The Manipur Government is intensifying efforts to prevent illegal child adoptions and promote adoption through the prescribed legal process, with officials stressing the need for greater public awareness about safeguards available under the law.
Director of Social Welfare Abdul Hakim said legal adoption was essential to ensure the safety, security and well-being of children, but lack of awareness about the prescribed procedures continues to lead some people to bypass the legal framework.
Director of Social Welfare Abdul Hakim was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a one-day awareness programme on legal adoption organised by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in association with the Social Welfare Department at Hotel Imphal. The programme was attended by Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, police personnel and other stakeholders.
He said the State Government had taken several measures to prevent illegal adoptions and facilitate the legal adoption process. State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) have been established across the districts to assist prospective adoptive parents and others in matters related to adoption.
Manipur has 91 Child Care Institutions, each having a designated cradle point, Director of Social Welfare Abdul Hakim said. Cradle points have also been established at district hospitals, the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) and the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) to provide a safe mechanism for the surrender of children.
Anganwadi and ASHA workers have also been trained to create awareness among the public about legal adoption, he said. However, despite the measures, instances of people attempting to adopt children outside the prescribed legal framework continue to be reported.
Director of Social Welfare Abdul Hakim further expressed that 10 children have been adopted through the legal process in Manipur so far this year.
“Children are the future pillars of the country,” Director Hakim said, emphasising that every child has the right to a safe and dignified life and protection from exploitation. He called for coordinated efforts among government agencies, frontline workers and other stakeholders to ensure that all adoptions are carried out through the prescribed legal process.
CARA Senior Professional Upasana Chakma said CARA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development and functions under Section 68 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. It is responsible for regulating, monitoring and facilitating the adoption of children in India.
CARA senior professional Upasana Chakma said the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Model Rules, 2022, and the Adoption Regulations, 2022, provide the legal framework for adoption of orphaned, abandoned and surrendered children, as well as adoption involving relatives and stepchildren.
She urged prospective adoptive parents to strictly follow the prescribed legal procedures, stating that compliance with the law is essential to protect the rights, safety and welfare of children.
