Mary Kom, Adoptions: India

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[[File: Mary Kom 24 Nov 2018a.jpg| Mary Kom brought joy to her country by creating history on 24 Nov 2018 with her sixth world title <br/> From the front page of the next day's ''Sunday Times of India''|frame|500px]]  
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[[File: States with the highest number of adoption cases.jpg|States with the highest number of adoption cases; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Gallery.aspx?id=08_09_2016_002_021_011&type=P&artUrl=Surrogacy-rules-make-adoption-wait-longer-08092016002021&eid=31808 ''The Times of India''], September 8, 2016|frame|500px]]  
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The page [[Wrestling: India ]] has more details about matches played by Mary Kom.
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[[File: Mary Kom 2014.jpg|2014: Mary Kom (red) beat Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova at the Asian Games and became the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal. |frame|500px]]
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'''See also ''' [[Mary Kom, the film]], which also discusses how much of the film is based on reality.
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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their<br/> content. You can update or correct this page, and/ or send <br/> photographs to the Facebook page, [http://www.facebook.com/Indpaedia Indpaedia.com]. <br/> All information used will be duly acknowledged. </div>
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This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.<br/>
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[[Category:India|K]]
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[[Category:India |A ]]
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[[Category:Sports|K]]
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[[Category:Society |A ]]
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[[File: Mary Kom5.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
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[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary |A ]]
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[[File: Mary Kom9.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
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=The authors of this article=
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=The law=
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A Mayang has curated and compiled this article through patchwork. The actual authors are:
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== Adopted child has same rights as biological offspring==
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[[File: Mary Kom8.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIM%2F2019%2F09%2F19&entity=Ar01405&sk=EC00CED1&mode=text  Ambika Pandit, Sep 19, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
  
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[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/world_olympic_dreams/8850435.stm BBC] Moska Najib
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The Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara) has said the law makes it clear that any child once adopted legally has rights equal to that of a biological child.
  
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[http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/08/olympic-boxer-mary-kom The Guardian]
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Cara’s observations have come in response to a railways circular shared on micro-blogging site Twitter in connection with a case where a Bengaluru-based railway employee, who applied for the unique medical identification (UMID) smart card for health facilities, was told that only the first of her two adopted children was eligible for facilities as a dependent.
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The woman officer, Veena A Nayak, now wants to include her son’s name as a dependent. The daughter is now 18 years old and son is 14.
  
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[http://sports.herbalife.com/en-US/Biographies/MC_Mary_Kom_biography.htm Herbalife]
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Nayak had applied for the UMID card for her son in August, but she received a response which said that “only the first adopted child (if already accepted by administration, provided you had intimated) is eligible for facilities as your dependent. Hence you may please submit the UMID application of the first adopted child for further action”.
  
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[http://www.mapsofindia.com/who-is-who/sports/mary-kom.html MapsOfIndia]
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Her case found mention in a tweet shared by voluntary organisation, Families of Joy, that shared the response of the railway division she works for. The NGO also shared a circular dated September 9, 2000. In the circular related to health facilities in the definition of family members it is stated that step sons, unmarried step daughters, married step daughters and one adopted child are covered.
  
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[http://www.ndtv.com/article/people/who-is-mc-mary-kom-256959 Ndtv]
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Cara CEO Deepak Kumar responded to the tweet, stating, “These are dated letters of the railways and definitely requires to be revisited and amended in line with the present laws. In this direction, attention of the railways must be drawn to Sections 2 (2) and 63 of the JJ Act, 2015 as well as Section 12 of Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act.”
  
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[http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/from-manipur-to-london-mary-kom-punches-her-way-to-medal/ The New York Times] 2012/08/07
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Section 2 (2) makes it clear that “adoption” means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and become the legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to the relationship. Section 63 states emphasises on the adopted child’s rights as equivalent to a biological child after the adoption order is legally formalised.
  
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PTI [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/boxing/Mary-Kom-L-Sarita-Devi-win-gold-at-Asian-Boxing-Championships/articleshow/12403350.cms The Times of India]
 
  
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[http://www.readersdigest.co.in/mary-kom ReadersDigest]
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==Child once given for adoption cannot be taken back==
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[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Jolt-to-mom-as-HC-says-child-will-05122016011019 ''The Times of India''], December 5, 2016
  
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[http://olympics.time.com/2012/08/04/million-rupee-baby-indias-mary-kom-could-be-the-olympics-most-unlikely-champion/ Time] 2012/08/04
 
  
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[http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-18/people/39337051_1_girl-child-male-child-mary-kom The Times of India] 2013-05-18
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'''Jolt to mom as HC says child will stay with adoptive parents'''
  
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[http://www.wban.org/biog/marykom.htm Wban]
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The Calcutta high court has directed that a two-year-old child would remain with a couple who had adopted her, despite the biological mother's tearful plea to get her back, noting that a lower court had passed the order for adoption of the child.
  
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[http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/01/olympian-mary-kom-was-molested-when-she-was-18 Bihar Prabha]
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A division bench comprising justices Ashim Kumar Ray and M M Banerjee observed that since it was hearing a habeas corpus petition by the girl's biological mother Jayashree Chowdhury , it would not tinker with the order of a Malda district court that had allowed the adoption.
  
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[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/indias-school-of-hard-knocks-1965635.html Andrew Buncombe, The Independent]
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Jayashree had married in her teens and had given birth to the child in September 2014. Within a few months of the birth of the child, she filed a complaint of having been thrown out of her in-laws' house. The child was then handed over to an NGO and Jayashree was sent to a government home. A few months later, Jayashree was reunited with her husband and pleaded with authorities to get her child back.
  
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=Introduction and summary=
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==HC: Biological mother has no right over child adopted by 2<sup>nd</sup> husband==
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Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom is arguably India’s most successful boxer ever, male or female, and a national heroine and role model.
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F10%2F28&entity=Ar01705&sk=2A5AE47F&mode=text  Ajay Sura, October 28, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
  
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Mary Kom is famed as a five consecutive time World Boxing Champion and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, she became the first Indian women boxer to qualify and win a bronze medal in the 51 kg flyweight category of Boxing. She was subsequently ranked as Number. 4 in the Flyweight category of AIBA World Women's Ranking.
 
  
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Mary Kom has been fighting in the 46-kilogram and 48-kilogram weight slots for most of her boxing career, but she trained hard to gain weight to qualify for the 51-kilogram category, the lowest of the three weight classes established for female boxers at the London Olympics. Kom has fought as a pinweight, in the 46-kg class, or as a light flyweight, the 48-kg category.
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Punjab and Haryana HC recently ruled that a biological mother has no right over her child after the latter is adopted by her second husband.
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Of the five world championships that she won, three were before her twin boys were born, and two after.  
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Her interest in boxing was inspired by the success of her compatriot Manipuri male boxer Dingko Singh.  
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Justice R K Jain passed these orders while dismissing a petition filed by a 13-year-old girl through her mother, who resides in Australia. The woman’s second husband had adopted her daughter in 2009. The woman now wants to shift her daughter to Australia without the adoptive father’s permission.
  
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===Early life===
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In the petition, the woman had sought directions to the Australian high commission that it should not insist on a no-objection certificate/signatures of the adoptive father on the NOC that she had filled to obtain a visa for the girl.
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[[File: Mary Kom6.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
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Also known as Chungneijang Hmangte, Merykom and  MC Merykom, she was born on 1st March 1983, in the isolated Kangathei Village (population: 300), ringed by razor wire and darkened by constant power cuts in the Moirang Lamkhai area of Manipur. Her grandmother named her Chungneijang, which means “prosperous” in the Kom tribe’s dialect. The lady brought prosperity to her family, honour to the Kom tribe and Manipur and pride to her grateful nation.
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An objection was raised by the Australian high commission — it said since the petitioner was less than 18 years of age, the form submitted by her mother should also be signed by the non-accompanying adoptive father.
  
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As a child, Kom rarely ate meat or fish — it was too expensive. Her parents were landless farmers.
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The minor through her mother then approached the HC, submitting that it is the right of a child as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to decide which parent he/she would like to live with. Hearing the petition, Justice Jain observed, “Even if it is presumed for the sake of arguments that the petitioner minor girl is the biological daughter of her mother, yet there is no dispute that the mother has given her daughter in adoption by way of an adoption deed.”
  
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Mary Kom is a Christian. Height 5’2”
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==Siblings can be separated during adoption with consent==
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[http://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F01%2F03&entity=Ar01609&sk=F5ED1FEC&mode=text  Siblings can be separated during adoption with consent: Maneka, January 3, 2018:  ''The Times of India'']
  
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She told Reader’s Digest ‘I decided to assume [the name Mary] when I set out to build a career in sports. I wanted a name that was easier to pronounce and I chose Mary because it shows my faith as a Christian.
 
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===Education===
 
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She did her schooling from Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang till class VI and studied in St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang till class VIII. She then completed her schooling from NIOS, Imphal and did her graduation from Churachandpur College.
 
  
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Between attending school, caring for her younger siblings and playing all kinds of sports including hockey, football and athletics (but not boxing), Mary Kom worked in the fields and helped her parents, both farm hands.
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In a significant development that will play a decisive role in the adoption of siblings, soon the consent of a child above five years of age in the adoption pool of the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) could be sought before separating him or her from the sibling to enable adoption.
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=Family=
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“My parents had to feed and educate four children. I’m the eldest.”—MC Mary Kom.
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Mary Kom is a mother of twin sons, Rechungvar and Khupneivar; and is married to K Onler Kom.  
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This will be a break from the current position wherein siblings are adopted together by a prospective parent. The Juvenile Justice Act 2015 too prescribes that all efforts must be made to keep siblings together, unless it is in the best interest of the child.
  
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Mary Kom was blessed with a third son, Prince Chungthanglen Kom, in Imphal, in 2013. She was actually praying for a girl. She said: "My husband Onler says we can still try for a girl next time, God willing!"
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However, it has been clarified that the change being made will be a decision on a case-to-case basis and siblings will not be split as a norm. A detailed assessment by the Child Welfare Committee and CARA will determine if the siblings are to be separated even after a child agrees for adoption.
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There are over 80 sets of siblings accounting for 176 children in CARA’s adoption pool at present.
  
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Her father-in-law was killed under mysterious circumstances, possibly by insurgents.
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In keeping with the JJ Act, CARA has been placing siblings with the same family except in rare cases. “But this will now be changed,” women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi said on Tuesday. While children above five will have to give consent, CARA will assess the best interest in consultation with other stakeholders in case of younger ones, an official explained.
  
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=The Koms=
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Gandhi justified the decision by citing a prospective parent’s complaint. “The woman was told she can’t have a child as it was a sibling. Now we have changed that to say that if it is a child above five, we’ll do what the child wants.”
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[ ''From the archives of the Times of India'']
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K Sarojkumar Sharma | TNN
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Currently, siblings are adopted together. The JJ Act 2015 too prescribes that all efforts must be made to keep them together
  
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''' Magnificent Mary does ‘Kom’ proud '''
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[[Category:India|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
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[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
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[[Category:Society|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
  
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The Koms, the proud tribe to which ace pugilist Mary belongs, is one of the smallest communities in Manipur. But Magnificent Mary’s Olympic feat has put this tiny tribe of 20,000 in focus.
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= Adoption agencies=
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“With her achievements, Mary has put us on the global map. We are really proud of her. Her victory has inspired us to groom more champions like her from among budding Komrem talents,” said Achon Kom, a resident of Koirenthak Khuman, a hamlet in Churchandpur district. In Mary’s native village, Kangathei, 40km from Imphal in Churachandpur, a carnival is on with everyone joining in for the celebrations.
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==2016-19:  776 children died in adoption agencies ==
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“She is a five-time world champion and has won many medals. But winning an Olympic medal is an altogether different story. She has done Manipur, especiallyKangathei, proud. Until now we were just a lesser-known tribe but her win has catapulted us to fame. When she returns from London with a medal, we will celebrate her victory in the most befitting manner,” said S Kom, a resident of Kangathei.
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F13&entity=Ar02004&sk=A8A49F16&mode=text  July 13, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
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The Koms are neither a Naga nor a Kuki tribe. They are part of Komrem, a conglomerate of six sub-tribes, whose total population is around 35,000. The other five Komrem tribes are Kharam, Chiru, Aimol, Koiren and Purum. The Komrem tribes are mostly settled at the foothills of Churchachandpur, Bishnupur, Imphal West, Imphal East and Chandel districts surrounding Imphal.
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Achon Kom, the secretary of Kom Culture Dance and Research Centre, said the tribes believe that the name ‘Kom” was derived from the phrase ‘Lu Kakom’ meaning ‘turbaned people.’
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=Personal life=
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As many as 776 children, including 124 in Uttar Pradesh and 107 in Bihar have died at specialised adoption agencies between 2016-17 to July 8, 2019, the women and child development (WCD) ministry informed Lok Sabha on Friday in response to a question. WCD minister Smriti Irani gave the data according to which the highest number of deaths of children have been reported from Uttar Pradesh. These deaths occurred across 19 specialised adoption agencies in the state.
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==Molestation, c. 2000-01==
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Source: [http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/01/olympian-mary-kom-was-molested-when-she-was-18/ Bihar Prabha], citing Kom’s speech at a meeting organized by FICCI Women’s Association.
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On a Sunday in 2000-01, Mary Kom was getting late for Church. So she took a rickshaw. At the time she wore the wraparound dress common in the NE and other parts of India. The rickshaw puller made an attempt to molest her, first by grabbing her hand. Mary was not yet the great boxer that she later became. All the same she kicked him gave him a tight punch. The rickshaw puller fell unconscious and Mary ran away.
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Specialised adoption agencies (SAA) cater to children in the age group of 0-6 years. The minister said so far, a total number of 10 complaints have been received by the government against SAAs from across states, which were found to be not complying with the adoption regulations.
  
