Simplify child adoption process

I have been childless for ten years after marriage. It has been a very frustrating and painful experience.

Two years ago we decided to adopt a child and registered with an adoption agency. This also has been a frustrating experience. We are still on the waiting list as the agency says very few children are available for adoption legally. Also the entire adoption process is too paperwork intensive, cumbersome and mired in red tape.

Thank you for the cover story ‘Making adopted children feel loved and secure’ (PW April) and highlighting that adopting a child in India is a tedious, long-drawn out process. I’m sure there are thousands of couples like us who are ready and willing to give orphaned children a loving home but are intimidated by the draconian process. The government needs to immediately simplify and rationalise the adoption process. Hopefully, with the Supreme Court having admitted a writ petition seeking to simplify the legal process for child adoption, the government will be forced to comply.

Renu Varma, Mumbai

Include infant products reviews

Thanks for the informative story on coping with colic in infants. I am a mother of a six-months-old boy and know how difficult and exasperating it is to comfort a colicky infant crying for no reason. Dr. Yogesh Kumar’s advice to parents to first calm down and manage their anger before comforting colicky children is well taken. Also it was reassuring to read that colicky babies don’t suffer any adverse health problems.

I would like to read a feature on the healthiest infant foods. A reviews page giving the pros and cons of infant products is welcome.

Nalini Kumari, Chennai

Involved fathers make happy children

I enjoyed reading the story about fathers taking up more parenting duties during the pandemic (PW April). In my own case, my husband stepped in to supervise my daughter’s online classes and education while also making time to play board games with her.

I believe father-child bonding is critical to develop emotionally secure and confident children. Unfortunately in our patriarchal society, even after so many women having entered the workforce, men still think their role is limited to providing financial security, and that child care and nurturance is the primary duty of women.
Even if the mother chooses to be a homemaker, it does not make her the primary caregiver. The father needs to be equally involved in parenting.

Sonali Mukherjee, Kolkata

Wonderful suggestions

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions and reviews on motivational biographies of sports champions (Resources, PW April). Children reading inspiring biographies during their formative years will definitely be enthused to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.

I also like your Fun with Words column. It reminded me of the Reader’s Digest columns on word power, which I used to love to read for several years.

Vinod Varma, Delhi

Bridging learning gaps advice

Thank the Lord that schools have reopened after two years of closure. While my two children love being back in school with their friends and teachers, they are finding it difficult to readjust to the school routine and to make up their learning loss. Parents and teachers have realised that online schooling is far less effective than real, in-person classes. Some expert advice from educationists on how parents can bridge children’s learning gaps will be welcome and helpful.

Smita Patel, Bangalore