Karnataka to establish government-run ‘Special Adoption Centres’ in 5 districts, including Dakshina Kannada

Team Udayavani, Dec 9, 2023, 9:24 AM IST

Karnataka is setting up 5 government-run “Special Adoption Centres” across several districts, including Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Bidar, Bengaluru Rural, and Chikkamagaluru. This move aims to address the rising demand for adopting children while alleviating the strain on existing adoption/foster care centers.

In the D.K. district, the Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samaj’s “Vatsalyadham Dattu Kendra” in Puttur has been operational since 2010 with a capacity to accommodate 10 children. However, there have been demands for more centers to care for and to facilitate adoption of abandoned and orphaned children.

In response to this demand, a government-run special foster care/adoption facility sanctioned for the district is coming up in Bondel in Mangaluru. This facility will also have the capacity to care for 10 children.

In Udupi, the “Shrikrishnanugrah Dattu Kendra” in Santhekatte, which has a capacity to care for 30 children, is operating at full capacity and has expressed a demand for another foster care center.

264 children adopted in DK & Udupi

According to the government data, 264 children have been legally adopted in the twin districts, including 166 in the D.K. district and 98 from Udupi district. Some of these children have been adopted by foreigners.

7-year waiting list:

The adoption process has seen a substantial backlog, with approximately 400 individuals in the district waiting for adopt a child, some having registered nearly a decade ago. The wait times can be anywhere from three and a half years for children up to 2 years of age to 7 to 8 years for older children. Udupi district reports about 330 registered individuals/couples waiting for adoption.

Regulatory changes

Recently, significant regulatory changes have been implemented to streamline the adoption process. The authority to issue adoption orders has transitioned to the District Collector’s Courts from Civil Courts. This change is expected to expedite the process, reducing the wait for adoptive parents to just 2 months.

Moreover, adjustments to age limits have been made. The total age limit for couples adopting children up to 2 years has been reduced from 90 to 85 years, while for single parents/individuals, the maximum age has been lowered from 45 to 40. The upper age limit for parents seeking adoption is set at 110 years for couples and 55 years for single parents.

Illegal adoptions are punishable by law:

Meanwhile, Kumar, the DK District Child Protection Officer said curbing illegal adoption practices is a challenge the government recognizes. Illegal adoptions are punishable by Indian law, the government is making efforts to raise awareness about it and promote legal channels of adoption.

He further said that the changes in regulations initiated at the national level aim to benefit both adoptive parents and children, while curbing illegal adoption practices.

How to legally adopt?

Individuals interested in adoption can access information through the official website http://www.cara.wcd.gov.in, Adoption Centers, Child Development Officers, or the Women and Child Development Department.

For any further inquiries or information, individuals are encouraged to reach out to the relevant authorities mentioned above.