Adoption of a child by a single parent in India
Times are changing, and with changing times society’s and people’s mindsets are changing. If it was even three decades ago, the idea of a single parent in India, was not common, rather not accepted. Being a woman, not married, and adopting a child seemed out of the question. However, with the advent of technology and education, things started changing, and now in today’s time, one can definitely think of being a single parent and raising a child alone, irrespective of divorced, widow, or single. So, if you think of being a single parent in India, there are certain things that you might want to know and we shall gladly present them to you.
Indian society in recent times has been experiencing some dramatic changes. Another positive change has been the adoption of a single parent. Increasingly cases of people becoming single parents through adoption. A large number of people, both single women, and men choose to give up the role of parent by intervening in adoption. Adoption organizations, formerly showing a strong bias toward unmarried men and women, are now more likely to view them as potential parents. Studies show that adopted children are generally equally successful compared to those adopted who is raised by a couple.
Now we shall start answering some questions:
Can a single parent adopt a child?
The Child Justice Act (amended in 2006) defines adoption as a process that permanently separates a child from adoptive parents and transforms him or her into an adopted child with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities involved in a parental role. This action gives unmarried or divorced people the power to adopt a child.
What are the adoption rules for Single Parents in India?
Hinduism:
The adoption of Hindus, including Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, is supported by the Hindu Acquisition and Maintenance Act, 1956. The law allows:
Any Hindu man has the right to have a child. He should have a clear mind and not a child. However, if at the time of adoption he has a living partner, he can only be obtained with his consent unless the court has declared him unfit to give consent.
Any Hindu woman is eligible to have a child. She may not be married. In the event that her husband is not alive or her marriage has been annulled by a court or her husband, it has been officially declared incapable of adopting the child.
Islamic:
Muslims do not see complete acquisition. But Section 8 of the Monitoring and Wards Act, 1890 allows them to take care of the kid. The role of the caregiver comes with a set of rules especially for maintaining a biological genealogy, not to confuse it. However, the Child Justice (Child Care and Protection) Act of 2000 made Muslims accept it. The law of the land gives anyone in India the power to adopt a child regardless of their religion.
Christian and Parsis:
Christians and Parsis also do not see complete acquisition. In the event that a person seeking legal custody of a child can go to court and obtain legal permission under the Guardian and Ward Act, 1890. A child, when he or she reaches the age of 18, is free to disconnect all communications and leave. And he does not have the legal right to die according to Christian Law. But under the state law of the Juvenile Justice Act which replaces personal laws, Christians and Parsis can still adopt a child.
What are the adoption rules for single parents’ male/female?
In 2015, the Department of Women and Child Development released the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) Guideline which allows one woman to have a child of any gender. The Child Justice Act does not legally require one man to take a female child.
The minimum age limit for single mothers in India has been reduced from 30 to 25. The minimum age for the adoption of a single man is 25 years. Single parents of men and women who are parents over the age of 45 can have a child under the age of 4, and those under the age of 50 are eligible for children aged 5 to 8. Those who have reached the age of 55, they may take children between the ages of 9 and 18. Discovery is not allowed after these years.
What is the procedure of Adoption for single parents in India?
The adoption process can include the following steps:
Parents who may need to register online. They can do this by taking the help of the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO). The application form is available on the official CARA website.
Within 30 days of enrolment, the adoption agency compiles a home research report recognizing the unique compliance and prospects of prospective parents and submits it to its website.
Adoptive parents can look at the picture and medical history of the children to choose the kid according to their preferences and preferences.
Adoptive parents can keep the child from being raised for up to 48 hours.
The adoption agency will arrange a meeting between the parents who will have the chosen child, and assess them for eligibility.
If the game goes hand in hand, future parents need to sign the child's study report. The social worker must be present as a witness.
If the match does not match, the whole process starts again. The whole matching process usually takes 15 days.
Now, are there any obstacles faced by single parents during adoption?
Despite the growing acceptance of monogamy, aspirants may face obstacles from their parents, families, and society as a whole. The traditional notion that a child can thrive in an excellent two-parent relationship that includes a father and mother in a loving, harmonious relationship remains strong. In addition, single parents may need a solid support system that can provide needed support and comfort in difficult times such as medical care, after-school care, and work-related travel. Personal finances can also be a problem. Additionally, some adoptive parents may find it difficult to balance the demands of their job with the sole care of the child. Some adoption agencies may be biased toward single men hoping to be adopted, and they may undermine further testing.
How to overcome the obstacles?
Raising a child alone can be very challenging. Try and ask for your family's support before you have a baby. Have a frank discussion with them stating your reasons for doing so. If financial issues are a problem, people who wish to adopt a child can approach the agencies that provide grants and loans for this purpose.
So, here we present you with all the required information for you as a single parent to adopt a child in India. You might need to keep many things in mind before you consider adopting a child as a single parent. However, the main thing would be if you have anyone to support you throughout the whole system. And if you decided to be a single parent, then I must warn you that you have to be strong-willed and can’t take everything to your heart, as there would be more thorns than petals in this journey.