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Mary was 18 years old  at the time.
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Before this in February, the government informed Parliament in response to a question in the Lok Sabha that a total number of 1,265 children have been reported to have died in the SAAs across states between April 2014 to January 31, 2019. The highest number of deaths over these five years years were reported from Maharashtra (172) followed by 170 in Uttar Pradesh and 134 in Bihar.
  
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==Love life==
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=Adoptions by foreigners=
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In the film ''Mary Kom'' we see Mary meeting her future husband Onler Karong Kom, himself a professional footballer, when he offers her a lift on his scooter after a boxing match in her hometown in Manipur. His scooter breaks down on a dark, desolate road on the way home and he assures her that he did not do it on purpose.
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==2015: adoption rooms for foreigners eased==
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[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Centre-eases-adoption-rules-for-foreigners-27032015015028 ''The Times of India'']
  
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Later, when Mary and he are eating ''gol-gappas'' at a roadside kiosk in Delhi, she gets a call from her parents asking for a decision on which of the many suitors they have identified for her she will marry. Finding her under pressure for a decision, Onler realises that it might be too late if he delays proposing to her. He proposes while she is on the phone. We realise that she has accepted the proposal when she tells her parents to say ‘No’ to all the suitors.
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Mar 27 2015
  
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Interesting bit of commercial cinema.
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''' Centre eases adoption rules for foreigners '''
  
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According to [http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/01/olympian-mary-kom-was-molested-when-she-was-18/ Bihar Prabha] things were somewhat more prosaic in real life. Onler and Mary first met in 2001 in Delhi where Onler was studying Law at the University. Mary had halted in Delhi on her way to the Punjab where the National Games were being held.
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Indrani Bagchi
  
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Onler and Mary dated for four years and got married in 2005.
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Foreign nationals adopting Indian children can look forward to a less traumatic experience of taking home a child with the foreign ministry streamlining the passport issuance guidelines.
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The ministry will no longer insist on a separate birth certificate to issue a passport to an adopted child. The court order which is necessary for adoption will suffice as proof of birth date.
  
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However, not everyone was excited about the marriage. Onler would later tell [http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/please-do-not-call-mary-kom-a-bollywood-masala-movie/20140908.htm Laxmi Negi of Rediff], 'Whenever I used to go to the Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi, to watch Mary train, they would dissuade me from meeting her. Some of them even asked me to stay away from her. Even her father did not want us to get married so soon.'
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The order gains significance since prospective parents, instead of running from pillar to post to obtain a birth certificate, can now get an Indian passport for their adopted children based only on the court order.
  
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=Inspired by Dingko Singh=
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Despite being a member of the Hague Convention from 1993, there were some rules that made things interminably long and difficult for people wanting to take home children from India.
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She took to sports in an effort to provide some financial support to her family. "I was initially an all-round athlete, and 400-m and javelin were my pet events.” For this she shifted to the state capital, Imphal.  
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Reader’s Digest adds, ‘Dressed in torn, shabby clothes, the teenager approached coach K. Kosana Meitei at the Sports Authority of India there and asked to be given a chance. The coach remembers her practising punches late into the night, long after the others had gone to bed.’
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Muktesh Pardeshi, chief passport officer, told TOI, “While our systems have become much better, we found that it was not serving or phans and abandoned children effectively.“ For interested parents, the route to adoption was tricky , because the process demanded a court order, a “no-objection certificate“ from Central Adoption Resource Authority , the nodal agency in the Indian government, and a birth certificate.
  
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She had an eager interest in athletics since childhood and the success of Dingko Singh is what really inspired her to become a boxer.
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==Adoptions by foreign citizens with Indian husbands==
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[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=American-with-Indian-hubby-can-adopt-kid-17072015013052 ''The Times of India''], Jul 17 2015
  
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When Dingko Singh returned from Bangkok (Asian Games) with a gold, I thought I should give it a try. Dingko's success triggered a revolution of sort in Manipur and surprisingly I found that I was not the only girl who was drawn into boxing," she said.
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Rosy Sequeira
  
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Watching Jackie Chan's stunts on the big screen was a favourite past-time.
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''' `American with Indian hubby can adopt kid' '''
  
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She convinced a local coach, K. Kosana Meitei, to train her as a boxer too. Mary started her boxing career in 2000 and was a quick learner who preferred to be put through the same paces as the boys around her. "In just two weeks, I had learnt all the basics. I guess I had God-given talent for boxing."
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An American woman's prayers to adopt a 6-year-old boy with special needs in India were answered when the Bombay high court directed a district court to quickly process the application of the adoption agency .
  
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“After my first match at the state level sub-junior boxing championship in 2000, I was adjudged best boxer. That’s when I learnt that God has gifted me with this talent.”—MC Mary Kom.  
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The woman, along with her Indian husband, had moved court after the Central Adoption Resource Authority , the nodal body for adoption of Indian children, refused to grant an NOC, saying it was an inter-country adoption matter and she was required to comply with a rule pertaining to adoption by foreigners living in India. The HC allowed the couple to retain foster care of the born, born to an unwed mother and kept at a Pune orphanage-cum-adop tion agency, Arun Aashray .
  
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And within a year of strapping on gloves, she was a national champion, Time magazine pointed out.
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The American, a trained nurse living in India since 2008, had volunteered with the agency and got acquainted with the boy . The court was earlier informed that he faced rejection thrice and suffered from behavioural and health problems.
  
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Somini Sengupta added in The New York Times:  At 17, she left home to join a government-run sports training center in Imphal, the capital of her home state, Manipur, and begged the boxing coach to let her enter the ring.
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CARA's advocate D A Nalawade told a bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice B P Colabawalla that it will treat the matter as an “exceptional case“ and insisted it was an inter-country adoption issue.Nalavade argued the American will have to comply with a CARA rule for foreigners and apply to the US embassy for an NOC. He said that also applicable would be the order of priority (NRIs, followed by overseas citizens of India, persons of Indian origin and foreign nationals).
  
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“She was so small, I told her no,” the coach, L. Ibomcha Singh, said. Tears rolled down her face. The coach relented.
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== SC: NOC is mandatory==
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F07%2F01&entity=Ar00417&sk=213DEB94&mode=text  Abhinav Garg, July 1, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
  
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===Breaking societal barriers===
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Foreigners looking to adopt a child from India must first get an No Objection Certificate from their country, Supreme Court has said in an important ruling governing inter-country adoptions.
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[[File: Mary Kom7.jpg|Mary Kom: on the cover of ''India Today's'' monthly volume called 'Women' |frame|500px]]
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She initially tried to keep her interest in the sweet science from her father, M. Tonpu Kom, and mother Saneikham Kom, but winning a 2000 State championship got her photograph in the newspaper - and her secret was out of the bag:
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Her father goaded her to give it up. Boxing is too dangerous, he told her. Members of her clan disapproved. The boys in her hometown ridiculed her. She held out.
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A bench of justices Indira Bannerjee and Ajay Rastogi noted that as per Indian law and international covenants, “a foreigner or a person of Indian origin or an overseas citizen of India who habitually resides in India can apply for adoption of a child to Central Adoption Resource Authority along with a NOC from the diplomatic mission of his country.”
  
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“One day, I will show you who I am,” she recalled thinking.
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The apex court, in a recent ruling, agreed with the original decision of Delhi high court not to waive off requirement of an NOC in the case of an Australian woman seeking to adopt two children.
  
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"I still remember I was castigated by my father who said with a battered and bruised face, I should not expect to get married. He was furious that I took to boxing - a taboo for women - and he did not have the slightest idea about it. But my passion for the sport had got the better of me and I thank my cousins who coaxed and cajoled my father into eventually giving his nod. I'm happy that I did not let anybody down," she told the Deccan Herald in September 2004.
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Despite a positive home study report declaring Karina Jane Creed eligible to adopt the children, HC had rejected her plea to allow the adoption, saying she should ensure an NOC from Australia, after CARA took a stand that an all-clear from the country of destination is mandatory.
  
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===Early career===
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The agency, through standing counsel Gaurang Kanth, cited the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2016 to underline that without an NOC, no adoption can be permitted.
  
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After winning her first title and Best Boxer at the First State Level Invitation women's boxing championship in Manipur in 2000, Merykom went on to win the gold in the Seventh East India Women’s Boxing Championship held in West Bengal and subsequently to win five Indian National Championships from 2000 to 2005.
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Creed, who has been living in India for the past four years, had moved HC against the decision of CARA to deny her a chance to adopt the two children whom she had started visiting and they identified her as their mother. She argued that once her application for adoption had been registered and cleared, CARA should have allowed the process to finish.
  
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She also embarked on an international campaign that has brought her a series of gold medals and honors, though not without a few setbacks. 
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But Kanth opposed her claim before SC, arguing that she has preferred a short-cut by moving the court instead of acquiring an NOC from Australian authorities, pointing out since India and Australia are signatories of the Hague Convention, which aims to ensure best interests of the child and guard it against trafficking, an NOC from the receiving foreign country is mandatory.
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=Struggle and setbacks=
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“The tales of my struggles have no end. I did not have enough money to afford my basic needs like sports kits and a proper diet,” she told India Ink in a recent interview.
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The stumbling blocks she faced, including a lack of basic training and adequate facilities, encouraged her to create in 2006 a boxing academy in her home state for aspirants like her.
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The SC saw merit in CARA’s stand and asked Creed’s counsel how, after the expiry of her visa, she proposed to ensure travel for the adopted children to Australia. She could only reply that the Australian authorities have issued a letter, but could not clarify if it would be sufficient to avail the visa.
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==The jealousy and viciousness of less talented rivals==
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On her way by train to the selection camp for her first Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, she had all her luggage and her passport stolen. The film ''Mary Kom'' suggests that jealous, vicious and less talented female rivals within the Indian team did the stealing in order to impede Mary's imminent rise.  
+
  
−
Her parents asked her to come home but she carried on her course. "My saviour was a city-based uncle, who said he’d fix everything if I got selected. I did, but I returned empty handed (from the meet in Bangkok). The stress following the loss of documents and luggage interfered with my training." Her solution was still more training. "We girls really worked hard. Women’s boxing was a very recent introduction, and we really wanted to excel."
+
According to the Article 5 of the Hague Convention, the receiving country has to determine if the prospective parents are eligible and suited to adopt, ensure the prospective parents have been counseled and the child will be authorised to enter and reside permanently in the country.
  
−
=2001, 2002=
+
The Supreme Court agreed with the original decision of Delhi high court not to waive off requirement of an NOC in the case of an Australian woman seeking to adopt two children here
−
[[File: Mary Kom4.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
+
−
In 2001, she lost in the final and had to settle for a silver medal. In 2002, she started her domination at the AIBA World Championships where she won her first gold.
+
  
−
===International triumphs===
+
[[Category:India|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
−
==== Hissar, India====
+
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
−
Merykom's "international gold rush" finally began with the Second Asian Women's Championship in Hissar and continued with a win in the Third Asian Women's Championship held in Taiwan.
+
[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
−
==== 2001: Scranton, USA ====
+
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
−
She was only 18 years old when she made her international debut at the first AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship in Scranton, USA in 2001.  Merykom had to settle for silver, losing to Hulya Sahin of Turkey by 13-5 in the 48-kg final after defeating Jamie Behl of Canada by 21-9 in the semi-final and Nadia Hockmi of Poland by RSCO-3 in the quarter-final. "She was leading in the first round but her opponent managed to score points in the final round," coach Anoop Kumar said of Merykom's performance in the final.
+
[[Category:Society|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
−
====2002: Antalya, Turkey====
+
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
−
The next year, she struck gold at the Second AIBA World Women’s Senior Boxing Championship held from October 21-27, 2002 in Antalya, Turkey, winning the 45-kg division by defeating Svetlana Miroshnichenko of the Ukraine in her semi-final and Jang Song-Ae of North Korea in the final
+
−
====2003 ====
+
−
November 22, 2003 in the 46-kg finals of the Asian Women's Championships at Mahabir Stadium in Hisar, India, she defeated Chou Szu Yin of Chinese Taipei by RSCO-2. She had previously defeated L. G. Chandrika of Sri Lanka also by RSCO-2.
+
  
−
She also won a gold medal in the 45 kg weight category at the Witch Cup in Hungary in the same year.
+
=Country-wise=
−
====Father finally understands====
+
==Australia resumes adoptions from India/ 2018==
−
Her once-skeptical father accompanied his trail-blazing daughter to the ceremony in 2003 at which she was the first woman ever to receive India's prestigious Arjuna award for her achievement in boxing.
+
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F08%2F15&entity=Ar02204&sk=4C565246&mode=text  August 15, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
  
−
"When he saw my photograph on the national newspaper, he was happy," she grins, admitting that for many years her father was unaware of her love for the sport.
 
  
−
====2004 ====
+
'''Australia resumes adoptions from India after 8 years of suspension:'''
−
[[File: Mary Kom.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
+
−
She also took gold in the 46-kg division of the Women's World Boxing Tournament in Tønsberg, Norway from 27 April to 2 May 2004, defeating Derya Aktop of Turkey by RSCO-2 in the semi-final and Xia Li of China by RSCO-2 in the final.
+
  
−
In 2004 she won a gold medal at the Women's Boxing World Cup in Norway.
+
Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after it was suspended eight years ago over charges of trafficking by some recognised Indian placement agencies, a senior WCD official said on Tuesday. The suspension was enforced in 2010 and the women and child development ministry along with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) were constantly engaging with the Australian government for resuming the programme, he said. “The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed,” the official said.
  
