Is India Embracing Gender Equality In Adoption? Here's What Hindu Adoption Act Data Reveals

In many countries, a strong desire to have a male child is observed. Specifically among Hindus, one factor driving this preference is the belief that sons will perform the final rites for their parents.

However, recent adoption data highlights a shift in this trend. Surprisingly, over the past two years, there has been a growing inclination in India towards adopting more girl children, with Punjab leading this change.

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India Embracing Gender Equality In Adoption

The adoption data across states was presented by the Union government through additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati and is based on adoptions in India under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA).

Out of all adoptions documented under HAMA, 9,474 girls were chosen by adoptive parents, surpassing the 6,012 boys selected.

Punjab and Chandigarh have stood out as frontrunners in India's pursuit of gender equality. Among the 7,496 adoptions registered under HAMA in the state, 4,966 were girls, while 2,530 were boys.

Certainly, here's the data presented in a more readable format:

States/Union Territories:
- Himachal Pradesh: Total children adopted - 2,107; Number of girl children adopted - 1,278
- Tamil Nadu: Total children adopted - 1,671; Number of girl children adopted - 985
- Delhi: Total children adopted - 1,056; Number of girl children adopted - 558
- Uttarakhand: Total children adopted - 685; Number of girl children adopted - 472
- Andhra Pradesh: Total children adopted - 1,415; Number of girl children adopted - 835
- Odisha: Total children adopted - 291; Number of girl children adopted - 165
- Telangana: Total children adopted - 242; Number of girl children adopted - 48
- West Bengal: Total children adopted - 228; Number of girl children adopted - 112
- Chandigarh: Total children adopted - 167; Number of girl children adopted - 114

It is important to note that the findings are based on data under HAMA shared by 11 states, which recorded a total of 15,486 adoptions in 2021-23. Nevertheless, regardless of their gender, the favoured age range for adopted children continued to be under six years old.

According to the tabulation by CARA, 69.4% of registered prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) prefer children aged 0 to 2 years, while 10.3% opt for those aged 2 to 4 years, and 14.8% choose children aged 4 to 6 years.

UNICEF data shows that India has 253 million girl children and adolescents, with a sex ratio at birth of 929 girls per 1000 boys as per NFHS-5.

It will take collaborative efforts from different departments, NGOs, and international organizations to improve the status of girl children and challenge patriarchal norms that undervalue them.