237 kids from Karnataka found adoptive homes in 2018-19

Publication date: 24 August 2019

BENGALURU: At 237, Karnataka recorded the second highest number of children being given away for in-country adoption

The national trend of girl children outnumbering boys was reflected in Karnataka too: 130 girls as against 107 boys. Of the 3,374

children adopted across the country, 1,977 were girls and 1,397 boys.

found adoptive parents for 237 kids in 2018-19, the state should strive to better the figures. The focus should be on

reducing the waiting time for adoptive couples, but without compromising on checks and balances. The numbers also

reflect a story of joy and despair. While more girl children were given away in adoption compared to boys, more of them

were also found abandoned. Procedural fixes apart, more people need to open their homes and hearts to little ones and

gift them a better tomorrow.

Incidentally, the number of female newborns either being abandoned or surrendered to the women and child welfare

department is also more compared to baby boys.

Karnataka also bucked the national upward trend in total number of adoptions. The state recorded a 19% decline in 2018-19,

when compared to 2017-18 when there were 294 adoptions. Nationally, adoptions went up by 3% from 3,276 to 3,374.

The number of newborns surrendered to the department via police or directly through government-run Shishu Mandiras is

more than that of the abandoned babies. Between 2016-19, the state saw 478 babies abandoned and 576 surrendered.

“With rise in awareness, the number of babies safely delivered and handed over to Shishu Mandiras and produced before the

child welfare committees has increased over the years. Cradles have been put up near many NGOs and Shishu Mandiras

across the state, where a new mother can drop her child safely if she doesn’t want to keep the baby. Unfortunately, there are

also cases of newborns being abandoned in open spaces and battling for life,” said a senior officer from the women and child

welfare department.

The waiting time in Karnataka for a prospective adoptive childless couple remains 2-3 years, according to such couples and

NGOs. However, women and child welfare department authorities said the period is only one-two years. “Prospective adoptive

parents who have registered for older children can avail immediate placement option,” said officials at State Adoption Resource

Agency, Karnataka.

A resource person working with the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and prospective adoptive parents said the

waiting list is centrally managed and states have no role to play. “The waiting list is maintained by CARA. Couples from

Karnataka who opt for children in more than one state will have state-specific waiting list too. If the couple is willing to adopt a

child from anywhere in India, the waiting period is comparatively shorter. However, it depends on factors like the age of the

child they prefer to adopt. It also matters whether the adoption is sought by a single woman or a couple,” the expert said.

Countries: India