US adopts maximum orphans from India: Govt

“During April-June 2015, the number of children placed in in-country adoption is 816, of which 518 are girls and 298 boys. A total of 3,924 children were placed in in-country adoption during 2013-14, out which 2, 293 were girls and 1,631 boys,” she added.

Citing figures for inter-country adoption, she said: “In 2013-14, 422 children were placed for adoption, of which 294 were girls and 118 boys. In 2014-15, 374 children were placed in inter-country adoption, of which 255 were girls and 119 boys. During April-June 2015, the number of children placed in inter-country adoption is 95, of which 66 are females and 29 boys.”

The US adopts <g data-gr-id="30">maximum number</g> of children from various orphanages across the country, followed by Italy and Spain, the government said. According to data provided by the Ministry, America adopted 108, 156, 133 and 36 children in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively; while 60, 98, 79 and 25 children found new homes in Italy; 48, 42, 48 and 10 orphans were placed in Spain under the inter-country adoption during the same years.

Within the country, Maharashtra topped the chart with 1,043, 1,068, 947 and 160 adoptions done in the state during the past four years, while Delhi with an average adoption rate among other metro cities provided home to 187, 156, 126 and 27 orphans.

The country houses 1,521 children’s homes and 320 specialised adoption agencies (SAAs), which are funded under the centrally-sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has registered 74 complaints of misbehaviour/ abuse, ill-treatment and exploitation. The children were harassed in child care institutions, including children’s homes and SAAs, during the past three years and the current year, the Minister added.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, and the Central Model Rules provide for monitoring, inspection and measures that may be adopted by state governments/ UTs to look into a case of ill-treatment. “The Ministry has been urging the state governments/ UT administrations to identify and register all child care institutions so as to ensure that the standards of care can be monitored. In response to complaints received at the national level, the NCPCR makes recommendations to the state governments/ UT administrations for taking appropriate action,” said Gandhi.