−
She was also the Witch Cup Tournament champion in Hungary in 2004.  
+
=Creating awareness=
 +
==September 2017/ "Jan Sampark" Program==
 +
[http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=171184 Press Information Bureau, September 27, 2017]
  
−
At the August 2004 Asian Women's Boxing Championships in Taiwan she  defeated Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines 35-11 in the 46-kg final.
+
'' CARA launches monthly “Jan Sampark” Program to facilitate adoption ''
  
−
====2005====
+
The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of the Ministry of Women & Child Development has started a monthly “Jan Sampark” program to enable the public to have interaction with its officials and staff for seeking information related to Adoption as well as flagging their concerns.
 +
 +
The first of its kind programme was held in New Delhi yesterday. Nearly 150 Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs), Adoptive Parents and representatives of agencies participated in the session, which lasted for more than four hours.
 +
 +
Details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption Module of Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) as well as the newly launched Grievance/Query portal were shared with all the stakeholders. Also many of the PAPs were counselled and motivated to go for adopting older children.
  
−
She successfully defended her 46-kg world title at the Third AIBA Women's World Championships held from 25 September to 2 October 2005 in Podolsk, Russia. She won the final by a 28-13 score over Jong Ok of North Korea, who had reached the finals with a 22-20 decision over Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines. Kom had defeated Elena Sabitova of Russia 31-16 in her semi-final and Nancy Fortin of Canada 30-13 in her preliminary. While she saw her repeat win as great progress, she expressed admiration for the Russians, who won the team event. "They are so well-built, with big muscles!"
+
=Different perspectives=
 +
==Missionaries of Charity’s stand==
 +
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-cant-force-nuns-to-continue-adoption-work-Legal-experts/articleshow/49345522.cms ''The Times of India''], Oct 14 2015
 +
[[File: Adoptions.jpg|Picture courtesy: [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-cant-force-nuns-to-continue-adoption-work-Legal-experts/articleshow/49345522.cms ''The Times of India''], Oct 14 2015|frame|500px]]
 +
[[File: Some rules, Adoptions in India.jpg|Who can adopt a child in India, and who cannot? The broad guidelines; Graphic courtesy: [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-cant-force-nuns-to-continue-adoption-work-Legal-experts/articleshow/49345522.cms ''The Times of India''], Oct 14 2015|frame|500px]]
  
−
In 2005, she again won a gold medal at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Taiwan and the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Russia both in the 46 kg weight class.
+
''' Govt can't force nuns to continue adoption work: Legal experts '''
−
====2006====
+
−
On 19-22 October 2006 at the Venus Women's Box Cup in Vejle, Denmark, Merykom won by RSCO-2 over Sofie Molholr of Denmark in the 46-kg semi-final and defeated Steluta Duta of Romania by retirement in the third round. Duta had defeated Valeria Calabrese of Italy RSCI-2 to reach the final and had also won the 46-kg division of the Ahmet Comert Tournament in 2006 with a RSCO-2 over Derya Aktop of Turkey (Merykom did not compete in that tournament.)
+
  
−
On 23 November 2006 at the AIBA World Championships at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India Merykom again won the 46-kg division - this time with a 22-7 decision over her Venus Box Cup final opponent Steluta Duta of Romania. Merykom kept the Romanian on the defensive for most of the bout, then celebrated her win with a demonstration of Manipuri folk dance in the ring. Duta reached the final with a RSCO-2 win over Boranbayeva Zalgul of Kazakhstan in the semi.
+
''A recent decision by the Missionaries of Charity (MoC) to discontinue adoption work''
−
In New Delhi, Merykom had previously defeated Jong Ok of North Korea 20-8 in the semi-final, and Chandrike Geruga of Sri Lanka by RSCO-2 in the quarter-final after a bye in the preliminary round. 
+
−
She began the tournament with a cough and fever (and was unable to take any medication because of the doping test) but she still performed well enough to lead Chandrike Geruga 13-3 after one round, and the bout was stopped in the second with Merykom ahead 19-4.
+
  
−
On this occasion the Indian women's boxing team edged the formidable Russians by 34 points to 28 in team standings.
+
Lawyers, pointed out that no one had a right to force MoC -the Roman Catholic order founded by Mother Teresa 65 years ago -to continue adoptions.  
−
====2007====
+
Though the Missionaries of Charity has not clearly specified its opposition to the single-parent rule, the release it issued did link the decision to the new adoption guidelines, under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 which came into effect from August 2015. The new rules require registration of every prospective parent online. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara) then assigns them a registered adoption agency when their turn comes.
−
Mary Kom took a one year break.
+
  
−
Her greatest test, however, was getting back into the ring after the birth of her twin boys in August 2007. “It was hard to wean the boys off her breasts, harder still to leave them at home and go off to camp for a month at a time,” Ms. Sengupta wrote in The New York Times in  2009.
+
This means that the issue of “religion'' will now come to the fore, said Bharati Dasgupta of Catalysts for Social Action which works towards rehabilitation of abandoned, destitute children in Maharashtra. “Even earlier guidelines permitted adoption by single parents, but some agencies were perhaps not following that norm. Now that there is no escape route--due to centralized database of registration by adoptive parents--the MoC may have decided to opt out.“
 +
But having said that, Dasgupta added that it was MoC's choice and no one could compel them to continue working as an adoption agency. “An agency cannot give precedence to religion over national laws or guidelines. But every agency needs to apply for renewal of its license regularly and the government authority can extend it or cancel it; similarly, the agency can choose to seek renewal or not.''
  
−
She amazed everyone with her dedication when it took her only a month to prepare for the Asian Championship, having being away for two years from the boxing ring because of the Caesarean birth of her twins. She won the silver medal.
+
=Gender-wise=
 +
==2014-18: girls preferred==
 +
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F05%2F07&entity=Ar00802&sk=64534718&mode=text  Indians prefer to adopt girls; Maha at forefront, May 7, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
  
−
====2008====
 
−
Mary Kom returned with a bang in 2008 to win a silver medal at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship held in India.
 
  
−
She then won a fourth successive gold medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in China, both were in the 46 weigh category. Her feat earned her the title of 'Magnificent Mary' from the AIBA.
+
Nearly 60% of children adopted in the last six years were girls across states in India, led by Maharashtra which also recorded the highest number of adoptions in recent years, government data showed. Of the 3,276 children adopted in the country in 2017-18, a total of 1,858 were girls, the data showed.
−
====2009====
+
−
[[File: Mary Kom2.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
+
  
−
In 2009 she won a gold medal at the Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.
+
In reply to an RTI filed by this correspondent on the number of adoptions in every state since 2012, Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) said Maharashtra was at the forefront in adopting girls.
  
−
Mary Kom also became the International Boxing Association's Ambassador for Women's Boxing in 2009.
+
The number of girls adopted in 2017 was 353 out of a total of 642 adoptions in the state.
  
−
Ms. Kom’s chance for Olympic gold began in August 2009, when the International Olympic Committee announced that women’s boxing would be added at the 2012 London Olympics.  
+
Karnataka followed with 286 adoptions, 167 of them girls, CARA, the apex body for adoption in the country, said.
  
−
“This is my dream come true,” Ms. Kom had told Somini Sengupta of The New York Times days after the announcement.
+
Maharashtra’s high score was not just because of the size of the state, but because of the large number of adoption agencies there, said CARA CEO Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar. “Maharashtra has the highest number of adoption agencies in the country at 60 while other states that are bigger have on an average 20 adoption agencies,” he said.
  
−
====2010====
+
In 2017-18, there was an increase in the number of incountry adoptions. Of the 3,276 children adopted within India, 1,858 were girls and 1,418 boys, according to the data given in response to the RTI query.
−
In 2010, Mary Kom won a gold medal at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Kazakhstan and her fifth consecutive gold medal in the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in Barbados. She now competed in the 48 kg weight class because AIBA had discontinued using the 46 kg class. She also participated in the 51 kg weight class at the Asian Games and won a bronze medal.  
+
  
−
In the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, India. She had the honor of holding the Queen's Baton along with Vijender Singh for the opening ceremony run in the stadium. However, she did not compete as women's boxing event was not included in the Games.
+
The inter-country adoption also saw an increase, with the number rising from 578 in 2016-17 to 651 in 2017-18.
  
−
In 2010, she was voted India's Sportswoman of the Year.
+
In 2016-2017, out of the 3,210 children adopted within
  
−
====2011====
+
India, 1,915 or almost 60% were girls. Maharashtra (711) and Karnataka (252) again recorded the highest numbers, followed by West Bengal (203).
−
In 2011, she won a gold medal in the 48 kg weight class at the Asian Women's Cup in China.  
+
−
[[File: Mary Kom10.jpg|Mary Kom (blue)|frame|500px]]
+
  
−
====2012/1====
+
Data for the past five years showed that on an average, 59.77% of couples adopted a girl and 40.23% a boy. “This reflects that things are changing now. Moreover, people feel that it is easier to manage a girl child than a boy, and that’s another big plus point for the girl child to be considered for adoption,” Kumar said.
−
In 2012, she won a gold medal in the 51 kg weight class at the Asian Women's Boxing Championship in Mongolia.
+
  
−
Five-time world champion MC Mary Kom and [[Laishram Sarita Devi]] clinched gold medals in the 6th Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, helping India finish a creditable second in the overall standings.  
+
Kumar refuted reports that more girls were adopted because many more of them were given away for adoption.
  
−
While Mary Kom defeated current world champion and Asian Games gold medallist Ren Cancan of China 14/8 in the (51kg category), Sarita Devi (60kg) defeated Chorieva Mavzuna of Tajkistan 16-9.  
+
"It is not that availability of the girl child is higher but that parents are opting more for a girl child. We give them three choices — one can either opt for a girl or a boy or can give no preference...The percentage of those opting specifically for girls to boys would be 55:45," he said.
  
−
With two gold medals, four silver and two bronze, India finished runners-up behind China
+
Similar trends were observed for the years since 2012, the period the RTI query focused on. Of the 5,002 adoptions in 2012-13, 3,050 were girls, and of 4,354 in 2013-14, 2,601 were girls.
  
−
====2012/ The London Olympics====
+
In 2014-15, 2,555 of the 4,362 children adopted were girls while in 2015-16, 2,295 of the 3,677 adopted were girls. Even states with low sex ratios such as Haryana and UP, couples were opting for adopting girls. In Haryana, 31 girls and 19 boys were adopted while in UP, 86 girls and 40 boys were adopted in 2016-17, according to the data.
−
On Aug. 5, 2012, her twin sons’ fifth birthday, Mary Kom began her quest for an Olympic podium finish.
+
  
−
In 2012, ‘’Time’’ commented, “Her event, the 51-kg flyweight class, is in itself a milestone: women’s boxing is debuting at the London Games, and Kom’s weight class, the lightest, will be the first up in women’s-boxing history.
+
The data come amid a report by NITI Aayog which said the sex ratio at birth in India had seen a decline in 17 out of the 21 large states.  
  
−
“Kom will be fighting in an unfamiliar weight class in London. Women’s boxing may have gained an Olympic berth, but the sport has just three weight classes compared with 10 for the men. At the Olympics, the lightest division is flyweight, or 51 kg. So she bulked up by two weight classes to qualify for the Games. On Aug. 5, she will face Poland’s Karolina Michalczuk, who herself scaled down from the 54-kg bantamweight division to flyweight. Kom is now ranked fourth in the 51-kg weight class, while Michalczuk is fifth. If she prevails against the Polish fighter, the Indian pugilist is guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals. (The gold-medal favorite is Ren Cancan of China, with Great Britain’s Nicola Adams another strong contender.)”
+
==2015: Girl child preferred==
 +
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=When-it-comes-to-adoptions-Indians-prefer-the-04122015008038 ''The Times of India''], December 4, 2015
  
−
Mary, who began the 45-kilo class, and competed in the 48-kilo class in 2010, was, in 2012, at the Olympics in the 51 kilo category. She had to put on five kilos to get up to 51kg.
+
[[File: Children adopted in India, 2012-15, total number and gender-wise break up.jpg| Children adopted in India, 2012-15, total number and gender-wise break up ; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=When-it-comes-to-adoptions-Indians-prefer-the-04122015008038 ''The Times of India''], December 4, 2015|frame|500px]]
  
−
In 2012 Mary Kom got a chance to win a rare Olympic gold medal for India when she faced Nicola Adams of Britain. India's Mary Kom went down to Nicola Adams 6 - 11 in the semi-final bout to settle for bronze in the women's fly category at the London Olympics
+
Himanshi Dhawan
−
M C Mary Kom on Monday created history as she assured India its fourth Olympic medal after winning her quarterfinal boxing bout against Maroua Rahali of Tunisia by 15-6 margin in the women's 51 kg category.
+

 +
'''When it comes to adoptions, Indians prefer the girl child'''
  
−
Ms. Kom, a five-time world champion, thus guaranteed herself a bronze medal when she won the quarterfinal of the women’s flyweight boxing event in London. (The losers of the semifinals are each awarded a bronze.)
 
  
−
“Her fight against Haringey's Nicola Adams was strangely beautiful to watch – the flyweight category is markedly different to the one above, chiefly in the sense that there's much less punching. In the earlier rounds, there were definitely pairs who spent the whole eight minutes doing their tired-hug and barely fought at all… Adams was larger, with longer arms, and as the contest progressed, she gained confidence in her advantage. By the fourth round, she looked almost at ease, possibly because Kom had swiped her one across the back of the head (this is not allowed) and was showing the strain.
+
The famed Indian preference for boys is turned on its head when it comes o adoption. It appears that when Indian parents, deprived of a child by nature, go seeking an offspring -it's usually for a girl. Data for the ast three years reveals that a significantly higher number of girls are adopted than boys.
 +
According to Central Adoption Resource Author ty (CARA) records, 1,848 boys were adopted in 20122013 as compared to 2,846 girls. Total adoptions in the year were 4,694. Since then, adoptions declined in 2013 but he preference for girls has persisted. In 2013-2014, prospective parents adopted 2,293 girls as compared to 1,631 boys while in 2014-2015, 2,300 girls were adopted as compared to 1,688 boys. While total domestic adoptions have come down from 4,694 to 3,924 in 2013-2014, it has increased marginally to 3,988 this year.
  
