Adoption a daunting challenge for couples due to lack of family support, complex rules finds survey

NEW DELHI: At a time the government is reviewing the adoption system to simplify procedures and seal the gaps, a first-of-its-kind survey on mindset towards adoption over the decades shows that over 50% of the 3,500 adult respondents during the 1990s did not consider adoption as an option and of these 43% said that adoption did not ever occur to them as a possibility. Of those who considered it as an option only 23% ended up going for adoption.
Reflecting the challenges in the adoption process, the online survey by civil society organisation ‘Families of Joy’ found that of those who adopted, over 68% said that they did not find any support during their adoption journey. Almost 50% believe that there still isn’t enough support provided by the ecosystem, to adopt a child. Respondents who were keen to adopt during the 1990s but gave up the idea cited reasons ranging from lack of support from family or spouse to long wait and complex procedures.
That a gradual mindset change is happening comes through in the fact that when the respondents were asked if they think that their children will consider adoption when building their family, a very high 78.51% responded in the affirmative and 21.49% said no. Also 93% said that they would endorse their child’s decision to adopt. Around 64% said they would proactively suggest adoption as a choice, to their children whereas 36% said they would not.
When asked about why children today may not consider adoption as a choice for building their family, the respondents said that 25% may not even adopt today as adoption won’t occur as a choice to them or they may want their own kids.
All respondents in the survey were 45 years and above. Avinash Kumar, founder, Families of Joy explains that over the last one year the survey through an online questionnaire reached out to adults who are now parents of young adults. “The attempt was to capture the mindset, ease of procedures and key drivers in choices related to adoption across the 1980s, 90s and present day,” Kumar told TOI.
Of the 50% respondents who did not consider adoption as a choice around 11.70% said they did not have the support of their family or spouse to adopt and 11.17% wanted their own biological child only. 7.98% said they backed off due to the difficult procedures.
Over 41% respondents felt that sharing successful life stories can enhance the public acceptance of adoption and 31% sought friendly laws.