New rules favour single, financially stable women

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Pune: Single women above the age of 40 and financially stable top the list of parents for adoption, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has said in an Right to Information (RTI) reply to TOI’s query filed on January 14.

There have been such 159 adoptions, 93 from within the country and 66 inter-country, in the last seven months after the Ministry of Women and Child Development gave preference to single women to adopt. In sharp contrast, of the six adoptions by men, five are in-country and one is an inter-country adoption. The reply, received on February 20, said these adoptions are being processed under the Adoption Regulations, 2017 that were declared last July.

“ There has been an increasing demand from women and the new regulations are helping ease the adoption process,” Central Adoption Resource Authority head Deepak Kumar said. They have been given seniority in the antedate given to them by six months which eases the process, he added.

The move was proposed by WCD minister Maneka Gandhi after considering representations from such women. “Adoption requests are processed by keeping the child’s best interests in mind and if a financially independent woman with a stable income wants to adopt a child, the process will be smoother,’’ from the adoption agency officials said.

The decision can help older, single women jump the long queue of those who have registered for adoption with CARA. The waiting list for couples is more than 15,000. At present, with nearly 1,000 applications, only 300 children are processed and the waiting period for a parent is about 15 months.

A senior official working in the field told TOI he found more single women opting for adoption in the course of his counselling sessions over the last four to five years.

“Adoption is not looked upon as taboo for a single unmarried woman any more. Actors like Sushmita Sen have adopted two children,” the official added. “Single women are committed and there are many who do it conveniently without any issues with the support of their parents,’’ he added.

A single parent, who did not want to be named, adopted a child after she lost her husband. “I have my parents’ support and there has been no issue whatsoever. Now that the process is simpler, more single women will be take such a step,” she said.

Adoption regulations under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, currently allow couples as well as single men and women to adopt. This also includes NRIs and those of foreign origin. While single men are allowed to adopt only male children, single women have no such restrictions.