Adoptions have declined due to delays in process: Govt

New Delhi: Adoptions in the country have declined over the past three years, the government on Friday said and attributed it to delays at different stages in the process.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development said it is taking steps to simplify the process.

"The reported adoptions during the last three years and the current year are 6,593 (January 2011 to March 2012), 5,002 (April 2012 to March 2013) and 4,354 (April 2013 to March 2104) and 2, 274 (April 2014 to December 2014) (i.e. The first nine years of the financial year)."

"The decline can be largely attributed to the delays at different stages in the adoption process," Maneka Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development, said in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

She added that the ministry has received comments about the "cumbersome" adoption process from various stake holders including specialised adoption agencies, state adoption resources agencies and general public.

"To simplify the adoption procedure and minimise delays some of the key changes contemplated in existing guidelines include reducing the time frame for completing the Home Study Report from two to one month, treating NRI prospective adoptive parents on a par with domestic adoptive parents," Gandhi added.