Simplify adoption rules 8212; Maneka

The minister felt there is a need to intensify the campaign to encourage parents to adopt orphan children in the country. She expressed concern that people are discouraged to adopt a child because of the complex procedures involved in it. Simplifying the whole adoption process is necessary, she suggested.

Presently, the average waiting period for a couple to adopt a child was eight months. This period must not exceed two months to make things less complicated for the parents who go for adoption, she said.

The Juvenile Justice Act was under review and it was hoped that it would be amended by the end of the year. The amended Act would have the provision that Juvenile Boards would order for handling over such children to recognised institutions which could arrange for their rehabilitation through adoption.

Adoption agencies, NGOs, Voluntary Co-ordination Agencies VCAs etc., from all over the country participated in the meet. There are 12 VCAs in the country, out of which four are in Maharashtra itself.