Question : CHILD ADOPTION

(a) the number of children adopted by the Indians and foreigners during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the adoption of children has declined in the country during the said period;

(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(d) Whether the Government has received complaints regarding cumbersome formalities for adoption of children; and

(e) If so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to simplify the process of adoption?

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) The reported in-country and inter country adoptions for last three years and current year is Annexed.

(b) & (c): The reported adoptions during the last three years and the current year are 6593 (January’2011-March’2012), 5002 (April’2012-March’2013), 4354 (April’2013-March’2014) and 2774 (April’2014-December’2014 i.e. for the first nine months of the financial year). The decline in adoptions can largely be attributed to the delays at different stages in the adoption process.

(d) & (e) The Ministry has received comments about the cumbersome adoption process from various stake holders including Specialized Adoption Agencies, State Adoption Resource Agencies, General Public etc. when the comments were invited on the proposed new Adoption Guidelines. To simplify the adoption procedure and minimize delays some of the key changes contemplated in existing guidelines include making the entire adoption process online, reducing the time frame for completing the Home Study Report from two months to one month, treating NRI prospective adoptive parents at par with domestic adoptive parents.