Fear of trafficking hits adoption by foreigners

PUNE: The number of adoptions in Maharashtra increased in 2005-06 despite the cumbersome procedures involved though adoption by foreigners during the same period declined due to apprehensions about child trafficking.

Compared to 1,263 adoptions in 2004-05, the number of children adopted in 2005-06 was 1,388, marking a marginal increase, official sources said here.

However, the percentage of children adopted by foreigners in 2004-05 was 20.62 (245), and this fell by nearly five per cent in 2005-06 to 15.8 per cent (207).

In 2005-06, the number of children adopted by Indians was 966, NRIs 137 and foreigners 207. A total of 78 children with disabilities were adopted by people of different categories.

While 850 children were adopted by Indians in 2004-05, the remaining were adopted by NRIs (93) and foreigners (245).

Seventy-five children with disabilites were adopted by Indians, NRIs and foreigners.

Of the 62 institutions in Maharashtra that facilitate adoptions, 24 cater to prospective parents from abroad (intra-country adoptions) and others are restricted to in-country adoptions, the sources said.

NRI adoptions are considered in-country.

A sting operation by a TV news channel last year about alleged child trafficking in a Pune-based adoption centre had affected adoptions by foreigners.

The Bombay High Court is a hearing a PIL in this connection and has ordered an inquiry by the CBI into the alleged violation of norms by the adoption centre.