Question : Illegal Adoption of Children

(a) the estimated number of Indian children adopted within the country and also by foreigners during the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether the Government has received complaints against illegal adoption of children through unapproved child adoption agency and cases of exploitation of children in the adoptions/adoptions by foreigners;
(c) if so, the details thereof, State/UT- wise;
(d) whether Government/Central Adoption Resource Authority has formulated/propose to formulate notified guidelines/regulations for adoption procedures for intra-country and inter-country adoptions with adequate safeguards to protect the child against exploitation and abuses; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon including conducting awareness programme in this regard?

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

(a): The details of the adoption of the children for the last three years and the current year as reported by Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is as follows:
Year in-country Adoption inter-country Adoption
2012 - 2013 4694 308
2013 - 2014 3924 430
2014 - 2015 3988 374
2015 - 2016
(upto December, 2015) 2210 455
(Source: CARA)

(b) & (c): CARA has reported that they have received one compliant about illegal adoption homes from Karntaka. The Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Karnataka has been requested by CARA to take further necessary action.

(d) & (e): The adoption procedure has been simplified and made online through Child Adoption Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) since August’ 2015. Further the roles and responsibilities of authorities and agencies concerned, the timelines for completing various procedures in the process of adoption have been clearly defined in the adoption guidelines with adequate safeguards to protect the child against exploitation and abuses. CARA, a nodal body in the matter of adoption in the country, has been conducting various awareness activities for such purpose.


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