This book is developed with the objective of promoting the concept of adoption in India. There are 12.4 million destitute children in India and yet only about 3000 legal adoptions happen in a year!

There are certainly many reasons for this startling fact…but is this justified? Can we as parents, as people who are mobilizing ourselves to become a super, liberalized economy really afford to close our minds to this picture?

Adoption in India is mired by red tape, poor social acceptance, illegal practices and many misconceptions about the process itself. These issues and many other questions is what the book covers- right from the causes behind this dismal scenario to actual case stories of adoption and various organisations involved in this cause. This book presents a picture of the still-not-so-used word “adoption� in India.

The book caters to:

1) social and child welfare workers and interested individuals

2) the many interested but unsure couples/aspiring parents who want a baby, but are not aware of the process/implications/issues involved

3) parents who have already adopted and are seeking some answers

4) adoptees themselves

Adoption is one of the best forms of rehabilitating a destitute child. It is the most complete form of rehabilitation which provides a highly satisfactory solution to those seeking the experience of bringing up a child and for the child itself. Adoption is an option to many people who are unable to have a child due to medical/infertility/other problems as well as those who may not want to have biological child out of choice.The cherished hope is that many more people are made aware and are able to contribute in some way towards this very fulfilling cause.

It's a social awareness book. The articles are compiled by Catalysts for Social Action (CSA), who is producing this book. Articles are written by experts in the field, by celebrities and parents who have adopted and also by adopted children who are now adults.

The book consists of 28 articles across five sections:

1) The first section is about the the joy of adoption- first hand accounts and interviews from adoptive parents and celebrities about their experience with adoption. Articles cover experiences around their process of assimilation, societal assimilation experiences, single parents' experiences, parents who have brought up a biological child and have also adopted, etc.

2) This section covers the current adoption scenario in India - facts and figures, laws, organizations involved, corporate viewpoints, NGO view points and the process of adoption. .

3) The third section consists of articles on adoptive parenting- the various stages of development, addressing adoption related issues, support groups, telling the child about adoption, adoption of a special needs child, the appropriate adoption language, etc. is comprehensively explained throughpersonal and expert writings.

4) The fourth section explores the concept of closure which most adopted children seek and their deep desire to understand why they were relinquished.

5) The final section provides a comprehensive list of adoption agencies in the country.

The book will carry photographs of children from various orphanages in India and also some adoptive parents. The photographs will be in black and white. The jacket will be in color with spot lamination. The book is in standard paperback size.

Our objective is to give two messages “ first that adoption is a life altering, win-win option that is very worth-while for both the child and parents. Second, since this is the case, why is the adoption rate so low and what can we do about it? We would like this message to go to as wide an audience as possible.