Latest news with #CentralAdoptionResourceAuthority
New Indian Express
13-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
287 orphaned kids adopted in Odisha in 2024-25: CARA
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has witnessed a rise in child adoption rate in the last one year, with 287 orphaned, abandoned or surrendered children getting adopted in 2024-25. According to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, more girls were adopted than boys. While 151 girls were adopted, the number was 136 for boys. Of them, 259 such children (122 boys and 137 girls) were adopted within the country and 28 (14 boys and as many girls) found parental care outside the country. While Maharashtra had the highest number of children being adopted at 849, Odisha stood fifth in the list after Tamil Nadu (465), West Bengal (328) and Karnataka (306). In 2023-24, the number of adoptions - both within and outside the country - from Odisha was 259. There are 33 specialised adoption agencies (SAA) under the WCD department in 28 districts through which children are adopted. Officials said the waiting period for adoption under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act has been significantly brought down compared to the previous years with collectors now having the power to decide on the adoptive parents. The Act mandates that adoption cases should be disposed of within two months of filing of the application by the prospective parents.
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC takes up suo-motu cognisance of delays in adoption process
Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday took suo-motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report highlighting that prospective parents in India have to wait for an average of three-and-a-half years to adopt infants and young children. A division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice MS Karnik sought a response from the Centre, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), and other relevant authorities on the matter. The court also appointed senior advocate Dr Milind Sathe and advocate Gaurav Shrivastava as amici curiae to assist it in adjudicating the suo-motu proceedings. The matter is scheduled to be heard on June 23. The bench referred to a news report published in The Times of India on April 3, citing CARA data as of March 31, which showed that over 35,500 prospective parents had registered for adopting children, but only 2,400 children were available for adoption. The report also referred to a parliamentary panel's recommendations to revisit adoption laws and streamline protocols. It highlighted concerns such as the low adoption rate among older or special-needs children, and a separate adoption mechanism under Hindu laws that differs from CARA guidelines. In India, the journey of orphaned, surrendered or abandoned children, from the day they are handed over to a shelter home to the day when they are placed in an adoptive home, is long and rigorous. Children cannot be given up for adoption without the Child Welfare Committee's clearance. Child Welfare Committees are autonomous bodies established under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, whose primary function is to address the needs of children who are abandoned, orphaned or in need of care and protection. To adopt a child, a prospective parent must first apply online with relevant documents on CARA's website. A social worker then visits the home to counsel the family and completes a home study report. Adoption agencies then share a child's profile identified as legally free for adoption with the prospective parents based on their preferences regarding gender, age and medical history. A district magistrate then reviews the case, ensuring that all legal requirements are met. However, due to conditions of a previous high court order, reviews in Maharashtra are taken up by the respective district courts. If satisfied, the court issues the adoption order, formally recognising the prospective adoptive parents as the child's adoptive parents. This order is crucial for obtaining a birth certificate for the adopted child, reflecting the names of the adoptive parents.
India Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Court takes note of plea on adoption delays, response sought from Centre, states
The Bombay High Court on Monday initiated a petition of its own accord in response to concerns raised over the prolonged waiting periods faced by prospective parents seeking to adopt children in India. The court issued notices to central and state governments and the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).Currently, the waiting time for adoption reportedly stands at approximately 3.5 bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik said that the case has been initiated on the basis of communication to the Chief Justice on April 3, as well as based on certain news articles. The court has appointed senior advocate Milind Sathe as amicus curiae and advocate Gaurav Shrivastava to assist him in the data shows that adoption processes in India face significant delays, despite a higher demand, compared to number of children available for adopting a child, the prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) are required to register on CARA's Carings portal to initiate the adoption process. Many applicants express a preference for children between the ages of 0 and 2 of April 2025, a total of 35,701 PAPs are registered, while only 2,435 children are available for adoption across the country. Among these, 897 are classified as 'normal' and 1,538 are children with special to media reports, the number of adoptions in the 2024–25 period reached over 4,500 by March 31, this year the highest figure recorded since 2015–16. So far this financial year, 420 children have already been adopted from the Orphan/Abandoned/Surrendered (OAS) court has scheduled the next hearing for June Watch
Hans India
05-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Bombay High Court Takes Suo Motu Action On India's 3.5-Year Adoption Waiting Period
The Bombay High Court has launched a suo motu petition addressing the extended waiting periods confronting prospective adoptive parents in India, which currently averages approximately 3.5 years. During Monday's proceedings, the court issued notices to both central and state governments, as well as to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik initiated the case based on communication received by the Chief Justice on April 3, supplemented by recent media coverage highlighting adoption challenges. To facilitate the proceedings, the court appointed senior advocate Milind Sathe as amicus curiae, with advocate Gaurav Shrivastava providing assistance. Current statistics reveal a significant imbalance in India's adoption landscape. While 35,701 prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) are registered on CARA's Carings portal—the mandatory first step in the adoption process—only 2,435 children are available nationwide. Of these available children, merely 897 are categorized as "normal," while 1,538 are children with special needs. Many applicants specifically seek children between 0-2 years of age, further constraining availability. Despite these challenges, adoption rates have shown improvement. The 2024-25 period recorded over 4,500 adoptions by March 31, marking the highest figure since 2015-16. In the current financial year, 420 children from the Orphan/Abandoned/Surrendered (OAS) category have already found new homes. The court has scheduled further hearings on this matter for June 23, as it seeks to address the systemic issues affecting adoption processes across the country.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
HC seeks response from authorities on long waiting period for adoption
THE BOMBAY High Court on Monday sought a response from the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) on the long waiting period for prospective parents who are seeking to adopt children in the country. The court took suo motu cognisance of a news report which said that the average waiting period for parents looking to adopt a child in the 0-2 years age group is now three-and-a-half years. The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M S Karnik said that taking note of a news report and a letter addressed to the court, which highlighted grievances of prospective parents awaiting their turn to adopt, it was issuing notices to the Union of India, CARA, the nodal body for adoption in India, which comes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and others relevant to the issue. The bench also appointed an amicus curiae, senior advocate Milind Sathe, to assist in the matter. The court will hear the case on June 23. Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, citizens intending to adopt a child, have to register with CARA through its online application system. The Act establishes links between specialised adoption agencies and child care institutions like orphanages. After registration on the CARA portal, a home study is conducted to verify the suitability of the prospective parents, after which they are put on a waiting list to match with a child. The CARA dashboard on Monday states that there are 35,704 prospective parents registered, with 2,440 children available for adoption, 1,534 of them children with 'special needs'. Prospective parents have been raising issues of delays in the process. The Supreme Court, too, had recently raised concerns on the waiting time for adoption and had also pulled up authorities for failure to set up specialised adoption agencies in all districts.
