Only 36 children legally available for adoption in Kerala as 1,119 families remain on waiting list

KOTTAYAM: Kerala has only 36 children legally available for adoption, while 1,119 prospective adoptive parents remain on the waiting list after completing the registration process, according to child welfare authorities.

Experts and non-governmental organisations working in the child welfare sector say the significant gap between the number of children available for legal adoption and the growing demand from registered families has become one of the major factors driving illegal adoption networks and child trafficking in the State.

Prospective adoptive parents are required to submit their applications through the Mission Vatsalya portal to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), while the adoption process within Kerala is coordinated by the State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA).

Under the current eligibility norms, the combined age of adoptive parents determines the age group of the child they can adopt. Couples with a combined age of up to 85 years are eligible to adopt children aged up to two years. Those aged between 85 and 90 years can adopt children aged two to four years, while couples with a combined age of 90 to 100 years are eligible for children aged four to eight years. Applicants with a combined age between 100 and 110 years can adopt children aged eight to 18 years.

Children may be adopted by eligible families both within India and abroad, with referrals made according to applicants’ registration dates and the prescribed order of priority.

Child welfare experts have urged greater efforts to strengthen the legal adoption system, saying improving the availability of children who are legally free for adoption and streamlining procedures would help reduce the risk of exploitation through illegal adoption channels.