SUPREME COURT DIRECTIVE ON CHILD ADOPTION
Identification of Children for Adoption:
- Orders States and Union Territories to initiate bi-monthly drives from December 7 to identify children in orphaned, abandoned, surrendered categories in institutions.
- Focus on children whose parents haven’t visited for over a year or have “unfit” parents/guardians.
Source : Economic Times
Definition of “Unfit Guardian”
- Includes those indulging in drug/alcohol abuse, criminal records, mental unsoundness, and more.
- Emphasis on identifying children with undetermined legal status living in institutions for over a year.
Collaborative Efforts
- District officials urged to collaborate to bring identified children into the adoption pool.
- Aiming to address the mismatch between children available for adoption and prospective adoptive parents.
Bi-Monthly Drives and Data Compilation
- States and Union Territories instructed to start bi-monthly drives from December 7, 2023.
- Directed to compile data on potential adoptable children, especially those in childcare institutions, by January 31, 2024.
CARA’s Role and Portal Registration:
- States urged to ensure registration of all orphaned-abandoned-surrendered (OAS) children on CARINGS portal.
Figures and Challenges:
- As of October 28, 2023, 2,146 children available for adoption, while 30,669 prospective parents are registered.
- Massive wait times for “healthy and young” children due to this disparity.
- Only 390 out of 760 districts have specialized adoption agencies, contributing to delays.
- Preferences of prospective adoptive parents skew towards children up to the age of two, further complicating the adoption process.
The Supreme Court emphasizes the need for proactive measures, collaboration, and data-driven strategies to streamline the adoption process, addressing challenges and ensuring the welfare of children in need of homes.