India Fall in Adoption Numbers Sparks Fear of Trafficking

“The number of adoptions within India has been falling steadily over the past six years. In 2010, 5,693 orphans found homes within the country but by the end of 2015-16, the number had dropped to just over 3,000.

The falling numbers has alarmed the Union ministry for women and child development.

“The drop in figures leads us to believe that there are probably other channels through which adoptions are taking place. We must crack down on illegal adoption/trafficking of children from hospitals, shelter homes and orphanages. As a first step, the ministry has deputed 501 district child protection officers to ensure that institutions are registered,” Union minister Maneka Gandhi told TOI on the sidelines of a workshop for women journalists in New Delhi.

In India, all adoptions take place through the Central adoption Resources Authority (CARA) or state adoption agencies. Shelter homes and orphanages must be registered under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Stating that the department will further tighten the norms for adoption, she gave the example of a Gujarati couple who returned the baby they adopted after three months because they decided to separate and neither parent wanted the child. Another couple from West Bengal refused the first baby they were entrusted with via the CARA website. They were given another child but complained that the baby was too restless.

“Such parents will not be allowed to apply for adoption again or such applications will be rejected. Parents are given three choices and they have 48 hours to choose a child,” Maneka Gandhi said.
She said couples should adopt only from registered/affiliated institutions through CARA. There are 31 institutions under CARA and 416 specialised adoption centres.