Adopting a Child

The coding of the Hindu Law of Adoption was based on religious and secular factors. It was common to adopt a male child as it was necessary among the Hindus to provide an heir, mainly for the sake of performing religious rites and the ceremonies for the dead parent. It was also for the continuation of a lineage. According to the sastras, only a male could perform these rites.

It is interesting to note here that in Tamil Nadu the custom of adopting a female child was prevalent in the Devadasi Community. Under the present Act, any adult woman, unmarried, widowed or divorced is given the right to adopt a child. A married man cannot adopt without the consent of his wife, while a minor does not have the right to adopt. A boy or a girl who has passed the age of fifteen cannot be adopted.

A boy or girl who is married cannot be adopted. There is no restriction in adoption on caste basis. There should be an age difference of twenty one years between the adopter and the adopted if they are of different sexes. 'Dattahavan' which was a religious ceremony for adoption is no longer compulsory. If a person has a son of his own, he cannot adopt a boy. Similarly, if a person has a daughter of his own, he cannot adopt a girl child. The same child cannot be adopted simultaneously by two or more persons.

Effect of Adoption :

The child is deemed to be the son or daughter of the adopted parent.

His relation to his biological parent is severed.

Any property which belongs to the adopted child, before his adoption, will continue to be his.

Inspite of severance of status from the family of his birth, he still cannot marry any person belonging to that family.

Adoption Agencies in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Guild of service (Seva Samajam)
Balika Nilayam,
Vijaya Nagar Colony,
Hyderabad – 500 457

Indian Council for Social Welfare
Inside Cancer Hospital Compound,
Red Hills,
Hyderabad – 560 004

Missions to the Nations
D No: 3-19-6, Plot No 18,Kannyyakapunagar,
Kakinada – 533 003

St Theresa’s Tender Loving Care Home,
(St Theresa’s Hospital Society),Sanath Nagar,
Hyderabad – 560 018

John Abraham Memorial,
Bethany Home,
Tandur,
Post Box No: 3,Ranga Reddy District

Adoption Agencies in Delhi

Delhi Council for Child Welfare
Qudisia Garden,
Yamuna Marg,
Civil Lines,
Delhi –110 054

Church of North India Shishu Sangapan Graha
St Michael’s Compound,
Hospital Road,
Jangpura,
New Delhi– 110 014

Welfare Home for Children
68, Raja Garden,
New Delhi

Sewa Bharati (Matri Chhaya)
100196/A, Sewa Kunj,
Jhandewalan,
New Delhi – 110 056

SOS Children’s Villages of India
A-7, Nizamuddin (West),
New Delhi – 110 013

Holy Cross Social Services
No: 34, Dr Mukherjee Nagar West,
Delhi – 110 009

Missionaries of Charity
Nirmala Shishu Bhawan,
12, Commisioner Lane,
Delhi – 110 054

Children of the World (Delhi) Society
A.5/5, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi – 110 057

Adoption Agencies in North India

Adoption Agencies in Gujarat and Haryana

GujaratKathiawar Nirashrit-Balashram,Malviya Road,Rajkot –360 002
Mahipatram Rupram Ashtram-Outside Raipur Gate,Ahmedabad – 380 022,br>Kasthuriba Stri Vikas Griha-Kasturiba Gandhi Marg,Jamnagar –361 008

Haryana

Haryana State Council for Child Welfare-Bal Vikas Bhavan,65-D, Sector 16/D,Chandigarh – 160 016

Adoption Agencies in Karnataka and Goa

Adoption Agencies in Karnataka

KarnatakaShishu Mandir-17/11, Cambridge Road,Ulsoor,Bangalore –560 008
Ashraya-Jawan’s Quarters, BDA Park, Double Road,Indira Nagar Stage-I,Bangalore – 560 038
Society of Sisters of Charity-Holy Angels Convent,C/o Stella Maris Convent,Malleswaram,Bangalore – 560 003
Society of the Sisters of St Joseph’s of Tarbes-Promenade Road, Fraser Town,Bangalore – 560 005
Canara Bank Relief and Welfare Society -27th Cross, Banashankari II Stage,Bangalore – 560 070
Surabala Nilaya Sangh -®738, 13th cross, 7th Block,Jayanagar West,Bangalore – 560 082
Society of Sisters of Charity-St George Convent,C/o Sisters of Charity,Bolvedere, Angelore,Mangalore – 575 002
Vathsalya Charitable Trust-No: 2, C/708, ‘Sally Villa’,II Cross Street, I Block,HR BR Layout,Opposite Cosmopolitan Club,Bangalore
St Michael’s Home-St Michael’s Convent,No: 30, 100 feet Road,Indira Nagar,Bangalore – 560 038
Reach Out-22, Chinnaswamy Road,Tasker Town, Bangalore – 560 051
Child FoundationKarnataka, 8.O Shauganessy Road,Langford Garden,Bangalore – 560 025

