An Initiative for the Wellbeing and Protection of India's Children
The information available on this page will help citizens understand a child's Right to Family and the way in which the community can contribute to realising this right. For information on adoption- rules and regulations, procedures and dashboard data please visit Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) for more information.
WHY DOES A CHILD'S RIGHT TO FAMILY CONCERN ME?
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The family is central to the survival, development and wellbeing of a child. It is a primary institution in society that facilitates majority of the rights and privileges a child enjoys. The family is responsible for the protection of the child and behaves like a safety net when the child is in distress. Its role in a child's life cannot be ignored. Therefore, a child who is abandoned, surrendered and orphaned is deprived his/her right to a family and is placed in custody of the State. Let's ask ourselves whether even the most efficient State can nurture a child like family?
Parents and guardians are custodians of the child and his rights. They represent the child and demand accountability and justice from the State when it is compromised. In absence of parents, who will represent a child? If the buck stops with the government, who is the government accountable to and how will we know there is no injustice towards our children in need of care and protection? This is where society needs to step in.
Indian constitutional provisions for care and protection of children recognise the importance of family and aim to repatriate child with parents and reintegrate the child into the family and community on priority. For children who have been surrendered by their parents/guardians or no family has agreed to claim their responsibility, the State respects their right to family and shall declare them fit for adoption. ​
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The image below indicates the number of prospective adoptive parents in queue for adoption versus the number of children in the adoption pool.
CARA Dashboard dated 4th June 2024
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As of 1st June 2024, 23,682 Indian Residents couples/single parents are in queue to adoption.
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The number of children in the adoption pool are 2,134 across the country.
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A Social Audit Report on Child Care Institutions in India released in 2022 by the the National Commission on Protection of Child Rights indicated that India has a total of 7,164 institutions accommodating children in need of care and protection.
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392 of these are Special adoption agencies that house children between 0-6 years of age.
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Even if we consider 50% of the 7,164 institution are home to children not eligible for adoption like children in conflict with law, children separated from parents in their best interest or those recently rescued and inquiries are pending (within 4 months of the case being registered), the number of child care institutions (ie. 3,082) exceeds the total number of children available for adoption. ​Where are our children and why are we depriving them of their Right to Family?
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There is no credible data available in public preview on the number of children residing in Child Care institutions. The government maintains a data portal for internal purposes only.
HOW CAN I HELP?
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Repatriating the child with the parents and family must be priority. If you have reported or helped a child in distress ensure the State agencies prioritise repatriation unless separating the child from the parent is in the best interest of the child. ​
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Ensure that the rights of children who are in State custody and residing in Child Care Institutions are fulfilled. Volunteer to fill the gaps in facilities and services provided to them with your time, services, skills and other resources.
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Every child has the right to a family. Bust myths about adoption. Educate yourself and others.
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Apply for Foster Care. Interested families mayregister on the website of Women and Child Department of their respective State. Residents of Maharashtra may click here.
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Any child or 'person connected to the child' (does not specify only relative, can be a teacher, friend, neighbour, an individual trusted by the child) can file a grievance arising out of the functioning of the Child Welfare Committee with the child, before the District Magistrate, who shall dispose the same within a period of 30 days by passing appropriate orders.
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Any individual aggrieved by the order passed by the CWC may within 30 days from the date of such order, appeal to the Children's Court/Court of Sessions for reconsideration. The resolution passed by the Children's court too can be challenged in the High Court in accordance with the procedure specified in the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (2 of 1974).
ACTION BEGINS WITH AWARENESS
The following diagram is a snapshot of a orphaned, abandoned or surrendered child's journey before he/she can be united with an adoptive family. Please write to us if you need more information on this subject.
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WHAT IS CARA?
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is a statutory body of Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India. It functions as the nodal body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA is designated as the Central Authority to deal with inter-country adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993, ratified by Government of India in 2003. CARA primarily deals with adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children through its associated /recognised adoption agencies.
Pan-India
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The Juvenil Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2016
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PM Cares for Children (Check Resource Directory for CWC and District Juvenile Police Unit contacts)
Maharashtra