From the horse's mouth

Here is an informal interview I had with the Chairman of CARA during the lunch time:


1. Question: When do the new guidelines are expected to be implemented?
Answer: New guidelines are ready and we are waiting for any new ideas that will be floated in this conference for us to incorporate. If we don’t get any new ideas, the draft guidelines will be implemented as quickly as possible.

2. Question: New guidelines say that the dossier is to be sent directly to CARA. Will that delay the process of adoption?
Answer: No. We are planning to hire more staff to do that work.

3. Question: Under the new draft guidelines in India and US ratifying the Hague convention, do you think Independent adoptions will be allowed to continue?
Answer: No. They will not be allowed.

(I thought he may not have understood my question and I double-checked the question with the representative of Asst. Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, USA. He reasoned that under the new draft guidelines, CARA does not want the prospective adoptive parents (PAP’s) to have no contact of whatsoever with the adoption agency. Under the Independent Adoption, PAP’s ought to find their own agency and a child. This argument seems to make sense and I have a feeling that Independent Adoptions may be coming to an end.

4. Question: When the new guidelines come into play, do these guidelines come into play for the new PAP’s or also for those that are already in the process?
Answer: Everyone.

(When grilled hard he did answer that they will allow those that are already in the process to continue with the old guidelines). Point in short – No one exactly seems to know what is going to happen.

5. Question: In India can those families that have adopted under guardianship act which doesn't give parental right readopt their children under JJ Act which gives complete parental rights?

Answer: Yes, they can