The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : NRIs can adopt children from State

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

NRIs can adopt children from State

M.L. Melly Maitreyi

Adoption Cell is yet to finalise norms and regulations

Ban lifted on inter-country adoptions from Andhra Pradesh
Inter-country adoption from State was banned in 2001-02

HYDERABAD: Non-Resident Indian childless couples from the State wanting to adopt a child from the State can now approach the Department of Women Development and Child Welfare with online applications.

This follows the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA)’s decision on July 4 to lift the ban on inter-country adoptions from Andhra Pradesh.

However, such NRIs need to wait for two more months, because the Adoption Cell in the State is yet to finalise the norms and regulations before receiving their online applications.

Scandal

Inter-country adoption from the State was banned in 2001-02, when a major scandal broke out involving private adoption agencies that struck lucrative deals by ‘arranging’ children for both NRI and foreign couples.

After the ban was imposed only the State-run adoption home, Sishu Vihar was authorised to handle applications for adoptions.

‘Several inquiries’

“We used to get several inquiries from Telugu NRI couples as first preference for adopting children here because of the ease in communication and the comfort of depending on their immediate family members to follow up applications. Following pleas from such couples, CARA relaxed lifted the ban,” an official of Adoption Cell.

But given the huge demand from prospective adoptive parents (PAP) in the State itself who wait at least one year, one is not sure how many NRI couples could realise their dream, the official says.

At present, about 250 applications from eligible local couples are pending with Sishu Vihar. In 2007-08, 167 children were given for adoption in the age group of infancy to six years from Sishu Vihars in Hyderabad and Chittoor and 10 Sishu Gruhas, she says.

‘Special children’

However, if NRI couples can come forward to adopt ‘special children’ who need extra care, such applications could be processed faster. Sishu Vihar now has 45 normal and 75 special children. But how many of NRIs would prefer such special children is debatable. This is in contrast to foreigners who do not have such reservations.

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