New Delhi: Around 200 officials and stakeholders from the health, police and child protection sectors came together in Delhi for an awareness workshop aimed at strengthening efforts to prevent illegal adoption and promote a transparent, legally regulated and child-centric adoption system.
The workshop, organised by the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, in collaboration with the Delhi government’s Department of Women and Child Development and Delhi State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), was held at the Delhi Secretariat.
The event was conducted under the theme: “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption.”
CARA CEO Bhavna Saxena stressed the need for vigilance across the entire child protection ecosystem to safeguard children from illegal adoption practices.
“Every child deserves a safe childhood, a secure future and the protection of the law,” she said, emphasising that there could be no shortcuts in the adoption process and that prospective adoptive parents must follow the authorised legal procedure.
Delhi WCD Secretary Rashmi Singh said the participation of officials from health and police departments, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) and Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) reflected a strong institutional commitment to child safety.
The workshop featured technical sessions on emerging trends and challenges in illegal adoption, the role of hospitals, nursing homes, health systems, police and judiciary, and strengthening the child protection system involving SARAs, CWCs, DCPUs and Child Care Institutions.
Participants were sensitised on the importance of timely intervention, inter-departmental coordination and strict adherence to the legal adoption framework.
A special session featured DCPO Arun Sharma sharing field-level experiences in tackling suspected illegal adoption cases.
A fiction film highlighting the importance of authorised adoption procedures and the risks associated with illegal adoption was launched during the workshop.
An interactive quiz helped participants reinforce their understanding of legal provisions and their respective responsibilities. A play by DMRC Salam Baalak Trust also highlighted child rights, protection and safety.
The Centre said illegal adoption violates provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and can deprive children of legal safeguards, identity and protection.
The awareness campaign seeks to involve WCD departments, CWCs, DCPUs, Specialised Adoption Agencies, child-care institutions, hospitals, police, judiciary, legal services authorities, healthcare workers, civil society organisations and the media.
The campaign’s message — “Legal Adoption. Safe Childhood. Secure Future. Say No to Illegal Adoption” — aims to reinforce that protecting every child’s safety, dignity, identity and right to a secure family environment is a collective responsibility.