Orphanages & Adoption
It is estimated that over a million children is orphaned in India every year. The orphaned children in Kerala are also large in number. Indian families are not capable to adopt all these children. Therefore, international adoption is being encouraged since last 30 years and many families adopt Indian orphans.
Generally, the families adopt orphans below the age of 5 as it is too easy to mould them in this age group.
Adoption law in India gets amended very often, based on the past experience. The Indian law is specific that a birth mother can change her mind within two months after the abandonment or relinquishment of the child. On the expiry of this two months’ period, first preference for adoption is given to citizens of Indian origin living in India, second preference goes to citizens of Indian origin living abroad. Third preference is corned by an Indian citizen with foreign spouse living abroad. International family gets last preference.
For international adoption the Clearance Certificate is issued by Adoption Co-ordinating Agency (ACA). Only on receipt of this Certificate, an orphanage can refer a child to an international family.
CARA requires the adopting family to escort the adopted child home. If, for any unavoidable reasons, the parents cannot come down to India, JOH will arrange an escort on permission from CARA.
Visa formalities for the children from Kerala will be completed by the orphanage itself and the adopting family just has to travel. The adoption by NRI families from Kerala is speedier.
Social Welfare Department of Kerala government also gives all necessary assistance and guidance. Social Welfare Department gives assistance in a variety of social services, in addition to adoption. Their site address is: www.kerala.gov.in/dept-socialwelfare.
There has been a revision, beginning 2007, in CARA guidelines for adoption. The adopting parents’ combined age should not be more than 90 years. If out of two parents, one’s age is more than 55, no adoption will be allowed. For new families post placement reports are needed twice a year for two years and within this period adoption is to be done. If the adoption is not done within this period, the placing authority is bound to remove the child from the home and entrust with a new adopting family. If, in adopting parents one is an Indian citizen, no VCA clearance is needed.
Generally, the legal process takes 4-6 months minimum. Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), a government set-up, is the agency overseeing the adoption. Journey’s of the Heart (JOH), an international agency, is well equipped with experience in facilitating and handling adoption from India. Their India Unit office, Preet Mandir, at Pune in Maharashtra is always at the service of adopters. JOH’s India Programme Coordinator is Judi Cloper who has adopted 3 children from India for herself. She is a frequenter to India and is well-versed with bureaucratic hoop-ups in India. She has good contacts with CARA to get the things done without unwanted hindrances. She can be contacted at Judiko@aol.com.
