Govt all set to ease adoption process with single window approval

In a major move to ensure speedy adoption of orphan children whose cases are long pending in the courts, the Central government is going to form a single counter online approval system for adoptions – National Tribunal for Adoptions. The ministry is also organising a brain-storming session on January 16 to finalise modalities for prohibition of ‘child pornography’ from internet and social media.

“The children languishing in child care homes due to pendency of their cases in the courts will easily get parents as several childless couples are in queue for adoption. Furthermore, the NGOs and government agencies could apply online by uploading required documents and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) which will further simply the procedure of adoption,” said Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development. “As per the present adoption rules, a judge is required to decide the case of adoption in maximum two hearings to be conducted within two months but the cases languish in the courts up to seven years,” added Gandhi.

The existing rules in the country prescribe two way process for adoption – verification of foster parents by a committee and declaration of ‘free for adoption’ for the child by the court. The physical verification of the willing parents takes only 7 -10 days. 

“The district courts take years to clear the name of the children for adoption and they are bound to live in child care homes despite several parents willing to adopt them,” said Gandhi highlighting the requirement of the tribunal. A child is declared free for adoption in case he is orphan, parents are mentally not fit for his care, parents are not traceable or nobody in the extended family is willing to take care.  The ministry has almost finalised the terms and conditions for the appointment and working of the authority which will announced shortly.

Gandhi also informed the ministry is going to hold a conference of all the stake holders on January 16 to find out modalities for prohibition of child pornographic materials from internet including social media like facebook and twitter. “Around 37 percent content on internet is pornography out of which a huge amount is child pornography,” said Gandhi.