Adoption in India: Policies and Experiences

Vinita Bhargava. Ph.D., is a Reader and presently Head of the Department of Child Development at Lady Irwin College, University of Delhi. Together with undertaking research projects, she teaches courses in child development, research methods, early childhood care and education, and child welfare. Prior to joining Lady Irwin college in 1986, she worked with the Social Work and Research Centre, Tilonia (1979-82) and the Institute of Social Studies Trust (1982-84). Dr. Bhargava has worked with variuos agencies in the field of adoption policy and practice in India. She has been the Chairperson of the Coordinating Voluntary Adoption Resource Agency (CVARA) since 1996. As a founder member for screening applications for inter-country asoptions, she has contributed significantly to national policies on adoption. She has held executive positions in the All-India Women's Education Fund Association and the Indian Association for Family Therapy. She has written numerous papers and reports, as well as a manual for trainers in early childhood development for the Government of the Maldives. Dr. Bhargava and her husband have two children, one of whom is adopted. they have founded a support group for adoptive parents called APNA (Alternative Parenting Network Association) in New Delhi.