10 Years Later, Still Fake?… Ministry of Welfare Begins Audit of Adoption Record Computerization Project

The Child Rights Protection Agency (formerly the Central Adoption Agency) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been carrying out the ‘Adoption Records Computerization Project’ since 2013 to collect and computerize adoption records scattered across private organizations. The purpose is to permanently preserve adoption records in the private sector by integrating them into a public institution and to increase adoptees’ access to information.

However, suspicions have been raised that this project, which has been in progress for about 10 years, has been managed poorly. It is said that everything from basic record scanning to the process of uploading data to the online system has been handled poorly. It has been confirmed that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has also identified the related issues and has begun an audit of the Child Rights Protection Agency regarding the ‘Adoption Records Computerization Project’. Previously, Newstapa conducted the <Overseas Adoption and Money> project to identify the structural problems of overseas adoption in the 1970s and 1980s. Through this, we have reported in depth on cases of overseas adoptees who were unable to find their information due to the barriers of adoption agencies. The adoption records computerization project of the National Institute of Child Rights, a public institution, was started to help adoptees find their roots, but it is being revealed that it has been carried out haphazardly. Newstapa plans to track and report on the reality of the adoption records computerization project that has been carried out for the past 10 years. Adoption records computerization project 10 years… Suspicions finally surface Adoptees usually do not stay in one institution after being separated from their original families and adopted into another family. In the case of overseas adoptees in the 1970s and 1980s, they were admitted to child welfare facilities that were formerly called orphanages, and then sent to institutions that arranged overseas adoptions such as Holt Children’s Welfare Association, where they were finally adopted. This means that there can be records from multiple institutions for one child. Welfare facilities and adoption agencies each create records in different forms. This is one of the reasons why adoptees have difficulty finding their records. The adoption records computerization project was implemented for the purpose of integrating and managing records scattered across individual facilities. This project was first started at the Central Adoption Center in 2013. After the Central Adoption Center was integrated into the Child Rights Protection Center in 2019, it was run by the Child Rights Protection Center for a total of 10 years until 2022.

Adoption records containing personal information about children, circumstances of admission to facilities, and information about biological parents are more than just records to overseas adoptees. Adoptees said, “If there was a problem, the Child Rights Protection Agency should take responsibility,” and “(the agency) should quickly step forward and explain (what happened).” <Overseas Adoption and Money> Project Collection.

From 2013 to 2022, the Child Rights Protection Center computerized the records of 86 closed child welfare facilities for 10 years. The project was not implemented in 2023 and 2024. Starting next year, records from adoption agencies such as Holt Children’s Welfare Association and the Korea Social Service Association will be mandatorily transferred to the center.

However, ahead of the mandatory transfer of records from adoption agencies such as Holt Children’s Welfare Association next year, suspicions have been raised that there were overall deficiencies in the adoption record computerization project that the Child Rights Protection Center had been conducting for 10 years. It is pointed out that there were overall problems with the project, such as scanning errors, non-compliance with guidelines, and insufficient system uploads. Newstapa confirmed the details through the testimonies of multiple relevant parties. This is the first time that the problems with the adoption record computerization project that was conducted for 10 years have been reported by the media.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-26/reynolds-calls-for-ban-overseas-adoptions-after-investigation/104252812?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2USRMwTdxNBaBL0WoInx4J4DzwMmTMea4jwMXzseU07-6Zahvt2oncy_A_aem_5MR5EupG5DYZup9pfaMnxQ

The government should freeze all intercountry adoptions and sever ties with its South Korean adoption partner, according to a senator representing Australia on an international human trafficking taskforce.

The call comes following a Background Briefing investigation that found the Korean adoption agency — Eastern Social Welfare Society (ESWS) — falsified documents while sending thousands of children to Australia in the past.

Scores of adoptees say they've grown up unaware they had siblings and believing they were orphans, only discovering as adults that their original paperwork was falsified.

An insider who worked at ESWS in the 1970s and 1980s alleged that bribes were paid to hospital workers in exchange for babies.

If you were adopted from abroad to Denmark before 8 August 2003, it may be relevant for you to contact the Danish Appeals Board if you want to know whether your original family tried to contact you in the period 1987 to 8 August 2003.

In the period 15 January 1987 to 8 August 2003, the intermediary organizations forwarded inquiries from the original family to the supervisory authority. This is shown by a study completed by the Danish Appeals Board in July 2024.

If anonymity was waived, any inquiries were forwarded to adopters or adult adoptees. If anonymity had not been waived, any inquiries were kept in the supervisory authority's archive. This happened in accordance with the guidelines that were then applicable for the handling of inquiries from the original family. The archives were later handed over to the National Archives.

After 8 August 2003, the guidelines were changed so that the adoption mediating organizations AC Børnehjælp and DanAdopt sent all inquiries from the original family to adopters or adult adoptees.

