ADOPTION OF CHILD IN INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HINDUS
ADOPTION OF CHILD IN INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO HINDUS
INTRODUCTION
“Adoption” means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to the relationship.
The dictionary meaning of the term ‘adoption’ is the act of taking and rearing of the child of other’s parents as one’s own child. Attitudes and laws regarding adoption vary greatly.
Adopting a child in India a few decades back was something that couldn’t even be imagined. After all, it was a question of acquiring a right to nourish and cherish the fruit grown by somebody else and our society did not permit any relation which wasn’t out of blood. But times have changed and we have seen a paradigm shift in people’ attitude towards raising a child. Kudos to some of the daring parents who started the trend and went on with it in spite of facing a strong opposition by the society.
Legally speaking, except for adoption by Hindus, Indian law has no provision for adoption. Children are placed under guardianship of adopting parents to exit the country, and adoption must take place in the parents’ home country. But the more important aspect is whether we as a society have accepted adoption or not! Well, the answers can be contemplated in various ways. To a section of our society, it has been received as good news and is practiced by many people who aren’t blessed biologically by the almighty. Perhaps, some people are taking this option otherwise too. It is for this reason that adoption agencies have become a good business venture and is flourishing in the urban parts of India. Encouragement by friends and family is also a factor in inclining a couple to take this option of raising a child that does not have their genes. But such is not the case in majority sections of our country. Some of us still think that children are a miracle of god
INTRODUCTION
“Adoption” means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to the relationship.
The dictionary meaning of the term ‘adoption’ is the act of taking and rearing of the child of other’s parents as one’s own child. Attitudes and laws regarding adoption vary greatly.
Adopting a child in India a few decades back was something that couldn’t even be imagined. After all, it was a question of acquiring a right to nourish and cherish the fruit grown by somebody else and our society did not permit any relation which wasn’t out of blood. But times have changed and we have seen a paradigm shift in people’ attitude towards raising a child. Kudos to some of the daring parents who started the trend and went on with it in spite of facing a strong opposition by the society.
Legally speaking, except for adoption by Hindus, Indian law has no provision for adoption. Children are placed under guardianship of adopting parents to exit the country, and adoption must take place in the parents’ home country. But the more important aspect is whether we as a society have accepted adoption or not! Well, the answers can be contemplated in various ways. To a section of our society, it has been received as good news and is practiced by many people who aren’t blessed biologically by the almighty. Perhaps, some people are taking this option otherwise too. It is for this reason that adoption agencies have become a good business venture and is flourishing in the urban parts of India. Encouragement by friends and family is also a factor in inclining a couple to take this option of raising a child that does not have their genes. But such is not the case in majority sections of our country. Some of us still think that children are a miracle of god