−
“After Mary K won her opening fight on Sunday, she was crying in the mixed zone afterwards because it was her twin boys' fifth birthday and she couldn't be with them.,” The Guardian reported.
+
While lesser availability of boys for adoption is a factor which could be driving this trend, it is also true that couples who have given up hope of having a child of their own do not mull too much over gender since adoption in India continues to be a long-drawn process.
  
−
The 2012 London Olympics brought her more respect and honor as she became the first Indian women boxer to qualify and win a bronze medal at the Olympics. She took part in the 51 kg weight category and also became the third Indian woman to win an individual medal at the Olympics.
+
However, the number of adoptions is still way below the demand. There are about 9,000 prospective parents registered with CARA. Adoption data however paints a dismal picture so far. The highest number of children adopted was 6,593 in 2011-2012. Since then, the numbers have steadily declined till this year. There are an estimated 50,000 children in need for a secure home and care and protection. Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi has set an ambitious target of 15,000 adoptions for this year.
−
=====Why did Mary not get a gold?=====
+
  
−
[[File: Mary Kom3.jpg|Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
+
Gandhi has in recent times been severely critical of the functioning of adoption agencies. In fact, the ministry introduced fresh guidelines for adoption in August this year. The norms mandate all agencies involved to be registered online with a central database of children.
−
Why did Mary not get a gold?
+
  
−
''The Guardian'' explained, ‘The Indian champion has the moves but weight classification counts against her in bout with GB's Nicola Adams… Kom was never beaten (though she was, technically, beaten). They got her on a technicality.’
+
According to experts, one of the reasons why girls may be preferred for adoption could be the increasing number of single women keen to complete their family . “In case a single woman adopts, the preference is for a girl child,“ an NGO representative said.
  
−
"If they added a 48 [kilogram weight class], I'd be champion!" Mary laughed afterwards.
+
==2015-18, girl child preferred==
 +
[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/60-children-adopted-in-india-between-2015-and-2018-are-girls/article26241070.ece  Shiv Sahay Singh, 60% children adopted in India between 2015 and 2018 are girls, February 11, 2019: ''The Hindu'']
  
−
=Illustrious career, 2002-14: Mary's accomplishments =
+
[[File: About 60% of children adopted in India were girls. The figure is 69% when it comes to inter-country adoptions, 2015-December 2018.jpg|About 60% of children adopted in India were girls. The figure is 69% when it comes to inter-country adoptions, 2015-December 2018 <br/> From: [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/60-children-adopted-in-india-between-2015-and-2018-are-girls/article26241070.ece  Shiv Sahay Singh, 60% children adopted in India between 2015 and 2018 are girls, February 11, 2019: ''The Hindu'']|frame|500px]]
  
−
MC Mary Kom's dream of winning another Olympic medal was shattered after the 33-year-old lost to Germany's AzizeNimani in the second round of the World Boxing Championships in Astana. As a result she will not be able to represent India in Rio.TOI highlights the career of one of India's greatest sportspersons:
+
''Data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development shows that of the 11,649 children adopted, 6,962 were girls and 4,687 were boys''
  
−
2002 C'ships (Antalya): Gold (45 kg).  
+
India may have a skewed gender ratio, but the female child happens to be the first choice when it comes to adoption. The number of female children placed for in-country adoptions and inter-country adoptions between 2015 and 2018 are relatively higher than male children.
  
−
2005 C'ships (Podolsk): Gold (46 kg);
+
During this period, about 11,649 children were put up for in-country adoptions; of them 6,962 were girls and 4,687 were boys. Of the 3,011 children that were placed for in-country adoption in 2015-16, as many as 1,855 were female children. In the year 2016-17, as many as 3,210 children were placed under in-country adoptions and of them 1,915 were females. The figures for 2017-18 and 2018-19 (till December 2018) were 3,276 and 2,152, of which the numbers of girl children were 1943 and 1249 respectively.
  
−
2006 C'ships (New Delhi): Gold (46 kg);
+
All the figures put together, female children comprise almost 60% of all in-country adoptions. When it came to inter-country adoptions, the number of female children was even higher: 69%. Of the 2,310 children placed under adoption between the same period, 1,594 were females.
  
−
2008 C'ships (Ningbo): Gold (46 kg);
+
The data was tabled by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Lok Sabha on February 8, in response to a question by members Tej Pratap Sigh Yadav, L.R. Shivarame Gowda and Anju Bala.
  
−
2010 Guangzhou Asiad: Bronze (51kg);
+
Prajakta Kulkarni, a member of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), said there was little doubt that more girls were being adopted and it reflected that gender bias and the attitude of people against the girl child are changing across the country. Ms. Kulkarni, who represents the NGO-run Specialised Adoption Agency in the CARA steering committee, said the whole issue of more girls getting adopted needs to be looked into with research.
  
−
2010 World C'ships (Bridgetown): Gold (48 kg);
 
  
−
2012 London Olympics: Bronze (51 kg);
+
'''More girls for adoption?'''
  
−
2014 Incheon Asiad: Gold (51kg);
+
Sindhu Naik, member, Adoption Scrutiny Committee, State Council of Child Welfare (Karnataka), said that one has to also look whether more girls were coming for adoption. Ms. Naik said that the urban middle class people were preferring female children because they are concerned and aware of the situation of the girl child. The situation may not be the same for villages and small towns, she said.
  
−
=2013 =
+
=Procedures=  
−
The year was uneventful on the ring.
+
== To reduce delays, DMs likely to get final say ==
 +
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F01%2F04&entity=Ar01114&sk=3057A463&mode=text  Ambika.Pandit, To reduce delays, DMs likely to get final say in adoption cases, January, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
  
−
However, Mary gave birth to her third son.
 
  
−
The Government of India awarded Mary the nation’s third highest honour, the Padma Bhushan.
+
In a move to prevent long delays in courts and expedite adoption, the ministry of women and child development (WCD) has prepared a proposal to delegate the power to give final approval for enabling adoption of a child to the district magistrate.
  
−
Mary’s autobiography, ''Unbreakable'', was published by Harper Collins in December.
+
As of now civil courts have the power to enable adoption after due process. Data with the WCD ministry shows that an estimated 600 to 700 adoption cases are pending in civil courts, many of them for long.
  
−
=2014=
+
The detailed proposal is currently under review of the ministry of law. If there is consensus between the two ministries, the proposal will need Cabinet approval and an amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.
−
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=SCALING-NEW-FRONTIERS-31122014030010 ''The Times of India'']
+
  
−
Dec 31 2014
+
When asked about the proposal, WCD secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that delay in approval in civil courts has prompted the ministry to explore the option of shifting the power to the level of the district magistrate. He pointed that it was felt that the civil courts were already burdened with a vast case load and often matters such as adoption keep getting delayed. “While the law stipulates a timeframe, the delay in approvals stretch way beyond the laid out time period. There are cases pending for years,” the WCD secretary said.
  
−
The champion boxer silenced her critics with a gold medal at Incheon. If Sarita Devi ran into controversy after she was unjustly adjudged the loser, Mary Kom ensured that the Indian Tricolour went up by punching above her weight especially in a closely contested 51kg final against Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova. The Manipuri's entry into the Indian team itself was a bit dramatic where she beat Pinki Jangra in the trials to avenge her defeat to the same boxer in the CWG trials. The London Olympics bronze-medallist has now trained her guns on the elusive gold at the Rio Games.
+
The change being sought pertains to section 2, sub section 23 of JJ Act. It is proposed to change the definition of “court” from “civil court” to “court of district magistrate”. The view in the WCD ministry is that the change will enable faster disposal of cases and also better scrutiny since the district magistrate is also incharge of the area and has access to all departments in case some verifications or field reports in a case are required urgently.
  
 +
However, to effect this change may not be all that easy for it will require a significant nationwide shift from the existing system involving the role of civil courts in adoption. Also it is learnt that voluntary organisations, academicians and activists working in the field of child rights are planning to write to the WCD ministry asking it to reconsider the proposal.
  
−
=====May: Fails to qualify for Glasgow Commonwealth Games...=====
+
The ministry of women and child development has prepared a proposal to delegate the power to give the final approval for adoption to the magistrate. As of now, civil courts have the power to enable adoption after the due process
−
The five-time world champion, gave birth to her third child in 2013. In May 2014 she participated in the trials for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. She was competing for the first time since the 2012 London Olympics. On 23 May 2014 she fell short as Haryana's Pinki Jangra (51kg) beat her to seal the CWG berth.
+
  
−
"Coming back from motherhood was very difficult and I don't know how to express it. I had to undergo a liver surgery four months after the birth of my child. It was hard to comeback. I lost three kilos every week to be back in the ring," Mary said.  
+
=Search for biological family=
 +
== Attorney not a third party in particular cases==
 +
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/10&entity=Ar01706&sk=38444171&mode=text  Swati Deshpande, Oct 10, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
 +
[[File: Legal rights of adopted children.jpg|Adopted rights of adopted children <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/10&entity=Ar01706&sk=38444171&mode=text  Swati Deshpande, Oct 10, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
  
−
After her loss, Mary was quoted as saying, "It was a close bout against Pinki. I wish her luck and hope she brings India a medal."
+
In a relief to an adoptee from India who lives in Switzerland, the Bombay high court allowed her to search for her Indian roots via a power of attorney (PoA) holder.
  
−
=====August: ...but qualifies for the Asian Games =====
+
Though the Maharashtra department of women and child development had objected to the search through a third party, the high court recognised the hurdles the distance and her current location placed on her search and observed that her constituted attorney cannot, under such circumstances, be considered a third party.
−
After failing to qualify for the Commonwealth Games, India's boxing ace M C Mary Kom bounced back in style, beating Pinki Jangra in the selection trials in Patiala, to qualify for the Asian Games.
+
  
−
It was sweet revenge for Mary.
+
Beena Makhijani Muller was born on March 31,1978, in India. She was adopted the same year and is currently in Albisstr, Switzerland. Her petition said she was adopted by V K Makhijani from Asha Sadan, an adoption agency in Mumbai, and later taken to Switzerland.
  
−
Pinki won a bronze medal in Glasgow.
+
In 2013, she decided to search for her roots — her biological parents — and approached the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which in turn wrote to the state adoption resource authority (SARA). In May 2015, she hit a roadblock after she appointed Anjali Pawar as PoA for the search.
  
−
=2014: Gold at the Incheon Asiad=
+
In court, too, appearing for the state, assistant government pleader Pravin Sawant cited Rule 44 of the Adoption Regulations 2017 to argue that a PoA is a third party to whom details of an adoptee’s roots can’t be given. He said details could only be given to the beneficiary.
−
[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/tournaments/asian-games-2014/india-at-incheon/Magnificent-Mary-gives-India-first-boxing-gold-at-17th-Asiad/articleshow/43973904.cms PTI]
+
  
−
MC Mary Kom became the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Games after she came from behind to beat Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova in the flyweight (51kg) summit clash on Wednesday.
+
Muller’s petition pointed to a landmark SC order of 1984 that recognised an adoptee’s right to know about her/ his roots on turning adult. The HC asked the state authorities to assist the PoA in the search. It argued that her PoA is a Pune resident who has been working for child protection, women and other social issues since 1998.
  
−
Mary Kom defeated Shekerbekova 2-0 in a evenly-contested battle in which the Kazakh had the initial advantage.
+
Pawar, the plea said, has worked on inter-country adoption issues since 2006 and helped adoptees, who have been searching for their biological parents. Muller said she couldn’t stay in India longer and hence requested her constituted attorney to work on her root search case as it was an adoptee’s fundamental right to know their original identity.
  
−
Seemingly vary of her rival in the opening round, Mary Kom preferred to keep a distance and invited Shekerbekova to launch the first attack. The Kazakh, however, did not fall for the bait and back-peddled smoothly to outwit the Indian in the opening two minutes.
+
[[Category:India|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
 +
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
 +
[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
 +
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
 +
[[Category:Society|A ADOPTIONS: INDIA
 +
ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
  
−
However, never the one to give up easily, Mary Kom reworked strategy and stunned Shekerbekova with her aggression in the second round. Combining her hooks with uppercuts to Shekerbekova's torso, Mary Kom drew level albeit on a split decision.
+
=Trends=
 +
==2010-14: Trends==
 +
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Govt-slams-agencies-for-slide-in-adoptions-21022015019005 ''The Times of India'']
 +
[[File: adoption.jpg|2010-14: in-country and tnter-country adoptions|frame|500px]]
 +
Feb 21 2015
  
−
Mary began to dominate in the third round and dictated the pace of the proceedings.
+
''' 50% dip in figure from 2010 to 2014 '''
  
−
Shekerbekova could not come to grips with the tactical shift in Mary Kom's game and could only respond by holding her opponent frequently, for which the referee cautioned her.
+
With an estimated 50,000 orphan children in want of safe homes in the country, Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday blamed the “idleness and deliberate lying“ of adoption agencies for delays and bottlenecks in the process. Domestic adoptions in India have nearly halved from 5,693 in 2010 to 2,503 in 2014.
 +
Maneka, who holds charge as minister for women and child development, said she wanted 15,000 children adopted in a year instead of the annual rate of 800-1000. “I am actually appalled by all of you. I have found bottlenecks, idleness, unconcern, deliberate lying... in this process you have destroyed thousands of lives,“ she said.
  
