Awareness programme on adoption regulations held

After Adoption Regulations, 2017 were framed by the ‘Central Adoption Resource Authority’ (CARA) as mandated under section 68 (c) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, handling cases have become so much easier, said S Rajeswari, Superintendent of Police, CB-CID special unit, Chennai, at an awareness programme organised by the Department of Social Defence and Christ Faith Home for Children in Chennai on Tuesday. 

The workshop was held following the recent move by the Department of Women and Child Welfare which has instructed all the state governments to ensure that all registered Child Care Institutions (CCIs) are linked to specialised adoption agencies.

Recalling a case from a few years ago, S Rajeswari said, “We were able to nab the team of culprits after a lot of investigation. However, even then, we were not satisfied as we were unaware of what could be done in the case of the children who were illegally sold by Dhanam and her team of kidnappers – after they stole the babies from Government Hospitals – for a meagre amount of Rs 6,000 per child.” 

However, she said, “Now, with the introduction of the Adoption Regulations and increased awareness, we are aware of how to handle the cases that come to us.” 

Speaking to DT Next, she said, “It was highly difficult for us as we never knew the adoption processes. Since we deal mostly with law and order cases, it is important that organisations come forward to educate and sensitise us about such cases.” 

Stating that the regulations help strengthen the adoption programme in the country by streamlining the adoption process, D Rajendran, former special chief electoral officer, Election Commission of India, Tamil Nadu said, “Transparency, early de-institutionalisation of children, informed choice for the parents, ethical practices and strictly defined timelines in the adoption process are the salient aspects of the Adoption Regulation. All the stakeholders must be made aware of the rules.”