THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: In spite of the increase in the number of infertility clinics in the state, the number of families registering for adoption of children in the state is on the increase.The rise in number indicates that the earlier concepts on adopting a child are changing in the state. As more agencies have come forward to take care of abandoned or surrendered children, adoption has become more transparent.According to Meena Kuruvila, coordinator of Adoption Coordination Agency in Kerala, the statistics related to registration for adoption at the agencies had shown an increasing trend. There are around 1,500 families in the waiting list in the state for adopting children.Last year, there were around 300 legal adoptions in the state. Though there are several infertility clinics in the state, a large number of families are registering with the agencies, without trying their luck at these clinics.‘’The situation in Kerala is that those coming for adoption belong to all strata of society. Several instances were pointed out by the families about illegal adoptions which often result in denying the rights of the child under the Juvenile Justice Act,’’ she said. It cannot be said that the social attitude towards adoption in the state has changed, but it is slowly changing.There are also several single parents coming forward for adoption which indicates that the situation in the state with regard to acceptance is changing.Around 70 per cent of the children being brought to the agencies are those surrendered by parents due to various reasons. The number of abandoned children is found to be decreasing.Sister Xelirose of Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, said that there was a misconception that the procedures for adoption are too complicated. Shishu Bhavan had already handed over more than 1,000 children to those families in need. As there was no money involved in the process, adoption has become very easy for genuine families who are in need of a child.Kerala State Council for Child Welfare secretary P Krishnan said that though there was an increase in the number of registrations, those who are abandoning their children are less and hence it is difficult to meet all the requests for adoption. He said that the number of registrations is on the increase due to the increasing infertility rate which may be due to the change in lifestyle of youngsters.
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