 +
The minister was addressing the national meet on adoption organized by Cara (Central Adoption Resource Authority). Describing the agencies as “irresponsible and unaccountable'' Gandhi said, “When I joined in 2000, the adoption rate was 1,500-1,200, which tumbled to 400-800 per year. In a country which has got 50,000 orphans who can be adopted, it is shameful that the number is 800 to 1,000,... and it continues to come down.'' The minister also accused some agencies of preferring foreign parents over Indians. “Many of you won't give (the child) to Indians, you wait for a foreigner. I have zero tolerance for anybody who denies adoption. In our new act, Cara will have a lot of power.One of its powers is to remove Sara (State Adoption Resource Authority), to remove adoption agencies, to completely ban them,“ he said.
  
−
=2014: ''Mary Kom,'' the film=
+
The minister also said that a foster care scheme will be launched for orphan children under which families will be paid by the government to keep them.
−
(There is a much longer, independent article on [[Mary Kom, the film]].)
+
  
−
[[File: Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom.jpg| Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom|frame|500px]]
+
In an effort to provide identity and improved monitoring of orphans, the ministry gave away Aadhaar cards to children from adoption homes.
−
India’s national heroine Mary Kom became the first sportsperson in Indian history to have a biopic made on her ''during her active career,'' the second living sportsperson (after Milkha Singh) to have such a film in her lifetime and the third sportsperson ever (Paan Singh Tomar being the third: and his was no hagiography, unlike Milkha’s and Mary’s).
+
  
−
Koimoi called the film ‘one of the most anticipated films of the year.’ It earned Rs7.5 crore on its first day. This was more than 2014’s superhit--sleeper hit, actually--''Queen '' netted on its first day.
+
The ministry is also hoping to notify the new adoption guidelines governing adoption that is expected to speed up the process and introduce transparency . Maneka gave directions that the entire process of adopting a child should not take more than four months and the performance of adoption agencies will now be monitored by the ministry and Cara on a weekly basis.
  
−
More details in [[Mary Kom, the film]].
+
==January-March 2015: A rise in adoption rate==
 +
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Adoptions-up-first-time-in-3-yrs-50k-07072015001030 ''The Times of India''], Jul 07 2015
  
−
=====How a Punjabi got north-eastern looks=====
+
''' Adoptions up first time in 3 yrs; 50k still need homes '''
−
[[File: Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom2.jpg| Priyanka Chopra acquires north eastern features. Our sources are: [http://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/bollywood-mary-kom-priyanka/ Scoop Whoop] and [http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/exclusive-photos-did-the-makers-of-priyanka-chopras-mary-kom-biopic-cheat-a-us-based-makeup-artiste/#!1/composition_eyesfinal/ Bollywood Life]. However, their sources are not clear|frame|500px]]
+
−
Adarsh ([http://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/bollywood-mary-kom-priyanka/ Scoop Whoop]) and [http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/exclusive-photos-did-the-makers-of-priyanka-chopras-mary-kom-biopic-cheat-a-us-based-makeup-artiste/#!1/composition_eyesfinal/ Bollywood Life] tell (and show) us (see pictures) how the Punjabi Priyanka Chopra was transformed into i) an athlete, and ii) a mongoloid north-easterner
+
  
−
More details in [[Mary Kom, the film]].
+
A doption of children in the country has gone up for the first time in three years, reports Himanshi Dhawan. An awareness campaign and a bid to cut down red-tape in the process of adoption can be credited for the spike in numbers -from 999 in October-December, 2014 to 1,368 between January and March 2015.
 +
The number is a fraction of 50,000 orphans requiring homes, according to latest data available with the Central Adoption Resource Authority . It has only 1,200 children lined up for adoption against the demand from 10,000 parents. Of them, 9,000 are Indians, the rest NRIs or foreigners.
  
−
=====Why was the mayang Chopra chosen over Manipuri/ NE actresses?=====
+
In February 2015, WCD minister Maneka Gandhi had pulled up adoption agencies for “idleness and deliberate lying'' and said the figures were “shameful“, adding she wanted 15,000 kids to find homes a year.
−
Many ‘mayang’ (non-Manipuri) Indian journalists who love North East India protested that the role of Mary Kom should have gone to a north eastern actress, not Priyanka Chopra.
+
  
−
NE-loving mayang journalists called the decision to cast Priyanka Chopra ‘cultural chauvinism.’ They interviewed Lin Laishram, Bala Hijam et al, who seemed to agree.
+
==2011-16, year-wise==
 +
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Domestic-adoptions-drop-by-half-hit-a-5-08062016001069 The Times of India], June 8, 2016
  
−
Laishram went to the extent of saying, “Ideally, a Manipuri actor or someone from the Northeast should have been cast. But this is neither the fault of the production house nor the director. '' It is India. ''  It is simply not prepared to accept someone like us on the big screen – so very racially different from them.’’. [[http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/shes-got-the-look-3/#sthash.rNRLNPzD.dpuf Indian Express]
+
[[File: In-country and intra-country adoptions, India, 2011-16 year-wise.jpg|In-country and intra-country adoptions, India, 2011-16 year-wise; Graphic courtesy: [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Domestic-adoptions-drop-by-half-hit-a-5-08062016001069 The Times of India], June 8, 2016|frame|500px]]  
  
−
More details in [[Mary Kom, the film]].
+
Himanshi Dhawan
  
−
=2015=
+
Domestic adoptions have dropped by half, hitting a five-year low with only 3,011 children being adopted by Indian parents in 2015-16. The highest adoptions so far have been in 2011 when 5,964 children were adopted. Conversely , adoptions by foreigners are the highest in the past five years.In 2015-16, 666 children were adopted by foreign parents compared with 629 in 2011.
−
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=INDIAN-SPORTS-SHINING-STARS-09052015028006 ''The Times of India''], May 9, 2015
+
Despite a burgeoning population of children in need of care, adoption levels continue to be low. In 2012-2013, 4,694 children were adopted domestically , which dropped to 3,924 the following year. In 2014-2015, domestic adoptions climbed marginally to 3,988 but have seen a downward spiral to 3,011 in 2015-2016.
  
−
Mary made the Incheon Games a memorable one winning her first gold in an Asian Games. A five-time World champion and one of India's most decorated sportswomen, Mary was named the Games' Most Valuable Player among the Indian contingent. She is now looking to give her career a grand send off with a medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
+
Inter-country or adoptions by foreign nationals and NRIs have meanwhile increased. The number of adoptions in 2012-2013 was 308 which increased to 430 in 2013-2014, then dropped again to 374 in 2014-2015 before increasing to 666 in 2015-2016.
  
−
=Her strategy=
+
This data comes nearly a year after new adoption guidelines were introduced by the ministry of women and child development. The new guidelines on adoption that became effective from August 1, 2015 were expected to push domestic adoptions. Minister Maneka Gandhi had in fact given adoption agencies a target of 20,000 in August 2015.
−
Unlike her male counterparts, Mary relies on technique and accuracy than raw power.
+
−
"My left hook is very strong," she says. "Since 2001 I'm using my left hook to make it this far, to be a world champion."
+
  
−
On her ring strategy, Merykom says "I simply try to cramp my opponents so that they don't get any chance to free their arms. 'My height (around five feet) is a problem but my fitness is my advantage. I make my opponents run a lot in the ring, which tires them.'  In 2005 she told a felicitation program organized by Indian Amateur Boxing Federation and YMCA: "I do not only rely on my technique or strength but also on my mind," adding that in her 46-kg weight category "I mostly meet different boxers in my weight category as the older ones change to higher weight category. But I have established myself here."
+
However the system suffe red from several hiccups including NGOs like the Missionaries of Charity choosing to opt out of the adoption system and reluctance by many agencies to adapt to the online system. Officials said that organisations had dragged their feet in registering to the new online system CARINGS. “In some cases like Karnataka, the state has been actively working to register all agencies that are involved in adoption to streamline them. But some other states are indifferent to the process and that is reflected in the results,'' an official said.
  
−
Merykom works out five to six hours a day to stay fit. Coming from a poor family who struggled to educate her siblings, her success as a world champion is a testament to her determination, perseverance and drive to succeed. She has used her earnings from boxing to obtain a new house and land for her parents and savings deposits for her younger siblings but she bemoans the lack of sponsorship for Indian female boxers, saying "I guess that’s because I don’t play tennis or cricket. Seriously, are there no other sports in India?"  She has said that she would eventually like to share her boxing experiences while grooming new sports talent in Manipur.
+
Government sources said that the minister received dozens of complaints every day on the slow pace of adoption.
  
−
=== The most successful Indian boxer in history===
+
==2016, state-wise==
−
By winning the bronze medal, in the 51kg category M.C. Mary Kom became India's most successful boxer, male or female, in South Asian history
+
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Maha-leads-again-in-domestic-adoptions-08082016001046 ''The Times of India''], Aug 08 2016
  
−
===Government support===
+
Himanshi Dhawan
−
“I’ve got a job with the state police, though I don’t have to go to work.”—MC Mary Kom.
+
−
 
+
−
Kom receives a salary from the Manipur government as a police officer, but she spends much of her time, with her husband, running the M.C. Mary Kom Boxing Academy, through which she is determined to give nearly 40 disadvantaged Manipuri youth a fighting chance. Already, some of her pupils have won national titles.
+
−
 
+
−
She has, since 2007, been teaching boxing to underprivileged youth for free.
+
−
 
+
−
In 2013 the Indian national Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports sanctioned a grant of about Rs. three crore (Rs 30 million) towards the construction of a Gymnasium Hall and the procurement of related equipment, for the Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, being set up in Imphal.
+
−
 
+
−
The Manipur government allotted the land needed for the project.
+
−
 
+
−
By 2010, eight students from the academy had won state level medals, and two had participated in national competitions.
+
−
 
+
−
===Biopic===
+
−
[[File: Mary Kom biopic.jpg| Bhansali, Mary Kom and Chopra. |frame|500px]]
+
−
 
+
−
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, producer and director of mega-budget Hindi-Urdu films started work in 2013 on a biopic on the life of Mary Kom. Miss India 2000, Miss World 2000 and A-list actress Priyanka Chopra is playing the nation’s favourite athlete and favourite sportsperson outside cricket.
+
−
 
+
−
Mary accepted an invitation to Mumbai’s Film City and agreed to have a film made on her life.
+
−
 
+
−
==Favourite foods==
+
−
'''See''' [[Manipur: cuisine]]
+
−
==Major awards==
+
−
2004 Arjuna Award/ for outstanding national sports achievem
+
−
 
+
−
2005 – Gold medal/ Women’s World Amateur Boxing Champion
+
−
 
+
−
2006 – Gold medal/ World Women’s Boxing Championship, India
+
−
 
+
−
2006 Padma Shri Award/    for distinguished citizenship, India's fourth highest civilian honour.
+
−
 
+
−
2008 – Gold medal/    AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships
+
−
 
+
−
2008 MTV Youth Icon
+
−
 
+
−
2009 – India’s highest sports honour/    Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
+
−
 
+
−
2010 – Gold medal/ AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships
+
−
 
+
−
2011 – Gold Medal/        National Boxing Championships (51kg)
+
−
 
+
−
2012 – Bronze Medal/ Summer Olympic Games
+
−
 
+
−
2013- The by then 30-year-old Mary Kom was honoured with Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour.
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
=2016=
+
−
==No Olympics==
+
−
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Mary-Kom-Sarita-Devis-Rio-dreams-shattered-22052016001059 ''The Times of India''], May 22, 2016
+
−
 
+
−
Mary Kom crashed out in the second ro und of the World Women's Boxing Championship in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, putting paid to Rio dreams.
+
−
Mary Kom had said she would quit the sport after the Rio Olympics in August. The 33-year-old was beaten 2-0 by German AzizeNimani, eight years her junior in the 51kg category.
+
−
 
+
−
==AIBA ambassador==
+
−
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=Mary-Kom-is-AIBA-ambassador-15042016030006 ''The Times of India''], Apr 15 2016
+
−
 
+
−
'''Mary Kom is AIBA ambassador'''
+
−
 
+
−
Iconic Indian woman boxer M C Mary Komon added another honour to her list of accolades as she was named one of the eight ambassadors for the upcoming World Championships by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).An elated Mary Kom (51kg), who has five World Championship gold medals to her credit.
+
−
 
+
−
The Manipuri is a tournament legend and AIBA had dubbed her `Magnificent Mary' for her unprecedented gold medal count in it. The 33 year-old missed out on an Olympic berth in March 2016Asian Qualifiers.
+
−
 
+
−
==2016, an analysis==
+
−
[http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=A-YEAR-TO-FORGET-25122016026009 ''The Times of India'']Dec 25 2016
+
−
 
+
−
MC MARY KOM
+
−
 
+
−
Having taken a break from the sport after the birth of her second child, Mary Kom failed to get past the Olympic Games qualifiers on her return and book a direct ticket to Rio. As if to feed the appetite of the sentimental Indian boxing fan, the IOA made a lastditch effort to request the world body as a wildcard entry. The request was turned down. Now 33, the Manipur boxer has vowed to “fight“ for a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
=2017=
+
−
== Gold in Asian Boxing: Mary’s 5th==
+
−
[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/boxing/mary-kom-marks-triumphant-return-with-asian-championship-gold/articleshow/61559108.cms  Mary Kom marks triumphant return with Asian Championship gold, November 8, 2017: The Times of India]
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
'''HIGHLIGHTS'''
+
−
 