Adoption Agencies in Goa

Goa
Society for Child Development House No: 630, Caranzalom,Goa – 400 002
Cartias GoaPaco Patriarchal,Altino, Panji,Goa – 403 001

Adoption Agencies in Kerala

Kerala Holy Infant Mary’s Girls Home
Vayithri,
South Waynard District,
St Joseph’s Children’s Home
Maunnoor,
Cherpunkak,
PO 686 584,
Kottayam District,

Dinasevanasabha
Snehanikatan,
Special Centre,
Pattuvann, Cannanore District

Bethal Foundation
Bethal Girls Town/Boys Town,XLVII/631,
Ashoka Road,
Kaloor,
Cochin – 17

Kerala State Council for Child Welfare
Thycaud,
Trivandrum – 695 014

Foundling Home
(Shishu Bhawan),Padupuram Post,Via Karukutty,
Ernakulam District

International Child Welfare Service
(Karin Child Care Centre),
Vellore Post,
Paampady,
Kottayam

Shishu Ksema BhawanSt Judes Charitable Trust,
Kanjirapally,
Kottayam

Adoption Agencies in Maharashtra

Bal Anand World Children Welfare Trust (India)Sai Krupa,93, Ghatia Village,Chembur,Mumbai – 400 071
Missionaries of CharityChurch Road,Vila Parle (West),Mumbai
Children of the World (India) Trust501, Arun Chambers,Tardoo, Mumbai – 400 034
Shri Sharadhanand Ananthalaya SocietyShradhanand Peth,Nagpur – 440 001
Holy Cross Home for BabiesC/o Holy cross Convent,Amaravati (Camp) – 444 602
Society of Friends of Sasoon HospitalsRoom No: 80,Sasoon General Hospitals,Pune – 411 001
St Catherines HomeVeera Desai Road,Andheri (West),Mumbai – 400 058
The Hindu Women’s Society Shraddhanand Mahilaashram,Shraddhanand Road,King’s Circle,Matunga,Mumbai – 400 019
Bharatiya Samaj Seva KendraNo: 5, Koregaon Road,Pune – 411 001
Shejhar ChhayaDeodal Kaman Post,Taluk Vasai, Thane District,Maharashtra – 402 202
Maharashtra State Women’s CouncilAsha Sadan,Asha Sadan Marg, UmerkhadiBal Asha TrustGrand Paradi, RH 11,August Kranti MargMumbai – 400 036
Bal Vikas11/41, Yashwant Nagar,Behind Filmstan Studio,SV Road, Goregaon (West),Mumbai – 400 062
Shree Manav Seva Sangh255-257, Sion Road,Sion (West),Mumbai – 400 22
Balwant Kaur AnandMemorial Welfare Society,Preet Mandir,Anand Corner,18, Dr Koyaji Road,Pune – 411 001
Matu Sewa SanghInstitute of Social Work,West High Court Road,Bajaj Nagar,Nagpur – 440 010
Mahila Sewa Mandal KusumbaiMotichand Mahila Sewagram,25/20, Karve Road,Pune – 411 004
Vivekanand Bal SadanSeth Doga Dharmashala, Opposite to Railway Station,Kamptee,Nagpur – 441 002
St Crispen’s HomeFP-10, CT.S-12,Karve Road,Erandawana,Pune – 411 004
St Mary’s ConventSt John’s Home for Women and Children,Panch Hiwa,Pune – 411 002
Vathsalya TrustC-32, Vijay Kunj Colony,Behind State Bank,Kanjur Marg (East),Mumbai – 400 042

Adoption Agencies in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry

Adoption Agencies in Tamilnadu


Tamil Nadu Guild of Service
32, Casa Major Road,
Egmore,
Chennai – 600 008

Karna Prayag Trust
No: 7, Rajakrishna Rao Road,
Alwarpet,
Chennai – 600 018

Institute of Fransiscan Missionaries of Mary Society
3, Holy Apostle Convent,
St Thomas Mount,
Chennai – 600 016

