Delay in adoption process due to pending Home Study Reports

Even as the government has notified new guidelines to encourage adoption by making it simpler and transparent, the process is stuck in several states due to high pendency of Home Study Reports (HSR).
More than 4000 HSR are pending to be completed by different states across the country causing delay in the adoption process.
HSR is done by the Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) selected by the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) to check their suitability for adoption.
Maharashtra has the highest number of pendency with 624 HSRs in-waiting, followed by Telangana 592, Delhi 421, West Bengal 322, Karnataka 318, Andhra Pradesh 271, Tamil Nadu 206, Gujarat 170, Kerela 143, Rajasthan 139, Punjab 110, Orissa and Pondicherry 100 and Madhya Pradesh 107.

The Women and Child Development Ministry has given a deadline of September 15 for all states to clear their HSR backlog.
According to the new guidelines, the report needs to be done within a prescribed timeline of one month from the date of registration by the PAPs in Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS).

"We have asked the states that if the SAA is not doing the HSR in time, the District Child Protection Unit should engage social workers to prepare the report in time," said a senior ministry official.
He said the ministry has issued a strict instructions to the states to comply with the new guidelines, which draw support from Juvenile Justice Act.

The new adoption guidelines come into force on August 1 and the upgraded CARINGS also become operational. The act also includes the provision of de-recognizing illegal adoption centers.
The official said that the Ministry will undertake a two-month long campaign from September to map unregistered child care homes.
"Four regional workshops will also be undertaken on adoption issues and new guidelines for full familiarization of the state governments and various other stakeholders.