Contact the Danish Appeals Board if you want to know whether there are inquiries from your original family from the period 1987 to 2003.

Since 2019, India has seen 18,179 recorded adoptions, of which only 1,404 involved children with special needs. Despite a marked increase over the past five years, activists highlight that the adoption rate remains significantly low for these children. Continued challenges include broad categorization and parental reluctance.

Of the 18,179 adoptions recorded since 2019, only 1,404 involved children with special needs, even as overall adoption numbers increased, according to official data.

Despite a rise in the number of special needs children available for adoption, the adoption rate remains significantly low, activists noted.

Children with special needs require more support due to physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional challenges.

In 2019-20, there were 3,745 total adoptions in India: 3,351 in-country and 394 international. Only 56 boys and 110 girls with special needs were adopted, as per CARA's response to an RTI query by PTI.

Survivors of child sex abuse by male and female clergy seek justice – but are answered with silence

Geo, the name he prefers, sits in a coffee shop on a rainy afternoon as streetcars clang along outside. He is 64. He arrived at Madonna Manor, the Catholic orphanage he is now suing, in August of 1967, as a ward of Louisiana, age seven.

“My childhood was horrific,” he says matter-of-factly. “My father was an abusive alcoholic, my mother diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic. Madonna Manor was a place where dysfunctional parents dumped their children. My mom was subject to electroshock therapy and thorazine. She lost a baby. She had a psychotic breakdown and was placed in a mental hospital. The state took me over.”

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/a-mother-s-dying-words-leads-capel-man-to-discover-he-was-adopted/ar-AA1pnjeL?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ACTS&cvid=128b56d94f4e47d79954b7c243308ed2&ei=8&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0gYjvmUhtvwJeh5l9QD1YDomzddhujRYJ0lrtY7QCdN-4GefEXaT1ECS8_aem_26_C6KGC1ymDsHqLOizkEw

A few days before Anne McDermott's mother died, she pulled Anne aside to reveal a cryptic premonition about Anne's husband, Peter.

"[She] took my hand and said, 'Annie, I'm just gonna let you know everything isn't as it appears with Peter and his family.'"

Anne had always thought of her mother as psychic, but in that moment she fobbed it off.

But the message would stay with her.

Thiruvananthapuram: Even after three years, the government has not taken any action on the report of the Director of Women and Child Welfare Department about people who put the baby up for adoption without the knowledge of the mother. Even the copy of the report of TV Anupama IAS who investigated the adoption of the child has not been given to the complainant. The accused in the government hoarded report are still in the top positions of the party and the government.

It was Asianet News that brought out the incident where the parents handed over the baby to the Child Welfare Committee without the consent of the mother, Anupama. This child was being handed over to other childless parents in violation of all adoption rules. Anupama approached CWC to get the baby back. But there is no justice. The government had to intervene with a mother's protest before the Child Welfare Committee. After the government submitted a report to the court to cancel the dowry and return the child, Anumpak got the child back through the legal process. Anupama complained to the Chief Minister and the police that the father, who is a CPM leader, had smuggled the child with the help of the leaders. The complaint was that Shiju Khan, who was the general secretary of the Child Welfare Committee, and Sunanda, the Chairperson of the CWC, were complicit in the violations. The then director TV Anupama, who investigated the complaint, gave the report by enumerating the shortcomings of the accused. It has been two years since this report was placed in cold storage.

Dr. What action was taken on the report? Minister Veena George said in his reply to MK Muneer's question in the Legislative Assembly on February 22, 2022 that he has sought AG's legal advice for further action on the recommendations. But till date no action has been taken against those mentioned in the report. Even a copy of the report was not given to the complainant despite the request under RTI. No action was taken in the police case filed by Anupama. Anupama filed a complaint with the Navakerala Sadas. The complaint received in the Navakerala audience was forwarded to the Perurkada police, which delayed action on Anupama's complaint, for further action.

Adoptions in Guwahati are notably low due to a lengthy process, bureaucratic delays, and an imbalance between available children and prospective parents, highlighting systemic challenges

Adoption, often seen as a noble act of providing a family to a child in need, faces major challenges in Guwahati. Despite the city’s progress and development, the number of adoptions remains surprisingly low. With only two government adoption centers in the city, one in Birubari and another run by Maitri Mandir, the figures reflect a shocking reality. In a year, Maitri Mandir handles approximately 5-6 adoptions, while the center in Birubari manages around 10. This situation raises an essential question: Why are adoptions in Guwahati so few?

