New Delhi: The Indian government has taken a significant step to expand foster care and adoption opportunities by allowing single individuals to foster children and adopt them after two years. Previously, only married couples were eligible for foster care.
The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry has revised the Model Foster Care Guidelines to permit single individuals, including those who are unmarried, widowed, divorced, or legally separated, aged 35 to 60 years, to foster a child and adopt after two years. However, a man can only foster and adopt a male child.
The revised guidelines also allow for the adoption of a child by a foster parent after two years of foster care, instead of the previous requirement of five years. Earlier, married couples considering fostering were required to have a stable marital relationship of at least two years.
The changes in the guidelines are in line with the amendments to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act in 2021 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules of 2022.
An official in the WCD Ministry stated that the revision aligns with the existing practice of allowing single individuals to adopt children. Satyajeet Mazumdar, Director-Advocacy at Catalysts for Social Action, emphasized the importance of removing the discrepancy between adoption and foster care eligibility for single individuals.
The guidelines also specify age requirements for foster parents. For children aged 6-12, the combined age of a married couple must be at least 70 years, while a single foster parent must be at least 35. For children aged 12-18, the maximum age for a single foster parent is 60 years.
Prospective foster parents can now register online through the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) platform. The guidelines also provide for an online portal where foster parents can upload their documents for review by District Child Protection Units.
Mazumdar highlighted the relatively low number of children in foster care and the need to increase awareness about foster care as a viable option. He emphasized the importance of understanding the commitment and work involved in fostering a child, especially for those with traumatic experiences.
Data from the WCD shows that 1,653 children were in foster care in India as of March 2024, excluding Goa, Haryana, and Lakshadweep. The revised guidelines are expected to encourage more individuals to consider fostering and adoption.
