Cabinet paves way for easier adoption

New Delhi: The Union cabinet has approved amendments to the Juvenile Justice
Amendment Bill, 2005, to bring in changes in the Juvenile Justice Act. The
provisions, if approved by parliament, will cut red tape in adoption
procedures and increase the number of recognised adoption agencies.

"The proposed amendments would improve the provisions of the Juvenile
Justice (Care and Protection) of Children Act, 2000,'' I&B and parliamentary
affairs minister P R Dasmunshi said

Among the most important changes that are likely to come will be
dropping the 'inter-country adoption prohibition clause'. The present
practice for adoption is that foreigners are given the choice of adopting a
child only after he/she has been rejected by Indian parents. The amendment
entails that foreign parents will be treated on par with Indians. ''This
clause will cut down red tapism and hasten the adoption process,'' Reva
Nayyar, women and child department (WCD) secretary, said.

The proposed law makes it mandatory for state agencies and voluntary
organisations to register under the JJ Act within six months of enforcement.
The WCD ministry found that voluntary organisations working for children in
need of care and protection were registered under different legislations
while some were not registered at all. States will also be directed under
the new law to recognise more institutions and voluntary bodies in each
district as specialised adoption agencies. ''It was found that in large
states like MP and UP, there were very few adoption agencies. The new clause
proposes many more agencies in each district that will be placed under a
network so that children can be quickly rehabilitated,'' Nayyar said.

The bill also proposes that children in conflict with the law should not
be placed in a police lock-up or lodged in a jail or even put under
imprisonment for any term. The fine for contravention of these rules has
been increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000.


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