Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 28: The noble process of adoption has always been marred by undue legalities and involvement of multiple agencies. Many times, such complex processes dampen the very spirit of adopting children whose fate often hangs in balance.
The whole process of adoption was till now governed by the 2011 adoption guidelines by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), but the whole system is set for an overhaul. The Union ministry of women and child development has notified the revised guidelines governing adoption of children, which will come into effect from August 1, 2015.
The new system has put in place a clear and transparent procedure for registration of resident Indians and would give the prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) a chance to apply online and also to upload relevant documents online while doing away with the process of physically visiting offices and filing applications for adoptions.
Meanwhile, the new norms also give the option for the PAPs to select an adoption agency of their own choice for conducting home study report and also their preferable state. Moreover, in order to encourage inter-state adoptions, CARA has clarified that no permission of State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) is required for domestic adoption from one state to another.
The new policy has meanwhile brought cheers to activists, officials and people in the state. Speaking to Orissa POST, Namrata Chadda, member of Juvenile Justice Board, Khurda said, “The new norms are likely to make the whole adoption process smoother. Earlier, there was little data on adoption from across the country. Now with the online process in the pipeline, the whole adoption process will help create a central repository of data thereby helping us better deal with the issue. The new policy enables applicants to trace the status of their application.”
The whole process of adoption till now had been a painstaking task and was riddled with legal issues. Sarla Behera, secretary of Cuttack-based adoption agency Basundhara said, “The whole process of adoption till now was very complex. If people were lucky they got things done in six-eight months, otherwise it took over a year or a couple of years with many agencies involved in the process and each agency taking its own sweet time. But I think the online system can be problematic for some people in the initial stage.”
The process of adoption often involves the active participation of the child welfare committee which first decides if the child is legally free for adoption and then interviews the couples keen to adopt. However, the panel looks into several matters before giving its nod. Experts say a strong marital relationship is crucial in case of adoption.
A former member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) said, “The CWCs are entrusted with the task of interviewing prospective parents who are keen to adopt. But for a successful adoption process, we see many aspects. The strength of relationship of the parents is taken into account. If they have been into a courtship of more than five years, they are preferred. We need to counsel them also about the challenges ahead and when we are satisfied that the couple can handle the kids only then do we give clearance.”