Missionaries of Charity
Nirmala Shishu Bhavan
79, West Madha Church Road,
Royapuram,
Chennai – 600 013

Concord House of Jesus
C-23, Anna Nagar East,
Chennai – 600 102

Malaysian Social Services
6, Sengunthar Street,
Shenoy Nagar,
Chennai – 600 030

Christ Faith Home
16, Sri Ram Nagar,
Mugalivakkam,
Chennai 600 116

Balamandir Kamaraj Trust
126, GN Chetty Road,
T Nagar,
Chennai – 600 017

Reaching the Unreached
G Kallupatt,
Periyakulam T K,
Madurai – 625 203

Grace Kennett Foundation
34, Kennett Road,
Madurai – 625 010

The Blue Mountain Social Welfare Association
Kottahall Road,
Kothagiri – 642 217

Families for Children
107, Vallalar Road,
Podnur,
Coimbatore – 641 023

Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross Chavnod (SOCSEAD),
Post Box No: 395,
Old Good Shed Road,
Teppakulam,
Trichy – 2

St Joseph’s Charity InstituteAdaikalapuram,Tuticorin DistrictAnantha Ashramam
Thenkanikottai,
HCF Post,
Mathigiri,
Hosur,
Dharmapuri District

Kasthuriba Hospital
Gandhi Gram,
Dindigul District

Chetana Vikas
Parthibanur,
Ramanathapuram.



Adoption Agencies in Pondicherry

The Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Convent Society -(Joy Home)
Colas Nagar,
Uppalam Road,
Pondicherry – 605 001

Cluny Children’s Home-(Cluny Shishu Illam),
No: 8, Romain Rolland Street,
Pondicherry – 605 001

Reach out with your heart for Adoption

Don't ever call a woman barren it's an insult, an affront. Nowadays, women choose to have a child or otherwise. Even if physiologically unable to conceive, they still choose to become a mother. Adoption gives them this option. There are some legal formalities to go through. But the thing of importance is a couple's ability to accept and love a child. A closed mind can never open a heart. When the mind accepts, the heart will love.

Indian women nowadays know it is for them to choose whether to be a mother or not. If biological makeup falls short, she still can adopt a child. It's idiotic to choose to stay childless when you have it in you to be a good mother. It's not fair to you, and it isn't fair to the child who needs a mother. Any emptiness you feel can now be filled with the joys of motherhood.

Many a couple have chosen to become a complete family by adopting a baby or two. And it really isn't very difficult. You just have to open your heart to a love that isn't governed by genetics. And a little one resides in your heart forever. Over the years, it matters little whether the baby is biologically yours or not. The truth is, it is REALLY yours. For you to have and to hold. Is a little genetic detail enough to deny yourself the delight of motherhood all through your life?

To the lonely and large at heart, somewhere there is a little one waiting, waiting eagerly to be wanted. You only have to reach out and it will trustingly put its little heart into your hands.

The adoption agency and you

Things you don't want to hear from an agency:

They just need love, good food, and stability in their life. We've never had a child placed through our agency that had RAD (reactive attachment disorder) or attachment issues. All of our available kids are happy, well-adjusted, and just need a good home.

All those indecipherable diagnoses on the medical reports. Don't worry. They don't mean anything. Those things are written into the medical records of all children in orphanages.

Don't worry about learning your child's native language. Kids learn English so fast you won't believe it. It's really not worth your time. Well, we have some medical info on the children you're interested in; but there are some gaps. I wouldn't worry too much though. These kids seem just great.

Things you do want to hear:

We require all of our parents to attend a parenting preparation class.

For international adoptions, we recommend that you learn as much of your child's language as possible. They learn English quickly, but until then your ability to communicate will aid in their adjustment to their new life. Adoptive parenting can be challenging. You need to know about adjustment, grief and loss, and more. We'll do everything to prepare you, but you need to realise that there may be challenges.

We've gathered as much medical information on the children as possible. Please read it all over, ask us any questions, and if need be, we'll try and get answers to any additional questions you may have.

After your children are home, we're available to help out with any of the issues that arise during the adjustment period. Understandably, adoption agencies walk a fine line between preparing parents and not scaring them off.

However, the better agencies know that by providing honest information and real information, parents have the best opportunity to create a well- grounded, committed family unit.