+
−
Mary Kom defeated Korea's Kim Hyang Mi in the summit clash.
+
−
 
+
−
This is Mary Kom's first gold medal in the 48kg category
+
−
 
+
−
MC Mary Kom won her fifth Asian Boxing Championship gold medal - first in the 48kg category - by defeating Korea's Kim Hyang Mi in the summit clash on Wednesday at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist won in a unanimous 5-0 verdict.
+
−
 
+
−
However, world championship silver-medallist, Sonia Lathar, had to be content with a runner-up finish for the second time at this event after she went down in a split verdict to China's Yin Junhua in the final of the 57kg category. India thus signed off with a gold, a silver and five bronze medals at the tournament.
+
−
 
+
−
Having been away from the boxing ring for a long period, this was the first time in five years that Mary Kom returned to her favourite 48-kg category and emerged victorious. It was Mary Kom's first international gold medal since the 2014 Asian Games and her first medal in more than a year.
+
−
 
+
−
=2018=
+
−
==Achievements, as in 2018==
+
−
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F11%2F15&entity=Ar02801&sk=90D4DCBF&mode=text  Devadyuti Das, November 15, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
'''Place of Birth: Kangthei, Manipur Category: Flyweight (48Kg)'''
+
−
 
+
−
Mary Kom is the superstar of Indian boxing. The mother of three children is a five-time world champion and the only Indian woman to win an Olympic medal (London 2012). She is also the only woman boxer from the country to win a gold at the Asian Games. Mary was inducted into the AIBA Hall of Fame for her all-time contributions
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
'''ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2018:'''
+
−
 
+
−
Gold, Silesian Boxing Championship, Poland Gold, Commonwealth Games 2018, Gold Coast Gold, India Open Elite International Boxing Championships, New Delhi
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
'''MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS'''
+
−
 
+
−
Bronze, 2012 London Olympics Gold, 2014 Incheon Asian Games Gold, 2010 World Boxing Championships, Barbados Bronze, 2010 Asian Games Gold, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008 (China) World Boxing Championships Silver, 2001 World Boxing Championship
+
−
 
+
−
==Medal at CWG, but Asiad skipped==
+
−
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2018%2F05%2F31&entity=Ar02211&sk=92E5DC89&mode=text  Devadyuti Das, Mary set to skip Asian Games, May 31, 2018: ''The Times of India'']
+
−
 
+
−
 
+
−
Immediately after securing a medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in April this year, MC Mary Kom had hinted that she might give the 2018 Asian Games a miss. A little over a month later, the trip to Jakarta is looking increasingly unlikely for Mary Kom, although she is currently at the Olympic Performance Training Centre in Assisi, Italy, with other women pugilists from India who are preparing for the Asian Games.
+
−
 
+
−
The chief coach of the women’s team, Raffaele Bergamasco, confirmed that five-time world champion Mary is now more focussed on the women’s boxing World Championship which will take place in New Delhi in November this year. “We believe that it will be difficult for Mary to compete in the 51kg category (there are only three categories in Asian Games boxing — 51kg, 57kg and 60kg). The competition in 51kg is quite tough with good boxers from Kazakhstan, Mongolia and South Korea. We feel that it won’t be in her best interests to go up from 48kg to 51kg at this stage. It’s important for her to remain fit and keep up her good performances in her weight category,” Bergamasco told TOI from Assisi on Wednesday.
+
−
 
+
−
Over the last one year, 35-year-old Mary has managed to win gold in Asian Championships and Commonwealth Games and the mother-of-three will look to add another world title to her name, especially in front of the home crowd. She is currently training alongside Monika (48kg), Sarjubala Devi and Pinki Rani (both 51kg), Meena Maisnam (54kg), two-time Asian Championship silver medallist Sonia Lather and 2017 World Youth Champion gold medallist Shashi Chopra in the 57kg, Laishram Sarita Devi and Pavitra (both 60kg), Simranjit Kaur (64kg), Lovlina Boroghain and Pooja (both 69kg), former World Championship silver medallist Saweety Bora (75kg), Asian Championship bronze medallist Seema Poonia (81 kg) and Lalfakmawii Ralte (+81 kg).
+
−
 
+
−
They are in Assisi with top women boxers from Finland, Romania and Italy for a fortnight-long camp. “It is very important to work on strength and moverment. At this moment, performance is not as important as the preparation for the Asian Games,” coach Bergamasco felt.
+
−
 
+
−
=2019=
+
−
==Jan: World No. 1==
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2019%2F01%2F11&entity=Ar03005&sk=151FD3B6&mode=text  Sabi Hussain, World No. 1 Mary in familiar ring, January 11, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
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Mary Kom may have won her record sixth World Championship title last November, but that will not make her India’s automatic choice for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 51kg.
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On a day when the London Games bronze medallist became the world No.1 pugilist in her pet 48kg category, TOI learnt that Mary and other women boxers will have to appear for selection trials ahead of the qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics. Mary was ranked No. 1 by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in the 45-48kg (light flyweight) category, scoring 1700 points.
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The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) had of late introduced a ranking-based system to select the boxers for major international and multi-sport events. But for the Tokyo Games, there are plans afoot for trials for both the men and women boxers in an attempt to avoid charges of favouritism.
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The Italian Raffaele Bergamasco-led women coaching staff seems quite clear on what they intend to do in the run up to Tokyo. Simply, if Mary, like any other boxer, has to participate in Tokyo, she will have to compete against the best in the 51kg, comprising, among others, the talented trio of Pinki Jangra, Sarjuabala and Nikhat Zareen.
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Mary’s original weight category – 48kg – in which the Manipur boxer won her sixth world gold, isn’t part of the Olympic programme, making it imperative for her to compete in 51kg. Bergamasco & Co are approaching the BFI much in advance with their plan, given the history of much-maligned trials in Indian boxing.
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It’s been learnt that the coaches will hold discussions with Mary and other boxers in Delhi next week.
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Mary commands considerable respect and influence in the Indian boxing fraternity, and sometimes her reputation precedes other things making the current coaches team a wary lot. According to sources, the coaches didn’t want a situation where Mary becomes the BFI’s automatic choice in the 51kg category, leaving other boxers feeling shortchanged.
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The boxing trials have always been a tricky affair, as was seen during the time of Glasgow CWG, Incheon Asiad and 2016 Rio Olympics.
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==Historic eighth medal==
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[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/11&entity=Ar00508&sk=6FBBAFBD&mode=image  Oct 11, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
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[[File: Mary Kom’s historic eighth medal.jpg|Mary Kom’s historic eighth medal <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL/2019/10/11&entity=Ar00508&sk=6FBBAFBD&mode=image  Oct 11, 2019: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
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Indian boxing legend, MC Mary Kom, became the most successful boxer in the history of the World Championships – both men and women – after assuring herself of an astonishing eighth medal at the ongoing wpoen’s Worlds in Ulan Ude, Russia on Thursday. The 36-year-old defeated Rio Olympics bronze medallist, Columbia’s Valencia Victoria, by a unanimous 5-0 verdict in a 51kg category quarterfinal bout to become the first and only boxer to secure eight medals at the Worlds since the tounament’s inception in 1974. 
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==Wins bronze in Worlds==
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[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/boxing/world-boxing-championships-mary-kom-loses-in-semis-questions-decision/articleshow/71551312.cms  Oct 12, 2019: ''The Times of India'']
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''' Key Highlights '''
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Six-time champion MC Mary Kom settled for a bronze medal after losing to Turkey's Busenaz Cakiroglu in an intense 51kg semifinal bout
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The Indian contingent sought a review of the decision but the appeal was turned down by the AIBA's technical committee
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ULAN-UDE (Russia): Six-time champion MC Mary Kom (51kg) on Saturday settled for a bronze medal in the World Women's Boxing Championships after losing to Turkey's Busenaz Cakiroglu in an intense semifinal bout.
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Mary Kom, seeded third, lost 1-4 to second seed Cakiroglu, who is the reigning European Championships and European Games gold-medallist.
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The Indian contingent sought a review of the decision but the appeal was turned down by the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) technical committee.
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"How and why. Let the world know how much right and wrong the decision is," Mary Kom later tweeted expressing her anguish at the loss.
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Both the boxers seemed hesitant to make the first move in the opening round but Mary Kom had the edge in counter-attacks as Cakiroglu struggled to make her height advantage count.
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The second round followed a similar pattern as far as the tactics went but Cakiroglu seemed the sharper of the two.
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In the final three minutes, both the boxers upped the ante but Cakiroglu became the dominant aggressor eventually.
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Despite this loss, it was a stupendous campaign for the 36-year-old Mary Kom and added to her long list of accomplishments. This bronze is her first world medal in the 51kg category.
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[[Category:India|KMARY KOM
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=See also=
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===Some other Manipur-related articles===
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[[Maisnam Betombi Singh]]
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[[Mary Kom]]
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===Cinemas of the North-East===
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[[Assamese cinema]]: This page has, at the bottom, links to several other articles in Indpaedia.com related to Assamese cinema.
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===Individual pages about:===
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''' Maharashtra leads again in domestic adoptions '''
  
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[[Abenao Elangbam]]
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Maharashtra has been leading in domestic adoptions of children in India for 2013-16 even as the number of domestic adoptions has been steadily declining.
  
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[[Bala Hijam]]
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In 2016, between April and June, 800 children were adopted by Indian parents and 102 by foreigners, according to data from the Central Adoption Resource Authority, the central agency for adoption in India under the women and child development ministry .
  
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[[Hamom Sadananda]]
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Among states, Maharash tra has again topped with 159 kids adopted domestically and 26 internationally this year, followed by Bengal with 72 domestic adoptions and Odisha with 51domestic adoptions. Madhya Pradesh had the fourth largest do mestic adoption of children, with 50 kids being adopted till June this financial year, while Karnataka placed 44 children in domestic adoptions.
  
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[[Lairenjam Olen]]
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Last year (2015-2016), Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu were the top five states in domestic adoptions. In 2013-2014, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were the top five states while in 2014-2015, the top states were Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
  
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[[MA Singh/ Maibam Amuthoi ]]
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Arunachal Pradesh has a poor record with no children adopted since 2013-2014 to date, except six domestic adoptions in 2014-2015.
  
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[[Mohen Naorem]]
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The number of domestic adoptions has been declining while inter-country adoptions went up, even though recently amended guidelines seek to put Indian parents at an advantage. Domestic adoptions came down from 3,988 in 2014-2015 to 3,011 in 2015-2016.The number of children adopted from Maharashtra, for instance, came down from 1,068 in 2013-2014 to 947 in 20142015 and 724 in 2015-2016.
  
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[[Ningthoujam Rina]]
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The amended guidelines for adoption of children which came into force in August 2015 include provisions for taking the entire process online, treating non-resident Indians at par with Indian parents, reducing the timeframe for completion of home study report from two months to one and authorising only specialised agencies for adoptions. However, the impact of the new provisions are yet to kick in.
  
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[[Premjit Naoroibam]]  
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==2018: India vis-à-vis comparable countries==
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[[File: 2018- The number of children adopted by the USA from China, India and other comparable countries..jpg| 2018: The number of children adopted by the USA from China, India and other comparable countries. <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F07%2F02&entity=Ar01510&sk=D468A259&mode=image  July 2, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]
  
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[[Romi Meetei]]
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'' 2018: The number of children adopted by the USA from China, India and other comparable countries. ''
  
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[[Category:India|A
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
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[[Category:Law,Constitution,Judiciary|A
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]
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ADOPTIONS: INDIA]]

Revision as of 20:52, 7 June 2021

States with the highest number of adoption cases; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, September 8, 2016

This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.

Contents

The law

 Adopted child has same rights as biological offspring

Ambika Pandit, Sep 19, 2019: The Times of India

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara) has said the law makes it clear that any child once adopted legally has rights equal to that of a biological child.

Cara’s observations have come in response to a railways circular shared on micro-blogging site Twitter in connection with a case where a Bengaluru-based railway employee, who applied for the unique medical identification (UMID) smart card for health facilities, was told that only the first of her two adopted children was eligible for facilities as a dependent. The woman officer, Veena A Nayak, now wants to include her son’s name as a dependent. The daughter is now 18 years old and son is 14.

Nayak had applied for the UMID card for her son in August, but she received a response which said that “only the first adopted child (if already accepted by administration, provided you had intimated) is eligible for facilities as your dependent. Hence you may please submit the UMID application of the first adopted child for further action”.

Her case found mention in a tweet shared by voluntary organisation, Families of Joy, that shared the response of the railway division she works for. The NGO also shared a circular dated September 9, 2000. In the circular related to health facilities in the definition of family members it is stated that step sons, unmarried step daughters, married step daughters and one adopted child are covered.

Cara CEO Deepak Kumar responded to the tweet, stating, “These are dated letters of the railways and definitely requires to be revisited and amended in line with the present laws. In this direction, attention of the railways must be drawn to Sections 2 (2) and 63 of the JJ Act, 2015 as well as Section 12 of Hindu Adoption & Maintenance Act.”

Section 2 (2) makes it clear that “adoption” means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and become the legitimate child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to the relationship. Section 63 states emphasises on the adopted child’s rights as equivalent to a biological child after the adoption order is legally formalised.


Child once given for adoption cannot be taken back

The Times of India, December 5, 2016


Jolt to mom as HC says child will stay with adoptive parents

The Calcutta high court has directed that a two-year-old child would remain with a couple who had adopted her, despite the biological mother's tearful plea to get her back, noting that a lower court had passed the order for adoption of the child.

A division bench comprising justices Ashim Kumar Ray and M M Banerjee observed that since it was hearing a habeas corpus petition by the girl's biological mother Jayashree Chowdhury , it would not tinker with the order of a Malda district court that had allowed the adoption.

