CARA—a one stop solution to adopt a child
FAIQA MASOODI
SRINAGAR, Dec 22: The implementation of Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) in the UT of J&K will provide a respite to the childless couples of Kashmir who for years yearn to get the custody of a child.
CARA a statutory body of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India is a nodal body for in-country and inter-country adoptions and primarily deals with the adoption of orphans, abandoned and surrendered children under Juvenile Justice Act 2015(JJ Act).
An official from Mission Vatsalya, Social Welfare Department Srinagar told Kashmir Despatch that earlier J&K was not registered under CARA but now the government is mulling to make the adoption process smooth and hassle free under CARA.
“We are soon going online for the adoption process as per the new guidelines of CARA. All the details of the adoptee children will be put on the online portals very soon and the Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) would get to choose from them on the first come first serve basis. We have also attended our training programmes for the same,” he said.
Adding further the official said that earlier we were authorized to just give the custody of a baby to the childless couples.
“Under previous state laws a couple could not get the legal adoption of a child. They would only get his custody as a guardian. Child Welfare Committees would conduct the proper survey of the couple, check their economic status, mental stability, past records etc and after framing a proper report they would give them the child for foster care.” she said.
Shafaq Azim Mattu, Superintendent, Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA), Srinagar told Kashmir Despatch that CARA is a one stop solution for the childless couples, “CARA is your only legal way of adopting a baby. Health status, pictures and all the required information of the baby would be available on the Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) portal for adoption maintained by CARA thus making the process easier and transparent,” Shafaq said.
She further stated that there is a wrong notion among the masses that abandoned or surrendered babies have no takers, “We have less babies and more adoptive parents waiting to get them. All our babies go to their families before they turn one.’
She further stated that since Kashmir is witnessing a steep fall in the fertility rates over the years, more and more childless couples are willing to go for adoption and take back home the bundle of joy in their arms.
“Childless couples don’t need to visit hospitals or child care centers for adoption. They just have to follow the full proof adoption process online, after which a home survey and other required legal formalities would be done by the concerned officials,” she said, adding after the child is declared legally fit for adoption, the child would be handed over to the PAPs through proper designated agencies.
District Social Welfare officer, Department of Social Welfare; Akhoon Ashraf told Kashmir Despatch that CARA will speed up the process of adoption, “Registration process will be started very soon on the CARINGS portal under new guidelines,’ he said.
