Australia resumes adoptions from India

New Delhi, August 14

Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after it was suspended eight years ago over charges of trafficking by some recognised Indian placement agencies, a senior WCD official said on Tuesday.

The suspension was enforced in 2010 and the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry along with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) were constantly engaging with the Australian government for recommencement of the programme, he said.

“The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed,” he said.

“The regulations of inter-country adoptions have been made strict by the Indian government with the enactment of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and notification of Adoption Regulations, 2017,” he said.

According to the Special Broadcasting Service in Australia, Assistant Minister for Children and Families David Gillespie confirmed the news and said the recommendation was to start with small numbers.

Gillespie said India had “improved its processes” to comply with the Hague convention on adoption and could rejoin the 13 countries on Australia’s approved adoption list. “We don’t want to see children that aren’t getting what they deserve — a permanent, safe, caring home,” he said. — PTI