One of the primary reasons for the low number of adoptions in Guwahati, and indeed across India, is the lengthy and complex adoption process. Prospective parents often face a long wait, sometimes extending to two years or more, before they can bring a child home. This waiting period begins with the registration on the Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS), an online platform under the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

The adoption process involves several stages aimed at ensuring the well-being of the child. After registration, prospective parents must upload nine relevant documents, including identity proofs, financial statements, and medical records. Following this, a social worker and a protection officer from the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) visit the prospective parent's home to assess their suitability for adoption. This home study report plays a crucial role in determining whether the applicant can proceed with the adoption.

Talking to GPlus, a social worker from the adoption centre said, "Once the home study report is approved, a waiting number is allotted to the prospective parent, signifying their position in the queue to be matched with a child. The matching process is another significant hurdle, as it is influenced by the preferences of the prospective parents and the availability of children who are legally free for adoption."

An amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Amendment Act, which came into effect in September 2022, has shifted the responsibility of issuing adoption orders from district courts to District Magistrates (DMs). This change was intended to streamline the process and reduce the time taken from the stage when a child becomes legally free for adoption to the finalization of the adoption. However, despite this amendment, the ground reality in Guwahati suggests that the process remains time-consuming and cumbersome.

The social worker from the centre also added, "The amendment was a step in the right direction, but its implementation has been slow. The time taken to process adoption cases still leaves much to be desired. This delay is a significant deterrent for many prospective parents, who may be dissuaded by the lengthy wait times."

Another factor contributing to the low adoption rates in Guwahati is the imbalance between the number of prospective adoptive parents and the availability of children for adoption. The SARA official highlighted this issue, stating, "The number of adoptions is low because there are more waiting parents than available children. This imbalance is what's keeping the adoption numbers down"

This imbalance can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, not all children in orphanages or care homes are legally free for adoption. A child can only be considered for adoption after all efforts to reunite them with their biological family have been exhausted, and after the child is declared legally free by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). This legal process can take a considerable amount of time, further delaying the availability of children for adoption.

A parent currently going through the adoption process talking to GPlus said, "The adoption process in India is extremely slow. It can take at least two years to adopt a child, which is really tough for us as we are ready to start our family but are stuck waiting because of all the red tape." They added that the long wait is emotionally draining, making it hard to stay hopeful when the process drags on for so long.

Moreover, the financial implications of adoption are also a concern. While the adoption fees themselves may not be exorbitant, the costs associated with preparing the required documents, undergoing medical tests, and making the necessary home adjustments can add up. For some prospective parents, these financial burdens can be a significant deterrent.

Talking to GPlus, the social worker from the adoption centre also added, "Adoptive parents need to be physically, mentally, and emotionally stable, and also financially capable".

I feel a deep respect for biological moms. But I am also relieved to have not gone through the trials and tribulations of one

Written by Smita Pranav Kothari

It’s 9:48 pm. As I put my eight-month-old to bed, my lower back and frozen shoulders sigh: One more day down. I wonder why everyone says, “They grow up too fast!”.

I go over my mental to-do list for the day to gauge how I fared with the baby:
Protein: Check
Fruits and vegetables: Check
Supplements: Check
Learning and development through toys and activities: Check
Exposure to nature and socialising through stroller walk: Check
Exposure to music by playing baby Mozart and Indian devotional songs: Check
Diaper-free time: Check

However, there’s always room to learn, and do more and better when it comes to a baby. So, I open a moms’ group on WhatsApp meant for discussions about newborn to about six-month-old babies. On this group, I have found recommendations for the best wet wipe, inquired about others’ experiences in dealing with their children’s constipation, got educated about products like steriliser bags which I didn’t know about, and more. This group (and others on social media) consists of moms. Period. They could be mothers through the biological route or adoption or surrogacy. There is no mention as to which mom is an adoptive parent and hence no way to know otherwise. Moms are moms. Except that I learnt our trials and tribulations are very different.

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) recently ordered the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), a statutory body responsible for regulating and monitoring adoptions, to let an issueless couple adopt a newborn girl, who was “illegally sold” to them eight months ago by her birth mother

The order came on a petition filed by the childless couple after the Mumbai police crime branch took away the child during an investigation into an alleged child trafficking racket and on order of the Child Welfare Committee, the baby girl was kept in a children’s home in Mumbai.

The division bench of justice Bharati Dangre and justice Manjusha Deshpande asked CARA to allow the couple to adopt the child as per prevailing procedure, as the couple had “nurtured the baby girl for around eight months” since she was just six-day-old.

“We prima-facie express that upon the child being declared as fit for adoption, CARA, deviating from its faceless procedure, can consider the fitness of the Petitioners to be adoptive parents and after following the regulations prescribed by CARA, the Petitioners shall adopt the girl child since they already have cared for her for the past 8 months,” said the bench.

The petitioners claimed they had adopted the girl child with the help of one Uma Revla, who informed them that the 3-day-old girl was available for adoption as her mother expressed unwillingness to maintain the child.