18K adoptions since 2019, only 1.4K children with special needs find homes

Of the 18,179 adoptions recorded since 2019, only 1,404 involved children with special needs even as the absolute numbers of adoptions saw an increase over the next five years, according to official data.

Though the number of children with special needs for adoption has risen, the adoption rate is still significantly low, activists pointed out.

Children with special needs require additional support due to physical, developmental, behavioural or emotional challenges.

In 2019-20, India saw a total of 3,745 adoptions -- 3,351 in-country and 394 international. Of the total number, only 56 boys and 110 girls with special needs were adopted, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) said in its response to an RTI query filed by PTI.

In 2020-21, a total of 3,559 adoptions were recorded including 3,142 in-country and 417 inter-country. Only 110 boys and 133 girls with special needs were adopted in this year.

The number of adoptions dropped marginally to 3,405 -- 2,991 in-country and