Adopting a child in India remains a tortuous affair, despite digitisation

We have to make the state regulation authorities, which keep a check on adoption activity, more responsible, said Lt Col Deepak Kumar, CEO, CARA

Eight years ago, Ria Patel and George Karimundackal brought home two-month-old Zahra from Palna, the adoption agency run by the Delhi Council for Child Welfare. The family continues to be associated with Palna and the couple often bring Zahra along for a visit. The little girl has been told that she was adopted. Mature for her age, Zahra now tries to convince her mother to bring her a sibling from Palna.

They are among the lucky ones. India has thousands of prospective adoptive parents (PAPs), and most are stuck in an adoptive process where there aren’t enough children available for adoption.