NEW DELHI — Ending a long era of no adoption rights for non-Hindus, the Indian government has cleared the way for all religious communities in all states to legally adopt.
On Oct. 26, the Congress Party-led United Progressive Alliance gave notice of new rules under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act — or JJA of 2006 — making room for all communities to adopt.
Richard Howell, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, said his group welcomes “the significant move” by the federal government “to enhance the legal rights of adopted children and the couples who adopt them.”
It is estimated that barely 5,000 children are adopted in the country each year, although there are more than 56 million orphaned and destitute children.
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