State agency to regulate, monitor adoption process

To regulate and monitor the adoption of children in a “foolproof and transparent’ manner,” the Delhi government has set up State Adoption Resource Agency ( Sara) under integrated Child Protection Scheme ( ICPS). Through this agency, the Woman and Child Development department has arranged adoption of 300 children this year on the basis of eligibility criteria for adopting parents.

“A state level advisory committee has been setup by the department of woman of child welfare to promote, implement, supervise and monitor the incountry and inter- country adoption of the child at state level,” principal secretary, social welfare & woman and child welfare, Satbir Bedi, said on Saturday.

Ms Bedi said that the high level meeting of State Adoption Resource Agency ( Sara), Central Resource Authority ( Cara) and Specialised Adoption Agencies ( SAAs) and the State Adoption Advisory Committee ( Saac) are being organised by the WCD department to discuss, deliver and address the issues relating to child adoption.

“The law pertaining to the adoption, current policies and programmes relating to child welfare are also discussed and delivered at the fora,” she noted.

The department has chalked out the state adoption resource agency ( Sara) for the year 2013- 14 to organise awareness campaign for preventing private or illegal adoption with the help of the Department of Health and Family Welfare; for preparation and finalisation of Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP) on adoption for Child Welfare Committees; for developing publicity materials, posters etc on adoption. Ms Bedi said the WCD department is ensuring proper monitoring the adoptions and the specialised adoption agencies and also supporting the Central Adoption Resource Authority( CARA) in promoting in- country adoption.