8,677 children available for adoption across the country: WCD

According to the data presented by Irani, 6,971 orphaned and abandoned children, including 3,990 girls, are available for adoption in 488 specialised adoption agencies across the country.

ccording to ministry of women and child development, about 8,677 children, including 5,033 girls, are available for adoption at child care institutions and specialised adoption agencies across the country right now.

Even though so many parents are not able to have their own kids, adopting is still considered an uncomfortable taboo in India

In reply to a Lok Sabha query, WCD Minister Smriti Irani presented data of the state-wise number of children available for adoption at child care institutions (CCIs) and specialised adoption agencies (SAAs) across the country.

According to the data presented by Irani, 6,971 orphaned and abandoned children, including 3,990 girls, are available for adoption in 488 specialised adoption agencies across the country.

The data showed 1,706 children, including 1043 girls, are available for adoption at 4,462 child care institutions.

The minister said the entire adoption procedure has been made online through the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guideline System (CARINGS) which has made the system fully transparent and accessible.

As like other countries, there are certain check points and rules to adopt a child in India set by the CARA, that comes under Ministry of women and child development

Following are the basic conditions which need to be satisfied by the adopting parents in order to be eligible to adopt a child:

1. A child in India can be adopted by an Indian citizen, NRI or a foreign citizen. The procedure of adoption is different for all three.

2. Any person is eligible to adopt irrespective of their gender or marital status.

3. In case a couple is adopting a child, they should have completed at least two years of stable marriage and should have a joint consensus for adoption of the child.

4.The age difference between the child and the adoptive parents should not be less than 25 years.

"The Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) who are found to be not complying with the Adoption Regulations, 2017 are being issued show cause notices after which they are either fined or their recognition is suspended if they are found to be violating the provisions of the Act or the regulations," she said.