Child adoption rate low in Uttarakhand

As per the data from the State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) under the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Welfare (DWECW) only 50 children, the majority belonging to the age group of 0-5 years, were adopted in the State from the year 2016 till now. Officials state that girls and children with special needs are less likely to be adopted.

As per the data from the year 2016, only 26 children were adopted from Rajkiya Sishu Sadan in Dehradun and 18 children were adopted from Rajkiya Sishu Sadan in Almora. Only six children were adopted from the registered NGOs in last three years and 12 children are under process for adoption.

Providing further information regarding this, an official from DWECW said, “The kids in the 0-5 years age group get adopted soon but children above this age group are less preferred for adoption. The second less preferred category of children are those with special needs and girls. Even though we are growing and educating there is very less awareness when it comes to implementation.

The foreigners, however, are more active in adopting our children especially those with special needs rather than people from our state.”

The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) chairperson Usha Negi said, “It is important that people of our state rise above the mentality of moulding a child in the way they want.

A child, no matter what age, will always be grateful to the parents who have adopted him/her. It is true that sometimes the adopting family feels wary of children who are aged 10 years or above thinking that they will be harder to ‘mould’ as the parents wish.

I agree that children above the age of five years should be counselled properly. Also, people need to realise that when they adopt an orphan, they are getting a child in the family while an orphan is getting a family and home.”

On foreigners adopting children with special needs more than people of the state she said, “This perception is not accurate as a group of foreigners was recently exposed for claiming insurance money in the name of such children after their death in which they were allegedly the culprits.

It is important that the department also keep a regular check on the children who get adopted in other states or in any part of the world.”

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