Jayashree had married in her teens and had given birth to the child in September 2014. Within a few months of the birth of the child, she filed a complaint of having been thrown out of her in-laws' house. The child was then handed over to an NGO and Jayashree was sent to a government home. A few months later, Jayashree was reunited with her husband and pleaded with authorities to get her child back.

HC: Biological mother has no right over child adopted by 2nd husband

Ajay Sura, October 28, 2018: The Times of India


Punjab and Haryana HC recently ruled that a biological mother has no right over her child after the latter is adopted by her second husband.

Justice R K Jain passed these orders while dismissing a petition filed by a 13-year-old girl through her mother, who resides in Australia. The woman’s second husband had adopted her daughter in 2009. The woman now wants to shift her daughter to Australia without the adoptive father’s permission.

In the petition, the woman had sought directions to the Australian high commission that it should not insist on a no-objection certificate/signatures of the adoptive father on the NOC that she had filled to obtain a visa for the girl.

An objection was raised by the Australian high commission — it said since the petitioner was less than 18 years of age, the form submitted by her mother should also be signed by the non-accompanying adoptive father.

The minor through her mother then approached the HC, submitting that it is the right of a child as per the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to decide which parent he/she would like to live with. Hearing the petition, Justice Jain observed, “Even if it is presumed for the sake of arguments that the petitioner minor girl is the biological daughter of her mother, yet there is no dispute that the mother has given her daughter in adoption by way of an adoption deed.”

Siblings can be separated during adoption with consent

Siblings can be separated during adoption with consent: Maneka, January 3, 2018: The Times of India


In a significant development that will play a decisive role in the adoption of siblings, soon the consent of a child above five years of age in the adoption pool of the Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) could be sought before separating him or her from the sibling to enable adoption.

This will be a break from the current position wherein siblings are adopted together by a prospective parent. The Juvenile Justice Act 2015 too prescribes that all efforts must be made to keep siblings together, unless it is in the best interest of the child.

However, it has been clarified that the change being made will be a decision on a case-to-case basis and siblings will not be split as a norm. A detailed assessment by the Child Welfare Committee and CARA will determine if the siblings are to be separated even after a child agrees for adoption. There are over 80 sets of siblings accounting for 176 children in CARA’s adoption pool at present.

In keeping with the JJ Act, CARA has been placing siblings with the same family except in rare cases. “But this will now be changed,” women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi said on Tuesday. While children above five will have to give consent, CARA will assess the best interest in consultation with other stakeholders in case of younger ones, an official explained.

Gandhi justified the decision by citing a prospective parent’s complaint. “The woman was told she can’t have a child as it was a sibling. Now we have changed that to say that if it is a child above five, we’ll do what the child wants.”

Currently, siblings are adopted together. The JJ Act 2015 too prescribes that all efforts must be made to keep them together

Adoption agencies

2016-19:  776 children died in adoption agencies

July 13, 2019: The Times of India

As many as 776 children, including 124 in Uttar Pradesh and 107 in Bihar have died at specialised adoption agencies between 2016-17 to July 8, 2019, the women and child development (WCD) ministry informed Lok Sabha on Friday in response to a question. WCD minister Smriti Irani gave the data according to which the highest number of deaths of children have been reported from Uttar Pradesh. These deaths occurred across 19 specialised adoption agencies in the state.

Specialised adoption agencies (SAA) cater to children in the age group of 0-6 years. The minister said so far, a total number of 10 complaints have been received by the government against SAAs from across states, which were found to be not complying with the adoption regulations.

Before this in February, the government informed Parliament in response to a question in the Lok Sabha that a total number of 1,265 children have been reported to have died in the SAAs across states between April 2014 to January 31, 2019. The highest number of deaths over these five years years were reported from Maharashtra (172) followed by 170 in Uttar Pradesh and 134 in Bihar.

Adoptions by foreigners

2015: adoption rooms for foreigners eased

The Times of India

Mar 27 2015

Centre eases adoption rules for foreigners

Indrani Bagchi

Foreign nationals adopting Indian children can look forward to a less traumatic experience of taking home a child with the foreign ministry streamlining the passport issuance guidelines. The ministry will no longer insist on a separate birth certificate to issue a passport to an adopted child. The court order which is necessary for adoption will suffice as proof of birth date.

The order gains significance since prospective parents, instead of running from pillar to post to obtain a birth certificate, can now get an Indian passport for their adopted children based only on the court order.

Despite being a member of the Hague Convention from 1993, there were some rules that made things interminably long and difficult for people wanting to take home children from India.

Muktesh Pardeshi, chief passport officer, told TOI, “While our systems have become much better, we found that it was not serving or phans and abandoned children effectively.“ For interested parents, the route to adoption was tricky , because the process demanded a court order, a “no-objection certificate“ from Central Adoption Resource Authority , the nodal agency in the Indian government, and a birth certificate.

Adoptions by foreign citizens with Indian husbands

The Times of India, Jul 17 2015

Rosy Sequeira

`American with Indian hubby can adopt kid'

An American woman's prayers to adopt a 6-year-old boy with special needs in India were answered when the Bombay high court directed a district court to quickly process the application of the adoption agency .

The woman, along with her Indian husband, had moved court after the Central Adoption Resource Authority , the nodal body for adoption of Indian children, refused to grant an NOC, saying it was an inter-country adoption matter and she was required to comply with a rule pertaining to adoption by foreigners living in India. The HC allowed the couple to retain foster care of the born, born to an unwed mother and kept at a Pune orphanage-cum-adop tion agency, Arun Aashray .

The American, a trained nurse living in India since 2008, had volunteered with the agency and got acquainted with the boy . The court was earlier informed that he faced rejection thrice and suffered from behavioural and health problems.

CARA's advocate D A Nalawade told a bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice B P Colabawalla that it will treat the matter as an “exceptional case“ and insisted it was an inter-country adoption issue.Nalavade argued the American will have to comply with a CARA rule for foreigners and apply to the US embassy for an NOC. He said that also applicable would be the order of priority (NRIs, followed by overseas citizens of India, persons of Indian origin and foreign nationals).

SC: NOC is mandatory

Abhinav Garg, July 1, 2019: The Times of India

Foreigners looking to adopt a child from India must first get an No Objection Certificate from their country, Supreme Court has said in an important ruling governing inter-country adoptions.

A bench of justices Indira Bannerjee and Ajay Rastogi noted that as per Indian law and international covenants, “a foreigner or a person of Indian origin or an overseas citizen of India who habitually resides in India can apply for adoption of a child to Central Adoption Resource Authority along with a NOC from the diplomatic mission of his country.”

The apex court, in a recent ruling, agreed with the original decision of Delhi high court not to waive off requirement of an NOC in the case of an Australian woman seeking to adopt two children.

Despite a positive home study report declaring Karina Jane Creed eligible to adopt the children, HC had rejected her plea to allow the adoption, saying she should ensure an NOC from Australia, after CARA took a stand that an all-clear from the country of destination is mandatory.

The agency, through standing counsel Gaurang Kanth, cited the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2016 to underline that without an NOC, no adoption can be permitted.

Creed, who has been living in India for the past four years, had moved HC against the decision of CARA to deny her a chance to adopt the two children whom she had started visiting and they identified her as their mother. She argued that once her application for adoption had been registered and cleared, CARA should have allowed the process to finish.

But Kanth opposed her claim before SC, arguing that she has preferred a short-cut by moving the court instead of acquiring an NOC from Australian authorities, pointing out since India and Australia are signatories of the Hague Convention, which aims to ensure best interests of the child and guard it against trafficking, an NOC from the receiving foreign country is mandatory.

The SC saw merit in CARA’s stand and asked Creed’s counsel how, after the expiry of her visa, she proposed to ensure travel for the adopted children to Australia. She could only reply that the Australian authorities have issued a letter, but could not clarify if it would be sufficient to avail the visa.

According to the Article 5 of the Hague Convention, the receiving country has to determine if the prospective parents are eligible and suited to adopt, ensure the prospective parents have been counseled and the child will be authorised to enter and reside permanently in the country.

The Supreme Court agreed with the original decision of Delhi high court not to waive off requirement of an NOC in the case of an Australian woman seeking to adopt two children here

Country-wise

Australia resumes adoptions from India/ 2018

August 15, 2018: The Times of India


Australia resumes adoptions from India after 8 years of suspension:

Australia has resumed adoption of children from India after it was suspended eight years ago over charges of trafficking by some recognised Indian placement agencies, a senior WCD official said on Tuesday. The suspension was enforced in 2010 and the women and child development ministry along with Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) were constantly engaging with the Australian government for resuming the programme, he said. “The ministry was in constant touch with the Australian government to relent and allow adoptions from India and they have finally agreed,” the official said.

Creating awareness

September 2017/ "Jan Sampark" Program

Press Information Bureau, September 27, 2017

CARA launches monthly “Jan Sampark” Program to facilitate adoption

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of the Ministry of Women & Child Development has started a monthly “Jan Sampark” program to enable the public to have interaction with its officials and staff for seeking information related to Adoption as well as flagging their concerns.

The first of its kind programme was held in New Delhi yesterday. Nearly 150 Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs), Adoptive Parents and representatives of agencies participated in the session, which lasted for more than four hours.

Details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption Module of Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) as well as the newly launched Grievance/Query portal were shared with all the stakeholders. Also many of the PAPs were counselled and motivated to go for adopting older children.

Different perspectives

Missionaries of Charity’s stand

The Times of India, Oct 14 2015

Picture courtesy: The Times of India, Oct 14 2015
Who can adopt a child in India, and who cannot? The broad guidelines; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, Oct 14 2015

Govt can't force nuns to continue adoption work: Legal experts

A recent decision by the Missionaries of Charity (MoC) to discontinue adoption work

Lawyers, pointed out that no one had a right to force MoC -the Roman Catholic order founded by Mother Teresa 65 years ago -to continue adoptions. Though the Missionaries of Charity has not clearly specified its opposition to the single-parent rule, the release it issued did link the decision to the new adoption guidelines, under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 which came into effect from August 2015. The new rules require registration of every prospective parent online. The Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara) then assigns them a registered adoption agency when their turn comes.

This means that the issue of “religion will now come to the fore, said Bharati Dasgupta of Catalysts for Social Action which works towards rehabilitation of abandoned, destitute children in Maharashtra. “Even earlier guidelines permitted adoption by single parents, but some agencies were perhaps not following that norm. Now that there is no escape route--due to centralized database of registration by adoptive parents--the MoC may have decided to opt out.“ But having said that, Dasgupta added that it was MoC's choice and no one could compel them to continue working as an adoption agency. “An agency cannot give precedence to religion over national laws or guidelines. But every agency needs to apply for renewal of its license regularly and the government authority can extend it or cancel it; similarly, the agency can choose to seek renewal or not.

Gender-wise

2014-18: girls preferred

Indians prefer to adopt girls; Maha at forefront, May 7, 2018: The Times of India


Nearly 60% of children adopted in the last six years were girls across states in India, led by Maharashtra which also recorded the highest number of adoptions in recent years, government data showed. Of the 3,276 children adopted in the country in 2017-18, a total of 1,858 were girls, the data showed.

In reply to an RTI filed by this correspondent on the number of adoptions in every state since 2012, Child Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) said Maharashtra was at the forefront in adopting girls.

The number of girls adopted in 2017 was 353 out of a total of 642 adoptions in the state.

Karnataka followed with 286 adoptions, 167 of them girls, CARA, the apex body for adoption in the country, said.

Maharashtra’s high score was not just because of the size of the state, but because of the large number of adoption agencies there, said CARA CEO Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar. “Maharashtra has the highest number of adoption agencies in the country at 60 while other states that are bigger have on an average 20 adoption agencies,” he said.

In 2017-18, there was an increase in the number of incountry adoptions. Of the 3,276 children adopted within India, 1,858 were girls and 1,418 boys, according to the data given in response to the RTI query.

The inter-country adoption also saw an increase, with the number rising from 578 in 2016-17 to 651 in 2017-18.

In 2016-2017, out of the 3,210 children adopted within

India, 1,915 or almost 60% were girls. Maharashtra (711) and Karnataka (252) again recorded the highest numbers, followed by West Bengal (203).

Data for the past five years showed that on an average, 59.77% of couples adopted a girl and 40.23% a boy. “This reflects that things are changing now. Moreover, people feel that it is easier to manage a girl child than a boy, and that’s another big plus point for the girl child to be considered for adoption,” Kumar said.

Kumar refuted reports that more girls were adopted because many more of them were given away for adoption.

"It is not that availability of the girl child is higher but that parents are opting more for a girl child. We give them three choices — one can either opt for a girl or a boy or can give no preference...The percentage of those opting specifically for girls to boys would be 55:45," he said.

Similar trends were observed for the years since 2012, the period the RTI query focused on. Of the 5,002 adoptions in 2012-13, 3,050 were girls, and of 4,354 in 2013-14, 2,601 were girls.

In 2014-15, 2,555 of the 4,362 children adopted were girls while in 2015-16, 2,295 of the 3,677 adopted were girls. Even states with low sex ratios such as Haryana and UP, couples were opting for adopting girls. In Haryana, 31 girls and 19 boys were adopted while in UP, 86 girls and 40 boys were adopted in 2016-17, according to the data.

The data come amid a report by NITI Aayog which said the sex ratio at birth in India had seen a decline in 17 out of the 21 large states.

