equal contribution of State Governments to offer services for such children. The Scheme has been transferred to the State Governments and UTs w.e.f. 01.04.1992 as per the decision of the National Development Council. However, Grant-in-Aid is being given for promoting in-country adoption of infants under Sishu Greh Scheme and also under the General Grant-in-Aid Scheme for specific projects. Under General Grant-in-Aid Programme for Assistance in the field of Social Defence, an orphanage for girls in Andaman and Nicobar by the name of Pranab Kanya Sangha, AIR Road, Port Blair, A&N Islands is being given assistance.
(c) Presently there is no proposal to review the Policy.
(d) The Ministry does not keep a data base on the number of orphans/destitute children in the country since the orphanages are registered and recognized by the State Governments. However, the Ministry has a Scheme of Assistance to Voluntary Organisations for Homes (Sishu Griha) for infants for promoting in-country adoption, under which 48 such homes as on date provide care and maintenance for destitute children as a pre-placement facility. A State-wise list is placed at Annexure-I.
(e) The number of adoptions from 1995 onward through Placement Agencies recognized by Government of India as per records available is given below:
Year In-country Inter- Total Adoption country Adoptions
1995 1424 1236 2660 1996 1623 990 2613 1997 1330 1026 2356 1998 1746 1406 3152 1999 1558 1293 2851 2000 1870 1364 3234 Total 9551 7315 16866
ANNEXURE-I
2000-2001
CHILDREN MAINTAINED UNDER SHISHU GREH
NAME OF STATE NO. OF SHISHU GREHS NO. OF CHILDREN MAINTAINED
Andhra Pradesh 3 40 Arunachal Pradesh 1 20 Delhi 2 19 Gujarat 2 30 Haryana 2 20 Himachal Pradesh 1 10 Karnataka 1 10 Kerala 2 20 Madhya Pradesh 1 20 Maharashtra 15 200 Manipur 2 17 Mizoram 1 10 Orissa 8 120 Rajasthan 2 30 Tamilnadu 2 40 Tripura 1 20 West Bengal 2 30 Total 48 656