Government pushes adoption option at awareness meet

CHENNAI : "My house resembled a lifeless museum six months ago. Now it feels like a home after I adopted my little one," says Uma Maheswari Vaidyanathan.

She was one of the happy parents who shared their experience on how adopting children made a difference to their lives at an adoption awareness meet organised here by the Social Welfare and Nutritional Meal Programme Department on Thursday.

Inaugurating the meet, Minister for Social Welfare Poongothai said many couples were still hesitant to adopt children fearing social reaction.

She said adoption was an option not only for childless couples, but for those interested in adopting an orphaned or abandoned child. However, those seeking to adopt children must go through licensed agencies and follow legal procedures even if they were cumbersome, the Minister said.

Ms. Poongothai hoped that a handbook on adoption, which she launched at the programme, would serve as a guide.

It contains details about qualifications of the parents, information on adoption within the country and abroad, legal procedures, and adoption agencies.

Handbook released

Releasing the handbook, poet Kanimozhi said the handbook provided clear information on adoption and contact persons. Citing Hindu deities and epic characters such as Sita, Krishna and Karna as examples, she said adoption is not a new concept, but a centuries-old tradition.

Social Welfare secretary S. Palaniappan said such meetings were being organised to encourage parents to come forward and provide a new home for orphaned children. About 20 non-governmental organisations in the state were licensed as adoption agencies of whom nine were authorised for overseas adoption.

Social Welfare director V. Thangavelu said the directorate had facilitated about 3,360 adoptions over the past five years. Around 120 people have registered for adoption with the licensed agencies. The department aimed at setting up an adoption agency in every district.

Issues, including the role of various stakeholders such as parents, police and NGOs, and the adoption laws were discussed at the seminar.

Participants highlighted the need for speeding up the process for procuring documents such as birth certificates and inclusion of the adopted child's name in family (ration) cards.

Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/05/04/stories/2007050416740500.htm