2015: Girl child preferred

The Times of India, December 4, 2015

Children adopted in India, 2012-15, total number and gender-wise break up ; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, December 4, 2015

Himanshi Dhawan  When it comes to adoptions, Indians prefer the girl child


The famed Indian preference for boys is turned on its head when it comes o adoption. It appears that when Indian parents, deprived of a child by nature, go seeking an offspring -it's usually for a girl. Data for the ast three years reveals that a significantly higher number of girls are adopted than boys. According to Central Adoption Resource Author ty (CARA) records, 1,848 boys were adopted in 20122013 as compared to 2,846 girls. Total adoptions in the year were 4,694. Since then, adoptions declined in 2013 but he preference for girls has persisted. In 2013-2014, prospective parents adopted 2,293 girls as compared to 1,631 boys while in 2014-2015, 2,300 girls were adopted as compared to 1,688 boys. While total domestic adoptions have come down from 4,694 to 3,924 in 2013-2014, it has increased marginally to 3,988 this year.

While lesser availability of boys for adoption is a factor which could be driving this trend, it is also true that couples who have given up hope of having a child of their own do not mull too much over gender since adoption in India continues to be a long-drawn process.

However, the number of adoptions is still way below the demand. There are about 9,000 prospective parents registered with CARA. Adoption data however paints a dismal picture so far. The highest number of children adopted was 6,593 in 2011-2012. Since then, the numbers have steadily declined till this year. There are an estimated 50,000 children in need for a secure home and care and protection. Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi has set an ambitious target of 15,000 adoptions for this year.

Gandhi has in recent times been severely critical of the functioning of adoption agencies. In fact, the ministry introduced fresh guidelines for adoption in August this year. The norms mandate all agencies involved to be registered online with a central database of children.

According to experts, one of the reasons why girls may be preferred for adoption could be the increasing number of single women keen to complete their family . “In case a single woman adopts, the preference is for a girl child,“ an NGO representative said.

2015-18, girl child preferred

Shiv Sahay Singh, 60% children adopted in India between 2015 and 2018 are girls, February 11, 2019: The Hindu

About 60% of children adopted in India were girls. The figure is 69% when it comes to inter-country adoptions, 2015-December 2018
From: Shiv Sahay Singh, 60% children adopted in India between 2015 and 2018 are girls, February 11, 2019: The Hindu

Data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development shows that of the 11,649 children adopted, 6,962 were girls and 4,687 were boys

India may have a skewed gender ratio, but the female child happens to be the first choice when it comes to adoption. The number of female children placed for in-country adoptions and inter-country adoptions between 2015 and 2018 are relatively higher than male children.

During this period, about 11,649 children were put up for in-country adoptions; of them 6,962 were girls and 4,687 were boys. Of the 3,011 children that were placed for in-country adoption in 2015-16, as many as 1,855 were female children. In the year 2016-17, as many as 3,210 children were placed under in-country adoptions and of them 1,915 were females. The figures for 2017-18 and 2018-19 (till December 2018) were 3,276 and 2,152, of which the numbers of girl children were 1943 and 1249 respectively.

All the figures put together, female children comprise almost 60% of all in-country adoptions. When it came to inter-country adoptions, the number of female children was even higher: 69%. Of the 2,310 children placed under adoption between the same period, 1,594 were females.

The data was tabled by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Lok Sabha on February 8, in response to a question by members Tej Pratap Sigh Yadav, L.R. Shivarame Gowda and Anju Bala.

Prajakta Kulkarni, a member of the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), said there was little doubt that more girls were being adopted and it reflected that gender bias and the attitude of people against the girl child are changing across the country. Ms. Kulkarni, who represents the NGO-run Specialised Adoption Agency in the CARA steering committee, said the whole issue of more girls getting adopted needs to be looked into with research.


More girls for adoption?

Sindhu Naik, member, Adoption Scrutiny Committee, State Council of Child Welfare (Karnataka), said that one has to also look whether more girls were coming for adoption. Ms. Naik said that the urban middle class people were preferring female children because they are concerned and aware of the situation of the girl child. The situation may not be the same for villages and small towns, she said.

Procedures

To reduce delays, DMs likely to get final say

Ambika.Pandit, To reduce delays, DMs likely to get final say in adoption cases, January, 2018: The Times of India


In a move to prevent long delays in courts and expedite adoption, the ministry of women and child development (WCD) has prepared a proposal to delegate the power to give final approval for enabling adoption of a child to the district magistrate.

As of now civil courts have the power to enable adoption after due process. Data with the WCD ministry shows that an estimated 600 to 700 adoption cases are pending in civil courts, many of them for long.

The detailed proposal is currently under review of the ministry of law. If there is consensus between the two ministries, the proposal will need Cabinet approval and an amendment to the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.

When asked about the proposal, WCD secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that delay in approval in civil courts has prompted the ministry to explore the option of shifting the power to the level of the district magistrate. He pointed that it was felt that the civil courts were already burdened with a vast case load and often matters such as adoption keep getting delayed. “While the law stipulates a timeframe, the delay in approvals stretch way beyond the laid out time period. There are cases pending for years,” the WCD secretary said.

The change being sought pertains to section 2, sub section 23 of JJ Act. It is proposed to change the definition of “court” from “civil court” to “court of district magistrate”. The view in the WCD ministry is that the change will enable faster disposal of cases and also better scrutiny since the district magistrate is also incharge of the area and has access to all departments in case some verifications or field reports in a case are required urgently.

However, to effect this change may not be all that easy for it will require a significant nationwide shift from the existing system involving the role of civil courts in adoption. Also it is learnt that voluntary organisations, academicians and activists working in the field of child rights are planning to write to the WCD ministry asking it to reconsider the proposal.

The ministry of women and child development has prepared a proposal to delegate the power to give the final approval for adoption to the magistrate. As of now, civil courts have the power to enable adoption after the due process

Search for biological family

Attorney not a third party in particular cases

Swati Deshpande, Oct 10, 2019: The Times of India

Adopted rights of adopted children
From: Swati Deshpande, Oct 10, 2019: The Times of India

In a relief to an adoptee from India who lives in Switzerland, the Bombay high court allowed her to search for her Indian roots via a power of attorney (PoA) holder.

Though the Maharashtra department of women and child development had objected to the search through a third party, the high court recognised the hurdles the distance and her current location placed on her search and observed that her constituted attorney cannot, under such circumstances, be considered a third party.

Beena Makhijani Muller was born on March 31,1978, in India. She was adopted the same year and is currently in Albisstr, Switzerland. Her petition said she was adopted by V K Makhijani from Asha Sadan, an adoption agency in Mumbai, and later taken to Switzerland.

In 2013, she decided to search for her roots — her biological parents — and approached the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), which in turn wrote to the state adoption resource authority (SARA). In May 2015, she hit a roadblock after she appointed Anjali Pawar as PoA for the search.

In court, too, appearing for the state, assistant government pleader Pravin Sawant cited Rule 44 of the Adoption Regulations 2017 to argue that a PoA is a third party to whom details of an adoptee’s roots can’t be given. He said details could only be given to the beneficiary.

Muller’s petition pointed to a landmark SC order of 1984 that recognised an adoptee’s right to know about her/ his roots on turning adult. The HC asked the state authorities to assist the PoA in the search. It argued that her PoA is a Pune resident who has been working for child protection, women and other social issues since 1998.

Pawar, the plea said, has worked on inter-country adoption issues since 2006 and helped adoptees, who have been searching for their biological parents. Muller said she couldn’t stay in India longer and hence requested her constituted attorney to work on her root search case as it was an adoptee’s fundamental right to know their original identity.

Trends

2010-14: Trends

The Times of India

2010-14: in-country and tnter-country adoptions

Feb 21 2015

50% dip in figure from 2010 to 2014

With an estimated 50,000 orphan children in want of safe homes in the country, Union minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday blamed the “idleness and deliberate lying“ of adoption agencies for delays and bottlenecks in the process. Domestic adoptions in India have nearly halved from 5,693 in 2010 to 2,503 in 2014. Maneka, who holds charge as minister for women and child development, said she wanted 15,000 children adopted in a year instead of the annual rate of 800-1000. “I am actually appalled by all of you. I have found bottlenecks, idleness, unconcern, deliberate lying... in this process you have destroyed thousands of lives,“ she said.

The minister was addressing the national meet on adoption organized by Cara (Central Adoption Resource Authority). Describing the agencies as “irresponsible and unaccountable Gandhi said, “When I joined in 2000, the adoption rate was 1,500-1,200, which tumbled to 400-800 per year. In a country which has got 50,000 orphans who can be adopted, it is shameful that the number is 800 to 1,000,... and it continues to come down. The minister also accused some agencies of preferring foreign parents over Indians. “Many of you won't give (the child) to Indians, you wait for a foreigner. I have zero tolerance for anybody who denies adoption. In our new act, Cara will have a lot of power.One of its powers is to remove Sara (State Adoption Resource Authority), to remove adoption agencies, to completely ban them,“ he said.

The minister also said that a foster care scheme will be launched for orphan children under which families will be paid by the government to keep them.

In an effort to provide identity and improved monitoring of orphans, the ministry gave away Aadhaar cards to children from adoption homes.

The ministry is also hoping to notify the new adoption guidelines governing adoption that is expected to speed up the process and introduce transparency . Maneka gave directions that the entire process of adopting a child should not take more than four months and the performance of adoption agencies will now be monitored by the ministry and Cara on a weekly basis.

January-March 2015: A rise in adoption rate

The Times of India, Jul 07 2015

Adoptions up first time in 3 yrs; 50k still need homes

A doption of children in the country has gone up for the first time in three years, reports Himanshi Dhawan. An awareness campaign and a bid to cut down red-tape in the process of adoption can be credited for the spike in numbers -from 999 in October-December, 2014 to 1,368 between January and March 2015. The number is a fraction of 50,000 orphans requiring homes, according to latest data available with the Central Adoption Resource Authority . It has only 1,200 children lined up for adoption against the demand from 10,000 parents. Of them, 9,000 are Indians, the rest NRIs or foreigners.

In February 2015, WCD minister Maneka Gandhi had pulled up adoption agencies for “idleness and deliberate lying and said the figures were “shameful“, adding she wanted 15,000 kids to find homes a year.

2011-16, year-wise

The Times of India, June 8, 2016

In-country and intra-country adoptions, India, 2011-16 year-wise; Graphic courtesy: The Times of India, June 8, 2016

Himanshi Dhawan

Domestic adoptions have dropped by half, hitting a five-year low with only 3,011 children being adopted by Indian parents in 2015-16. The highest adoptions so far have been in 2011 when 5,964 children were adopted. Conversely , adoptions by foreigners are the highest in the past five years.In 2015-16, 666 children were adopted by foreign parents compared with 629 in 2011. Despite a burgeoning population of children in need of care, adoption levels continue to be low. In 2012-2013, 4,694 children were adopted domestically , which dropped to 3,924 the following year. In 2014-2015, domestic adoptions climbed marginally to 3,988 but have seen a downward spiral to 3,011 in 2015-2016.

Inter-country or adoptions by foreign nationals and NRIs have meanwhile increased. The number of adoptions in 2012-2013 was 308 which increased to 430 in 2013-2014, then dropped again to 374 in 2014-2015 before increasing to 666 in 2015-2016.

This data comes nearly a year after new adoption guidelines were introduced by the ministry of women and child development. The new guidelines on adoption that became effective from August 1, 2015 were expected to push domestic adoptions. Minister Maneka Gandhi had in fact given adoption agencies a target of 20,000 in August 2015.

However the system suffe red from several hiccups including NGOs like the Missionaries of Charity choosing to opt out of the adoption system and reluctance by many agencies to adapt to the online system. Officials said that organisations had dragged their feet in registering to the new online system CARINGS. “In some cases like Karnataka, the state has been actively working to register all agencies that are involved in adoption to streamline them. But some other states are indifferent to the process and that is reflected in the results, an official said.

Government sources said that the minister received dozens of complaints every day on the slow pace of adoption.

2016, state-wise

The Times of India, Aug 08 2016

Himanshi Dhawan

Maharashtra leads again in domestic adoptions

Maharashtra has been leading in domestic adoptions of children in India for 2013-16 even as the number of domestic adoptions has been steadily declining.

In 2016, between April and June, 800 children were adopted by Indian parents and 102 by foreigners, according to data from the Central Adoption Resource Authority, the central agency for adoption in India under the women and child development ministry .

Among states, Maharash tra has again topped with 159 kids adopted domestically and 26 internationally this year, followed by Bengal with 72 domestic adoptions and Odisha with 51domestic adoptions. Madhya Pradesh had the fourth largest do mestic adoption of children, with 50 kids being adopted till June this financial year, while Karnataka placed 44 children in domestic adoptions.

Last year (2015-2016), Maharashtra, followed by Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu were the top five states in domestic adoptions. In 2013-2014, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were the top five states while in 2014-2015, the top states were Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Arunachal Pradesh has a poor record with no children adopted since 2013-2014 to date, except six domestic adoptions in 2014-2015.

The number of domestic adoptions has been declining while inter-country adoptions went up, even though recently amended guidelines seek to put Indian parents at an advantage. Domestic adoptions came down from 3,988 in 2014-2015 to 3,011 in 2015-2016.The number of children adopted from Maharashtra, for instance, came down from 1,068 in 2013-2014 to 947 in 20142015 and 724 in 2015-2016.

The amended guidelines for adoption of children which came into force in August 2015 include provisions for taking the entire process online, treating non-resident Indians at par with Indian parents, reducing the timeframe for completion of home study report from two months to one and authorising only specialised agencies for adoptions. However, the impact of the new provisions are yet to kick in.

2018: India vis-à-vis comparable countries

2018: The number of children adopted by the USA from China, India and other comparable countries.
From: July 2, 2020: The Times of India

See graphic:

2018: The number of children adopted by the USA from China, India and other comparable countries.

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